"GPS Will Not Be Turned On"

[SunsetRunner]

Hello,

Loving my new Charge 2 so far. It's working great; steps and distance seem accurate and I'm finding my way around the the dashboard.

My only problem: I cannot activate the GPS connection with my iPhone. I've gone through all the suggestions: On my phone I have verified in settings that background app refresh is on for Fitbit and that Fitbit can access my location under Privacy / Share My Location.

On the app, I've gone into the Run, Walk and Hike exercise shortcuts and made sure "Connected GPS" is on.   Yet, when I go into the exercise section, I get the message that "GPS Will Not Be Turned On" under each of the exercises, and on my device, the phone has a slash through it when I select and begin an exercise.

Have re-booted phone and device several times.   All I really care about is being able to see the maps - the distance calculations without GPS have been accurate.

Thank you

[MarreFitbit · Accepted solution]

It's nice to see you around the Community @SunsetRunner, hope you're doing great!  See below for instructions on checking the GPS-related settings on your mobile device. Note that a weak GPS signal may cause your route and other activity data to be inaccurate.

1. First, make sure you can track your run, walk, or hike when you're out of Wi-Fi range:
   1. Open Settings and tap Cellular.
   2. Make sure Cellular Data is turned on.
2. Next, ensure that your GPS can continue tracking when your phone is locked:
   1. Open Settings and tap General.
   2. Tap Background App Refresh, find the Fitbit app, and make sure it is turned on.
3. Lastly, make sure your phone can identify your location:
   1. Open Settings and tap Privacy.
   2. Tap Location Services and make sure it’s turned on.
   3. Find Fitbit in the app list and make sure it's set to While Using the App or Always. If you choose the Always setting, MobileRun will automatically restart when unexpectedly interrupted.

Would  you mind doing this process all over again to make sure we're activating the GPS correctly?

Hey before doing all of that, try these steps firts:

1. Log out of your Fitbit App
2. Force quit the App
3. Restart your Charge 2
4. Turn off the Bluetooth
5. Shut off your phone and turn it on after 1-2 minutes
6. Turn on the Bluetooth
7. Log back into your Fitbit App

Let me know how it goes!

[wheeltapper]

That worked! Thank you

[MarreFitbit]

Hurray!  It's nice to hear that it worked for you my friend!

Hope to see you participating in the Community more often since I think it would be awesome for you to explore our Community, so you can go ahead and log to any of the topics that might be of your interest in our Discussion boards. Feel free to comment and contribute with your knowledge and experience.

Happy stepping!

[Ltran]

I did all of the advice but it still says GPS will not be turned on. Please help. Thanks in advance.

[SunsetRunner]

I tried this solution but didn't work on my Fitbit charge 2. I followed all the instructions about the gps etc but nothing happened. 

[SunsetRunner]

Again this is the same for me. Tried all of the above and still says " gps will not be turned on" It's rather frustrating as when I did a long walk today up a mountain and  the distance was wildly inaccurate compared with the health app on my iPhone and my sisters tracker. Is there another solution?

[SunsetRunner]

It is! I want to have an accurate measurement about my steps, distances
etc, as the Fitbit app recommend but it's impossible if the gps isn't
working! Do you think that the tracker has any kind of default?

[SunsetRunner]

I've just been advised by an online chat agent that the Fitbit charge 2 does NOT automatically connect to gps using the auto-recognise feature. You have to manually track your exercise. A big rubbish tbh. 

[SunsetRunner]

Hi Joel,

How do you manually track your exercise? Do you add the distance, time, etc
to the fitbit app?

[Julia_G]

Hi, @SunsetRunner, "manual tracking" is not the same as "manual logging".  In this case people are contrasting exercises automatically detected by SmartTrack, and exercises manually tracked using the exercise shortcuts on your Charge 2.

For SmartTrack exercises GPS will not be turned on.  If you would like to have your distance computed for you then you should use one of the exercise shortcuts with or without connection to your phone's GPS.  If you use the "connected GPS" feature of the Charge 2 your distance will be calculated using GPS and your steps using your Fitbit.  If you use the exercise shortcuts without connected GPS your distance will be calculated by multiplying steps times stride length.

Note that only "walk" "run" "hike" or "interval workout" will show distance on your dashboard.  All other activities will hide the distance statistic.  Activities automatically tracked by SmartTrack never show distance no matter what the activity.

[Amit555]

Hi, I have the same problem of ' GPS will not be turned on' on my Charger 2 when I select the Exercise type Walk . It is synced with Android 6.1 Version mobile.

I did follow the steps mentioned ( as applicable) but it did not work.Apparently, the steps are for Apple IOS and not for Android .

Thanks !!

[sarabibby]

Having the exact same issues. Followed all the steps provided for my iPhone. Distances are MASSIVELY inaccurate. Running last night did 6miles and yet Fitbit said id done 6.8!! Did Wigan 10K 2 weeks again and while distance was that- 10K (6.2 miles) Fitbit said is done 6.7miles!!

starting to get really demotivated as I've no idea if I'm improving or not. Tried every single "solution" on these forums and starting to think I've wasted my monwt and should just get a garmin! Any further suggestions Fitbit? 

[q445187]

Not tracking distance??  That's dumb 😞  The Charge 2 is making me lose patience.  ALSO, my charge 2 doesn't have a "Walk" exercise I can select, also dumb...

[Kelz111]

Having the EXACT same problem!! Thing is this used to work for me but now dosent. If I use the RUN option on the fitbit it says check fitbit app and dosent track. So frustrated Im also thinking of getting rid and getting a garmin. 

[Rich_Laue]

@Kelz111where. Do you see the message "gps will not be turned on"?

[Kelz111]

It’s under account>exercise>run

Sent from my iPhone

[Kelz111]

Under account>exercise>run

[Kelz111]

I’m so annoyed I have tried literally everything!! The location services icon does not show even though everything is set up correct. I have checked a thousand times 

[Hven]

Same thing is happening to me and it used to map and do mile splits. Any solutions?