My Charge 3 has a black screen

[Bdh23]

Like many others here, my Charge 3 screen has gotten dimmer and dimmer over the last few weeks and now can’t be seen at all. I’ve tried resetting and sought to change settings, which is now impossible since the screen is completely unviewable. My Charge 3 is beyond the warranty period so I guess I’m just out of luck?

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[EdsonFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community, @Bdh23.

Thank you for letting us know that your Fitbit Charge 3 display is not working properly and thanks for trying to resolve the issue before contacting us.

I noticed that you've been in touch with Customer Support. I'm pretty sure they've done their best to provide a high level of support. Thank you for your patience while dealing with this situation.

Have a nice day.

[Holly23]

I noticed you just posted this earlier this week.  The same thing happened to my Fitbit Charge 3, the screen got dimmer and dimmer then just a couple weeks ago I couldn't see it at all, black screen.  It was still syncing so I still used it and kept it charged.  I can't be positive but my guess is this issue with the screen dimming till it can't be seen is the first sign that the actual battery is dying.  I just tried charging my Fitbit the past couple days and now it's officially "dead".  At first it was charging then it just stopped charging, even losing charge while on the charger and I was trying to charge it when it lost the charge totally.  I was able to keep track of the the charging through the Fibit app on my phone. I tried all the troubleshooting tips while attempting to charge it and nothing worked.  So today my Fitbit Charge 3 officially died at three years of age.  It was the first week of June 2019 that I got/started using it.  This will be my last Fitbit.  I loved it but I just can't see spending that kind of $$$ every 2 - 3 years especially when there are apps for tracking steps on my phone that I can use.  I had the Charge 2 that died (battery) after 2 years (had it from 2017 till 2019).  The original Charge I had didn't come with a replaceable band, so when the band broke, after 2 years, it became useless.  Got that one as a Christmas gift from my husband in 2015 and the band broke in early 2017.  Just wish Fitbit would consider making these with replaceable batteries. 

[EdsonFitbit]

Thank you for visiting the Fitbit Community, @Holly23.

I’m sorry to hear about the difficulties you experienced with your Fitbit Charge 3. Thank you for the time you spent trying to get them resolved.

If you have followed these instructions to resolve battery issues without luck, the best way to get help for this problem is to chat with us online or give us a call. Please click here to get connected.

Have a nice day.

[ejapo]

Hello, I'm dealing with this same situation of a black screen in my Charge 3. If I do a force restart I can see a progress bar and a smiley face on the screen but then the screen goes black again. Please let me know if there is anything that I can try to fix this. Also, on the phone via the app I can see that the steps are syncing and that the battery is 100%.

Thanks!

[Holly23]

That's exactly what was happening to mine a few weeks ago but I now think that was all related to the battery.  I noticed charge was low on the app a few days ago and tried charging it, checking the status on the app since screen was black, and it was slowing losing charge, not gaining, then it totally ran out after trying for most of the day, two days in a row.  While trying to get it charged, I tried charging it through USP port on the computer and since that wasn't working, I used the USP plug and tried two different outlets, still losing charge.  I even cleaned the chargers and the back of the Charge 3, and other trouble shooting tips for battery not charging with no luck.  For kicks, I tried charging again yesterday - nothing.  I'm sure you saw the reply I got from the Fitbit moderators of this site, but I tried using the online help but had no luck, you can't get an actual person.  I'm also not going to bother calling, what good is calling them to let them know my Fitbit battery is dead and no longer working going to do?  Fitbit used to replace them but no longer do, so no point in calling.  Just wish these Fibits lasted more than 2 - 3 years.  I will not be getting another one (that was my third). 

[Karolina1234]

Good morning

I'm having similar problem like described above. From about a week on a screen three - four visible black lines were appeared. When touching the intuitive button a smartwatch did not react sometimes. Today there is a total blackout. Smartwatch does not react even on restart. Battery is charged. App is syncing with the device but any step progress is visible.Green pulse diode is blinking. Vibrations also does not work. 

[EdsonFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community, @ejapo @Karolina1234.

@ejapo @Holly23 @Karolina1234 In addition to the troubleshooting steps shared in this article, you can perform a long restart to your Trackers:

1. Connect the device to the charging cable. 
2. While the device is plugged into the charging cable, press and hold the button down for 15 seconds. 
3. The device turns on and shows a battery icon. Two vibrations occur: first a short vibration, then a medium vibration. 
4. The device turns off.
5. The device turns on and shows a progress bar and short vibrations occur. The progress bar completes. Note: A total of 7 short vibrations occur. 
6. Remove the device from the charging cable. The device shuts down.
7. Important: Plug the device into the charging cable again. 

I would like to clarify, the purpose of getting in touch with Customer Support by phone or via chat is to get further assistance when the troubleshooting steps provided didn't work. If you continue having difficulties with your Charge 3 devices, please click here to reach out Customer Support.

See you around.

[KrisMuscott]

This is the same thing that is happening to mine. Mine is still syncing on the app. Black screen, doesn’t vibrate, unable to restart but shows fully charged. 

[ejapo]

Thank you @EdsonFitbit for the shared instructions. I went through these and noted at restart that something was being displayed but it was very dimmed. I went to a dark room and confirmed that there was something being displayed. I guess the age of my fitbit makes the screen being dimmed almost black. It took some trial and error to navigate to where I could change this but I was able to change the setting to normal and now I’m good. I was not able to find this setting on the fitbit app. 

thanks all!

[EdsonFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community, @KrisMuscott.

If you can see the display in a dark room, please make sure Do Not Disturb (DND) and Sleep Mode are turned off. In addition, you can change the screen's brightness to see if there is any improvement. For instructions on how to navigate your Tracker, please visit this article.

If you haven't done so, please change your Fitbit device's clock face:

• From the Today tab in the Fitbit app, tap your profile picture > Charge 3 tile.
• Tap Clock Faces.
• Browse the available clock faces. Tap a clock face to see a detailed view.
• Tap Install to add the clock face to Charge 3.

Thanks for the update, @ejapo.

I'm glad to hear that you've resolved the issue with your Charge 3. The setting to change the brightness is available only on the Tracker.

Have a nice day.

[Holly23]

I tried the tips that @EdsonFitbit provided and nothing - no vibrations and I can't even see the screen.  This battery is completely dead.  I did see that the troubleshooting worked for someone, so glad that someone had some success.  When the the dimming started on mine, I went into our closet w/light turned out to see the screen to make sure it was set to the brightest option, and it was set to brightest option.  But it got to the point I couldn't even see the display in a dark room.  So I tried changing the clock face, using tips in above post that I'd seen posted here in another reply.  Since my screen is black, I was unable to tell whether the clock face ever changed or not, still a black screen.  I was still able to charge it and it was still syncing so I continued using it.  That lasted about 2 weeks until last week when I wasn't able to charge it at all, the battery is dead.  Even when trying troubleshooting tips provided above, nothing.  I can feel no vibrations or see any progress bar.  I also no longer feel a quick vibration when attaching the Fitbit to the charging cable.  I've also tried cleaning it.  Nothing!  This battery is DEAD and no matter what troubleshooting tips I try, no bringing life back to it.  RIP Mr. Fibit Charge 3.  

I have an old watch I got in 2015 before I had my first Fitbit and guess what?  That's what I'm wearing now and it's still working.  It wasn't expensive either.  This Fitbit Charge 3 that I've commented about was the longest I've had a Fitbit battery last and that was only 3 years. So your point in that Fitbit doesn't seem to stand behind their product or trying to find solutions and only providing "troubleshooting tips" to customers is SPOT ON.  I know there are newer versions out there with more features, so could also be that when these batteries die it's just assumed that we, the customers, will go out and buy the latest version or an upgrade.  I'm sure many do and some probably buy the latest versions as soon as they are available just like they do with phones.  But I need to be practical especially with inflation and the prices of everything rising so what's the point in spending that kind of $$$ when I already know it will only last 2 - 3 years? 

Moderator edit: word choice