Sync Charge 3 with MacBook Pro?

[MiniLaura]

I have a MacBook Pro running High Sierra.

I have a brand new Charge 3.

I have a Fitbit dongle that came with my now-dead Alta.

Bluetooth is on my computer and is turned on.

However:

I cannot get my Charge 3 to sync with my computer.

The Charge 3 does not show up on my list of Bluetooth devices. (I've turned Bluetooth off and on.)

I cannot connect to my Charge 3 using FitBit Connect because the Charge 3 is not listed in the available devices. 

How can I can get my Charge 3 to sync with my MacBook Pro? I've looked at other threads, and I still can't figure it out. If this is possible, please talk to me like I'm 5, and give me step-by-step directions or point me to a page that has step-by-step directions.

Thank you!

[LZeeW · Accepted solution]

@MiniLaura  Fitbit made a change with the release of the Ionic, Versa, and Charge 3.  They will only sync with a compatible smartphone or tablet using the Fitbit app or a PC that supports the Windows 10 app.  It will not sync with your MacBook.

Do you have a compatible device?

[MiniLaura]

I have a Pixel 3 that I used to set up the Charge 3, but I was hoping to have it also auto sync with my computer because I don't open my Fitbit app regularly. But I guess I'll have to do that now!

Thanks for the answer.

[Alv129]

Is there any plan for syncing Charge 3 and macbook?

[GuyuteThePig]

That has got to be the dumbest thing ever.  Fitbit seriously made a conscious decision to NOT allow syncing with MacBooks???  Hey - you can sync your Fitbit with EVERYTHING except a MacBook Pro.....  Smart....  REAL smart......

I bet this gets deleted (or never posted at all).

[JesseAy]

But the box of the Charge 3 CLEARLY says the device will sync with a Mac.   Doesn't the company know if it will sync or not?  

[OwenX21]

The more Fitbit "enhances" their services the more I dislike it. My One ( which I loved ), died. I get the Charge 3 and now it won't synch to any of my Macs. What a stupid, stupid decision by them.

[lablover55]

Web based. After you sync to your phone, just open up the web browser on your mac pro. 

[MiniLaura]

And there you have just restated the problem. You can only sync a Charge 3 with your phone. I want to sync with my computer. I know I can view it on my computer after syncing it with my phone, but previously, I did not have all-day sync on my phone, and I was around my computer enough that my data was always relatively updated.

Also, my phone fails to sync with my phone for days at a time, and I have to constantly reset everything to get it to sync (disconnect bluetooth, reconnect bluetooth, restart phone, restart Fitbit, uninstall FitBit app, reinstall FitBit app). It's ridiculous. My Alta, my Flex, and my One all synced reliably with my computer, but my most expensive FitBit to date? Crap.

[tickedteri]

Got a Charge 3 as a gift.  Will not sync with my older generation iPad so I decided to use my Mac.  It almost seemed to sync with the Mac bluetooth but then failed.  I purchased the dongle so "Fitbit connect" would work as described on the Fitbit site (Connect works with Mac or Win 10) now we find out the site is misleading and the Charge three only works with latest generation iPad or later model smartphones.

What crap!

[UptownPJ]

That's great if your FitBit syncs with your phone, but since I upgraded to Samsung A20, it will not.  My Charge 3 is adrift at sea.

[stardancer]

thanks for posting. and saving me hours of trying to sync w my 2 year old ipad and several months old MacBook. what luck I bought charger 3 at costco, so I can return it. now that google has bought them out, will they dump Mac altogether?

[FerailleOrdure]

I wish I'd read this thread before ordering this piece of junk. Opened the box of my brand new Charge 3, wouldn't sync with my MacBook, Googled it, found this thread, and now I'm sorry I bought this thing. What a waste of time and money.

[djwenner]

So unhappy with my out-of-the-box user experience with Fitbit Charge 3. Whatever happened to It Just Works?

EXPERIENCE 1:

Installed Fitbit Connect on MacBook Pro Retina 15 with upgrades to the most recent software. Couldn't get Mac to recognize the device. Noticed disclaimer later that the Charge 3 doesn't work with MacBook. Ugh!!! I'm not a cell phone fan and didn't want to go there.

RESULT:

Ready to call it a wash because of time lost and frustration endured.

(edited to omit cell phone experience)

[djwenner]

MY UNSOLICITED ADVICE TO FITBIT:

Ditch some of that slick packaging to make room for a list of what WON'T work or at least what actually WILL work with your devices.

[djwenner]

Turns out I must buy a new cell phone because of incompatible OS on current phone & inability to upgrade. So my bad about that. May look on eBay for used cell phone with 7.0+ OS.

Still bummed about the MacBook fail however.

[Iteachhealth]

I'm very frustrated with this as well.  I was planning to ditch my smartphone and thinking I could just use my computer to sync everything.  I guess not!  Guess I'll have to ditch my Fitbit too!