GPS not working on Charge 4

[MattyLevan]

The attachment between the actual watch (Fitbit called it a bead) and the strap broke and they very kindly sent me a replacement for the bead. However since then it simply will not connect to GPS, which is making tracking my runs difficult. It is still giving me a distance but it is definitely off since it recorded a 5km parkrun as 4.7km.
When I try to start a run it shows the start arrow and the word connecting and if I do nothing else stays like that indefinitely. If I tap the arrow it will start tracking but after about two minutes the watch buzzes and shows a message that it is turning off GPS.
What do I do to get it to actually connect to GPS?

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity. 

[SarahAt]

The map only successfully appears for me, for the duration of the exercise route, when I set the GPS setting on the watch itself, to “Phone GPS”. Otherwise I don’t get a map, or pace per mile, etc. But then you of course have to carry your phone with you, and that’s the part I’m not wanting to do. 

[Lauzwba]

I'm having the exact same issue. My watch it now 2 years old and up until 2 weeks ago my mapping has been working fine. Normally when I set off it buzzes once its got me but once in 20 seconds in and it hadn't buzzed I know it's not going to work.

I've not changed any settings at all. It's so frustrating when you want to see your splits or firk around with your route

Contemplating fitting a Samsung watch

[Harp1296]

7/26 update:  I have fully reset Fitbit 4 twice and now the GPS is working (at least the last three days).  Between the resets I let the battery fully exhaust and then reset it the second time.  Not sure if that was the trick or not as it seems to be hit and miss with those who reset it.  Good luck!

[SarahAt]

Agreed! I have already started shopping for an Apple Watch and will be switching! This is bananas! 

[BTTan]

i tried to reply to this message but my replies are being blocked or deleted. Please refer to this thread.

Charge 4 GPS issues - Fitbit Community

[ColJo]

I read somewhere that Fitbit uses a Russian satellite for a quick GPS link. My link started to go wrong around the time of the Ukrainian invasion. Coincidence? Perhaps Fitbit would like to comment on this. CJ

[parttimehorse]

@ColJo  You can toggle off GLONASS (Russia's positioning service) in the device settings if you prefer (I think it's off by default). The Fitbit device-integrated chip will then only use GPS. I wouldn't expect better functionality, though - GLONASS is globablly available as usual, as far as I know.

If anything, I could imagine a somewhat worsened location reliability since the device will then only rely on GPS satellites instead. In some cases of bad satellite signal reception (like mountain valleys, city centers) that can be a disadvantage. The power usage might be higher by using both GPS and GLONASS. All that only applies when the device-integrated GPS/GLONASS chip is used, though.

When the phone's chip is used instead (via "Connected GPS"), I'd assume it will get its location data from whichever satellite navigation services the phone supports at discretion of the operating system. Modern phones typically support a variety of those - like GPS, Galileo (EU), GLONASS (Russia), BeiDou (China).

So I wouldn't really look in that direction with those reliability issues. I'd guess that either there's chip degradation (Fitbit device / phone), or a software bug (with multiple possibilities - be it Fitbit firmware, Fitbit app, the phone's location services / operating system, something going on with the Bluetooth conection..)

[hawaiianpizza7]

The arrow swirling and says connecting means the gps is still trying to connect and is not successful. I have had bad experience in this too. And my gps will drop off halfway through. It’s bad