Most common problems gathered in one post

[pilv13]

Most common problems with Charge 3 so far:

I rounded these up from these forums for your convenience. Any opinions expressed inside (brackets) are my own and are purely speculation.

- Battery dead on arrival. post1 post2
- Dead screen on arrival. post1 post2
- Dangerously inaccurate heart rate tracking (might be impossible to fix 100% due to limited sensors. Any fix would affect battery life. The issue might not affect all devices based on reports). post1 post2
- Have to reboot all the time because of loads of issues (99.9% certain will get fixed over time). post1 post2
- Sleep is not getting tracked properly. post1 post2
- Steps are getting recorded while driving a car (might get fixed with a software update, wouldn't hold my breath). post1 post2 post3
- Swim tracking is very inaccurate. post1
- UI is badly designed (might or might not get fixed with a software update). post1 post2 post3 post4 post5 post6 post7 post8 post9
- Weather is very slow to synch post1 
- Loads of synchronization problems, especially with iPhones (will 99.9% certain get fixed over time). post1 post2 post3 post4
- Cannot adjust screen turn off delay. post1 
- Doesn't disable screen wakeups during night automatically (might get fixed, wouldn't hold my breath). suggestion
- Inaccurate step tracking  post1 post2 post3 post4 post5 post6
- Heart rate monitor doesn't work properly with tattoos (probably can't be fixed). post1
- Very few clock faces and no date (they are 99.99% certain going to fix this, don't worry). suggestion
- Does not synch with MyFitnessPal (fixed). post1 post2
- Really bad support for Fitbit NFC payment globally (seem like mostly US only feature, don't hold your breath Europe) post1
- Cheap hardware (you get what you pay for, see posts about hw problems). 

- Cannot be turned off post1

 - No always on screen option post1

- Legibility of the screen post1 suggestion1  suggestion2

NOTE: Even though some people are having issues with their Charge 3 there are many more people out there whose Charge 3 is working as intended by Fitbit.

[Kara_J]

Please add "silent alarm does not vibrate" There is a post called "Charge 3 alarms not working".

[kroo]

It’s because of the vibration of the motorbike. Would have happened with the Charge 2, as well. Speaks to the need to be able to pause step counting though. 

[LawrenceH]

Of course. But there’s no way of a) pausing it so it doesn’t record extra steps or b) cancelling them out afterwards. The only workaround is to assign them to an activity, which is a bodge as then I easily hit my 5 activities a week just by sitting on my arse at work. 

[terrigalla]

You nailed it!!!!

[terrigalla]

My daughter and I have only had our fitbits a few hours. I can’t keep up with her complaints but mine...... the HR is correct on the watch but is not showing correctly on the graph.... at all.....

[joemeboe]

My Charge 3 used to display the time etc. when I raised my hand, but it stopped several weeks ago. I'm wondering if my watch is defective...

[Mg22fpb]

Use app Fit to fit, mediator between the two

[Anfa]

My experience so far. I upgraded from a Charge 2 to a Charge 3 so I could track my swimming. My Charge 2 was faultless so I really didn't anticipate any problems with the Charge 3. However it's been a catalogue of disappointments.

Issues are:

1. It is way more sensitive on counting 'steps' than my Charge 2 - for instance I have a car with a fairly hard suspension, but when counting additional steps when driving my Charge 2 only added around 200, the Charge 3 adds over 1,000! Also more sensitive on daily activities when moving wrist so don't feel it's counting as accurately.

2. Due to the above I'm now having to add 'Driving' as an activity twice a day for my commute, therefore my activity circle is always completed even when I haven't completed any 'real' activities. It's becoming a bind.

3. I feel I was mis-led on the swimming element, as if you start the swimming activity on the watch it doesn't register heart rate. If I leave it to auto register you have to start with a front crawl as it doesn't register breast stroke.

4. After less than 2 months of use it died yesterday!!! Completely dead, no screen, no heart rate lights, no charging. Have contacted FitBit support and waiting for a response.

Essentially I don't think the Charge 3 has been fully developed and testing, and I feel I was mis-sold the swimming feature. I'm asking for a refund and currently researching which Garmin to get. Any thoughts - Vivosmart 4 or Vivoactive 3?

[lizarddrinking]

Another issue I think has not been mentioned here.  I can't even get the Charge 3 to connect to my MacBook Air.   I looked a few other places where the tech people said you have to have a Mac equipped with Bluetooth LE (BLE).  My MacBook Air is so equpped (as are, I found, all MacBook Airs from 2013 or so).  But I go to the Fitbit Connect app,, click Setup a New Device, click Existing User, login successfully, get to Tell Us About Yourself, click Update Profile, get to Which Fitbit tracker are you setting up and find that at the bottom it says the following:  "*Mobile setup only: Ionic, Versa,Aria 2, Ace, Charge 3."  It does not allow me to even click Charge 3 and get any response.

I have deleted all my former Fitbit devices from my computer and Fitbit Site, which was also suggested by some, but to no avail.

So I can't even get my device connected so I can share the collective pain of those with synching, footstep counting and other problems.....

Cheers

[Aniruddha210387]

Hi I am from India, I bought Fitbit Charge 3 a week back. I am experiencing a similar issue with regards to inaccurate step counts. While I'm driving a car or riding a bike it is recording it as step counts. It is also recording a step count even if the device is not on my body but shaken with your hands. Is there any solution to this? Thanks in advance.

[JonS14]

The fact that there all these constantly recurring issues suggests clearly this is a product that should not be sold as it is not fit for purpose. I’m sure some of you out there have hr3 that actually work but I am now on my 3rd and I’ve had it - latest issues amongst many many others is on the bracelet unit it clearly showed after a session in the gym a 400 calorie burn yet as soon as I sync the unit it then stated 52 calories - I mean bahahahaha - it is that poor this product it is now laughable. 1.3 hours in the gym and it states 52 calories - pathetic. And then 12,000 step walk (which the auto tracker naturally didn’t register) and the complete calories burn for the day? 800. I do more than this when I don’t move! It’s a ridiculous product and now, after this been my 3rd, enough is enough. It’s going back and I will never buy another fitbit product until the company accept responsibility for such a poor product. In the mean time I will switch to another brand. The responsibility to keep on selling a product that simply does not work for the majority of people buying it should be criminal and a purposeful act when they are fully aware how poor this is. 

[FitSad]

My experience of the Charge 3 (if Fitbit are still trading when this gets posted).

Bought a C3 mainly due to it being reasonably attractive and having a swim tracker.

The first unit failed due to water ingress (you could see moisture on the rear sensor). Fitbit replaced under warranty with no problems.

The second unit failed due to water ingress (you could see moisture on the rear sensor). Fitbit replaced under warranty with no problems.

The third unit developed a screen problem and was replaced under warranty with no problems. Possible water ingress too.

The fourth unit is 1 day old and works fine!

My investigations showed that the waterproof seal between the sensor and body failed due to a manufacturing issue. This was reported to Fitbit, but nothing heard back.

The C3 (in my country) has a 2 year warranty, so judging from my past experience I'm due to get about 4-6 more replacements before the warranty runs out or Fitbit cease trading.

Of course we cannot know how many millions of happy C3 users there are compared to the thousands of problem messages in this forum.

[RogerBest]

Shame isn’t it? Definitely a triumph of style over substance. Same with my C2 and Aria 1 scales. Finally got to the stage where I got fed up with the prevarication and obfuscation of customer services using templated responses and, after many [and I mean, many] emails got a refund for the Aria [I’m also in Europe - at the moment] and sold the C2.

The greatest pity is Fitbit is a product we want to like albeit primarily for the price point. If it doesn’t work correctly in sufficient numbers then folk will be put off.

Good luck with #4.

R-

[Rondillio]

Hmm.. "went to bed.. 42 steps.. half an hour later.. 300 steps" .. having a wank, were we??

😉 😄 sorry couldn't help myself!

[Mover666]

The font size on Fitbit charge 3 for sms and call notifications is too small. 

[Lizziemaud]

I have had my fitbit charge 3 less than 12 months and the battery is flat before the end of day. It used to last 3 -4 days??

[notfatcat]

I have had numerous issues with the C3.  When FB sent an invitation to purchase their premium service I had to laugh.  Why pay more for something that won't be worth having since I can't even get the C3 to track my exercise?

I have owned three different FB's and I really hope they get their act together before someone (other than Apple) comes along and provides a quality product.

[Tamvalens]

I’m having a problem with my Fitbit charge3 screen. The display is very light and has  vertical lines running through it. It’s very hard to read. Please someone answer my problems. Thank you 

[Bea666]

Fitbit charge 3 has not tracked active minutes fo months, I have been in to tech support server all times and been told they are aware of the problem but there is no fix in sight for the near future.  I was also told there would be no use giving me a new Fitbit charge 3 as it would still have the same problem.  They are still selling these faulty products, they know there is a problem but refuse to recall them or stop selling them.  All they can recommend is that I keep watching for updates, when and if there is a fix I will not be notified it will just come as an update.

[iragx]

@Anfa 

vivosmart 4 is better. But still, it depends on your needs.