New Charge 3 Won't Go Past "Connecting To Tracker"

[LdyFcknNoir]

First of all, let me say this: This is utterly ridiculous. It is 2019 (for all intents and purposes), and this is a fitness tracker. It should NOT be this difficult. If I'd had any idea this is what Fitbit had devolved into, I would've passed and saved money for the Apple Watch.

I got the Charge 3 for Christmas. I have yet to actually use it to do anything, because for the first 3 days, I couldn't even get it to turn on despite being on the charger all that time. After holding down the soft button for nearly five minutes, by some miracle it finally turned on the display. Still not sure what happened there, but I took it for the sign from the sky it was and moved on.

Now, I've (somehow) managed to get it (the app) to find the tracker - but now its endlessly looping on 'Connecting to Tracker'. I'll list every single thing I've seen all the moderators ask every other person with this issue, since I've spent another four days going over topic after topic on these forums and each time the moderator has failed to help.

Yes, I've forgotten every other device in bluetooth.

Yes, I've uninstalled and reinstalled the app.

No, it never shows up in my bluetooth settings, so I can't 'forget it'.

Yes, I am a foot away from my router. So there is zero connectivity issue with my router.

Yes, I've held down the soft button for ALL the recommended times.
Yes, I have both the latest app version and latest software version on my iPhone 6s.

Yes, my WiFi and mobile data connection are strong (seriously?)

 Yes, I've turned bluetooth on and off, turned phone on and off.

I HAVE TRIED EVERY SINGLE SUGGESTION. IT STILL DOES NOT WORK, NOR HAS IT EVER WORKED. At least others got some use out of theirs. I've had this useless thing for a week and it's done nothing but irritate me by being beyond useless.

Now, this is my THIRD fitbit product, and I have never had these kind of issues prior. I hope a mod can comment with something actually useful, instead of pretty words on how concerned they are for my issues or if I've tried the most basic of fixes. I assure you I have, and it still doesn't work. I'm totally embarrassed for Fitbit, to have this many issues with this and not be able to come up with a satisfactory fix. Your customers obviously mean nothing to you.

[wiccacat]

Like everyone else I have tried EVERYTHING to fix this charge 3. It set up fine in the beginning but lost 10 minutes of time. Now it’s no longer recognized so trying to set up all over again and will not even connect to Fitbit on my phone (iPhone X). It’s stuck on the connecting process and won’t advance.

After over 2 hours, connected—and time is still wrong!!! For what I spent on the deluxe” model, I give up. I’m buying an Apple watch. 

Moderator edit: merged reply

[R2mommy]

Hi @MarreFitbit,

I'm having the same issue and have tried all of the recommended actions Fitbit has mentioned (restart phone, uninstall & reinstall app, unpaired tracker, unpaired all other devices, turned Bluetooth on/off, location on/off, verified software on tracker and app, checked app permissions, restart tracker by rebooting via setting and by manually holding the side button, checked phone compatibility, etc.)

I was using the Charge 3 until August this year. I let the battery run out and yesterday decided to charge it up to use it again. To my dismay the tracker just won't sync! My phone is compatible (Samsung Galaxy 6s egde). 

Actually, at one point yesterday the app and tracker did sync once but after about an hour I noticed the time was wrong - it was 10 mins slower. So I searched how to trouble shoot that. Lo and behold, the issue stems from connectivity. So i unpaired the tracker again to hopefully reset everything again, but this time the app can't connect again (tried over 10 times using the same methods mentioned before) so I've sent support an email about my ordeal but they aren't telling me anything new. In fact since yesterday, the time on the tracker is now almost an hour slower. How is that even possible?

Thinking back when I first got the tracker last Dec as a gift it had syncing issues but they were resolved easily by holding the side button but this time the issue persisted. 

I think the tracker is broken. I can't even reset the device by holding the side button. When I hold the button it would vibrate once and then pops to the Notification function. I hold it and it vibrates two more times but the smiley face no longer appears. I've been very gentle with the tracker, maintaining it by keeping it from getting wet and cleaning it. 

I've also tried syncing the tracker on my husband's phone. I downloaded the app and logged in as myself. The phone is a Samsung Note 8. The app detected the tracker but it can't connect either!

What else can I do?

[Ladylavonne]

I've reinstalled the fitbit app on my mac. Restarted my charge 3 8 times. tried my iphone both with and without bluetooth.

This is my second fitbit but now my last. It should not be this hard.You are losing customers with this product.

[sadpam]

This is my 3rd FitBit. I have had the Charge 1-band fell off, Charge-2 screen cracked, but they always worked.  This piece of junk is very frustrating.  It works all day and when I go home is doesn't recognize anything, It won't even display Charge 3 in the app. I think you need a major recall because this will be my last one if this keeps happening.

[Sylv12]

In my second and it fails all the time. Constantly have to reset it. My daughter has a knock off and it work much better then mine. Only cost her $45.00. I will be going that route next.

[Cpettijohn]

have done all of the above several times and get nothing... getting ready to get refund and buy Apple watch... it shouldn’t be this difficult... figure it the hell out Fitbit

[sadpam]

I found out you scroll to the left to the last screen to settings, click on
setting and scroll up to the last word, ABOUT. Click on about and scroll up
and you can reset the Fitbit only when it’s plugged into the charger. It
works. After I did this my Fitbit worked fine. It syncs. I really like this
Fitbit. It’s too bad it took me awhile to find this out.

[Cpettijohn]

Did not work for me... having been on with customer service... total waste of time... got stuck with a lemon

[scharglo]

April 22, 2020

Having the same problem, have tried EVERYTHING!!! I had been connected previously and not used the Charge 3 for a month or so, when I tried it has never reconnected. I have done everything including deleting the app and restarting, turned off bluetooth on all other devices, it just keeps looping "connecting to tracker"

[Cpettijohn]

After 45 days and going back and forth with support, I gave up and bought an Apple watch...

[scharglo]

Thank you ....FINALLY it connected!

[sadpam]

I had this problem a few times. I have an iPhone and had to go into
settings and then to the Fitbit app and allowed it to access everything,
only then did it recognize the Bluetooth and connect to the phone.

There are new updates out there for the iOS products, you might want to
update that first.

You can also go into the Fitbit itself to settings and reset the actual
Fitbit.

Good Luck

[Cpettijohn]

I tried all of that and spent a week working with support .. I gave up and bought an Apple watch.. threw the **ahem** thing away

[sadpam]

I’m sorry this didn’t work for you.
Enjoy your Apple Watch!

[Debpeeved]

My Fitbit charge is the exactly the same as yourself. I have even got to putting in the 4 digit code and it says “there was a problem communicating with your tracker  please try again. FITBIT YOU SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED. I have been trying again for four and a half hours what a joke.

very unhappy customer

[sadpam]

The fix that worked for me is to reboot your device setting.
You can find that by swiping three times to the left to settings. Swipe up
to the word about and touch that. Swipe up again and touch the check mark.
Also make sure your device works with the Bluetooth on your phone. That
could be the problem. I hope this helps, good luck.

[Debpeeved]

Hi I already tried that and got it to connect once and when it did sync
about 5 mins later stopped syncing again .

[Jayashree_S]

Today I’m having the same problem! I’ve tried everything and its still not connecting the Bluetooth with my iPhone. Is any another solution available to fix this issue? 

[Debpeeved]

I tried everything with mine and eventually had to contact Fitbit
themselves and had to send back and got a new one

[Cpettijohn]

I ended up buying an Apple watch... the replacement Fitbit had the same problem after a couple of months as well...