Mac Bluetooth Won't Recognize Charge 2

[Starnight]

My Mac Bluetooth won't recognize my charge 2. I tried turning bluetooth on and off, and retrying sync, but it still can't find it. Does anyone have any other suggests??? 

[LZeeW · Accepted solution]

How old/new is your Mac?  Your Mac needs to have Bluetooth 4.0 running Mac OS X Sierra. 

Also, if you have your Charge 2 connected to your iPhone and you are getting phone, text, etc. notifications, that bluetooth bond is very tight and your Charge 2 cannot be seen by other devices.

[Starnight]

My operating system needs to be updated, that must be the problem. Thanks! 

[richnmeg8]

I also have the same problem and have all the required versions (bluetooth, computer) (I have a mac too.).  I have tried everything I can think of to get it to work.  It is not connected to any other device. (I don't even have a phone)  Do you have any advice?

[LZeeW]

@Starnight  It's not just the operating system, it's the bluetooth version in your Mac.  If you don't have version 4.0 in your Mac, you will need a dongle (a bluetooth adapter, not provided with a Charge 2, but available from Fitbit).  Other users have said that Fitbit sent it for free if you contact Customer Support.  I don't know if it takes a lot of whining or not.  The Charge 2 is kind of "optimized"to be paired with your smartphone -- that's why a dongle isn't included.

@richnmeg8  A few other users have commented that the recent Sierra update messed up synching and recognizing. Maybe you should call Customer Support.  I have my Charge 2 paired with my phone to get call and text notification, so I don't sync with my Mac.  I don't think I can help you with you problem. 

[richnmeg8]

I do have bluetooth version4. actually even more so. Version 5

[richnmeg8]

Okay, thank you anyway for your time.

[MissAli]

You need some thing called a dongle or something to get it to connect... I just gave up on that one my MacBook doesn't find the Fitbit either.

[richnmeg8]

Yeah, I know. But I shouldn't need one, that's what is bugging me. I guess you might call me stubborn. 😉 Thanks though. 

[BobMarshall]

Bob Marshall

Does it not seem incongruous that FitBit would sell devices without making it clear that Bluetooth 4 is a fundamental hardware device to enable syncing? My wife and I have just purchased 2 FitBit Charge 2 's and have spent many hours with four different computers attempting this feat. FitBit should make it absolutely clear what the requirements are to use their devices and if a Bluetooth Dongle is a necessity it should be included in the package.

[Rich_Laue]

Mac books have been shipping with BT 4.0 for at least 3 years. Most Win 10 laptops also have. IPads and phones don't need the Fitbit dongle.. So it is less and less people every month that will need a dongle. 

If you do, Simply ask support nicely since they have been known to send them out. They realize that you want things to work with as little hassle 

Link to support can be found in the top right on in help. Link to help is below. Contact.fitbit.com

[LadyKaldi]

Here’s what worked for me. I was attempting to connect a new Charge 2, replacing a Charge already in my FitBit profile. Bluetooth wouldn’t recognize the Charge 2 for anything -- that is, until I inserted the dongle from the prior Charge into my older Mac (which can’t install Sierra). I agree that Fitbit should be open about its technical requirements -- 

I’ll also say the my first FitBit setup a couple of years  ago took inordinately long. It SHOULD be easy and FitBit’s Help is decidedly unhelpful when things don’t follow a certain path. 

[Rernst]

I was experiencing the same problem:

- Charge 2 at current software level

- Macbook Pro w/MacOS at current software level (10.13.6)

- Fitbit Connect (latest version)

- Bluetooth turned on (macbook pro)

--------------

This is how I was able to get my brand new Charge 2 to sync on the Macbook Pro with the Fitbit Connect software.

- Dongle from my older Charge HR plugged into USB port

- BlueTooth on Macbook pro turned OFF.

Everything syncs just fine now, every time, all the time.

[riverbean]

I'm running macOS 10.13.6 with Bluetooth version 6, Alta HR fully update by phone app, brand new download of FitBit connect, and am trying to pair it with this computer. It won't find the FitBit at all, and I've tried all the restarts, resets, everything. No luck. Any ideas besides getting another (should be unnecessary) device to make it sync? I know dumb phones are so last year, but some of us still use them and don't have smart ones. 

[Rich_Laue]

@riverbean you mentioned that the Charge 2 was updated through the phone, have you made sure that the Charge 2 is not able to communicate with the phone?

Is the connect program able to communicate with the tracker? 

[Rernst]

I use the dongle that came with my FitBit HR to sync my HR2 with my Macbook Pro.    I have found that I have to have Bluetooth turned off on my MacBookPro and iPad, Phones, etc also have to have bluetooth turned off.   With this configuration, I can sync my HR2 every time, no problems.

[riverbean]

I apologize, this is the Alta HR I’m talking about. I’m on this forum because people seem to have the closest to a solution here, and there was no solution from the Alta HR forum. Seems like these devices should behave similarly though, and since this Alta syncs just fine with a phone, it’s really a question of compatibility with the computer. Thanks!

[riverbean]

Are you talking about the little USB cable with the clamp on the end that came in the box? It won’t let me even try to sync without turning on bluetooth on the computer. Thanks!

[Rernst]

No, the HR came with a little USB black dongle (no cable) that interfaces directly with the HR, and HR2 via Bluetooth.  Its essentially a USB Bluetooth transceiver.  I MUST turn off the Bluetooth from the MacOS perspective, and then I can sync my HR and or HR2 via this Fitbit dongle repeatedly and reliably.

[Rernst]

No, its a little black USB dongle (no cable) that is actually a small USB Bluetooth transciever.  It came with my Fitbit HR that I purchased a couple of years ago.

Here is the URL.  You can purchase it from Fitbit for a couple of dollars.

https://www.fitbit.com/shop/accessories/wireless-sync-dongle