Red light on the back of Charge 3

[Sreveles]

My Fitbit Charge 3 has a red light on the back and when I try to restart while on the charger, all I get is a 3 second vibration ... it won't restart or even if I tap the screen nothing happens ... what can I do or what's wrong?

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[AlejandraFitbit]

It's great to welcome you @Sreveles.

Thanks for troubleshooting this red light issue. Where are you seeing this on your Charge 3? Since, the optical heart rate turns red during the tracking of sleep and changes to green shortly after you are awake.

Keep me posted. 

[Sreveles]

It's on the back were the lights blink but now theres a green and red light
on and all I get when I touch the little side button a vibration and the
screen does not come on at all

[Nina5551]

My fitbit display is also black and won't display anything.   The red light in the back is stuck on.  It won't sync and won't restart.  It vibrates when I press the button.  I think it is due to a bad software update.  I have tried all listed solutions without success, and now it is stuck unpaired and no display to view the pairing code.  Fitbit says the warranty is expired.  I have owned 4 fitbits and enjoyed having them,  but they have all had issues resulting in them being unusable.  I am extremely frustrated and disappointed in the product.   Hopefully potential customers become aware of the frequency of problems fitbit has.  Many others I know have also had many problems with fitbits and will not buy the brand anymore. 

[Sreveles · Accepted solution]

Eventually the battery will die...charge it and if nothing turns on then
contact Fitbit and they should replace it if there is still
warranty....they were easy to deal with and very helpful...
Hope this helps...

[Sreveles]

Eventually the battery will die...put it to charge and if nothing turns on then contact Fitbit and if you still have a Warranty the will replace it...they were easy to deal with quick to respond and very helpful...I dont have any complaints with customer service/support...

Hope this helped

[Nina5551]

Thanks for offering an idea Sreveles!  I thought of this as well and tried it.  Unfortunately, the display is still blank and fitbit says my warranty is invalid.

[allenhenderson3]

I’ve had the same issues; I’m on my 3rd Charge 3 in less than 18 months. If you use 24/7 it will go bad within 12 months, so you will get one free. When the next one goes Fitbit knows the issue without admitting it. They will give you a 25% discount on next one (or selected other models) the one-year warrant starts again. They are cheap devices just call it a cost of tracking service like Fitbit Premium or a Peloton subscription and keep replacing and  stop trying to troubleshoot an unfixable issue. I keep my old Charge 2 in case I’m without my Fitbit for 2-day shipping ( I upgraded for swimming/waterproof).

The devices track well, sync well with mobile ap and recognized for syncing by Peloton. I’m a cyclist, so  I will keep buying small inexpensive Charge 3 or comparable, wear it most times on ankle and just keep tracking. The wasted time is “troubleshooting” unless a simple reset which takes 15 seconds (plug into charger hold button 15 seconds).

When going bad it first affects display, then charge holds for 2 to 3 days not 6+, sleep log will only track sleep time not other metrics, constant syncing starts to go so you need to manually sync,  then you get the back lights (especially red one) as bright as flasher lights - not the typical dimmer green, yellow, red - the watch starts to vibrate hard will wake you if in the middle of night then PUFF, it’s dead ..... a goner. 

[allenhenderson3]

Great, correct, simple answer. I’ve owned 3, see my response at the bottom. Calling customer service for assistance in getting a new one (free through warranty or discount 25% if not.) is the only solution and they are great to work with. Trouble shooting is a waste of time. I keep an old charge 2 around for the one to 6-day shipping arrival time without losing my tracking.  Charge 3 are inexpensive and generally less than typical subscriptions to Premium tracking and/or various exercise/nutrition /meditation programs. Just an annual cost of excellent health tracking. 

[Duckster68]

Annual cost 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Shemoki]

Your last paragraph is a PERFECT description of the deterioration of my Charge 3.   I would be expecting to be woken tonight by the vibrations, except I can't wear it to bed (and not much point as the sleep log is nonsense) as the red light is so bright it wakes me up.  Gave my Charge 2 away. Mistake. 

[idbarrelracer]

Mine is doing the same thing. I charged it a few days ago, it seemed to be fine, but the battery died again later the same day. I've had it charging for 2 days now, & the light won't go off, and even though it seems to restart (smiley face screen comes up) it won't actually turn on, & when i remove it from the charger the red light is crazy bright again (quite literally hurts my eyes) & the screen won't turn on. 

'

[Emilymooremle]

Same thing is happening to me. We’re you able to fix it?

[Emilymooremle]

Did it get fixed? Mine is doing the same.

[GeoG]

I'm on my third one too and today it went dead. I'm sure I'm past my time as this was a replace for the last replace. I asked them if there was an issue but they don't answer. I had a charge too and it's still around and it's many years old I don't want 25% discount to buy another charge three that's going to go out I want them to keep replacing them until they give me one that works or upgrade me to a new model I'll be calling again tomorrow mine went blank today and when I try to charge it it gets hot... Why don't they just replace it with the newest model?

[RMTchg3]

If it is only made to last 1-2 years all they have to do us tell us when we buy them. I mean it is not like they do not know it. Mine still syncs and usually holds a charge (although there have been times) but the screen is totally black. I’ve tried all their steps and the rep simply refused to tell me. It’s done  maa’m, you will never see the screen again. Just tell us the truth. So I only use it for the stats on my phone now. Useless as a watch completely. Oh and some nights no sleep tracking at all.