Inspire HR drops GPS when app or phone is closed

[Afob3]

Connected GPS has stopped working on my Inspire HR (fit os 23.2...) paired with my Samsung  A14 (Android 13) phone.  

When starting a my run from my HR, which would connect to my phone and get a GPS signal, and keep that signal no matter what I did with my phone.

Now to get an initial GPS signal I have to have the Fitbit app open on my phone, and to keep the signal I have to keep the phone unlocked and the app open.

This is a new issue with this combination of HR/phone that started several weeks ago.

I have tried reinstalling the app, restarting the Inspire HR.  Even went nuclear and factory reset the HR and phone.  App is latest from the play store.  All app, Bluetooth, location permissions are set correctly and the battery optimization is off. 

I don't want to pitch what was a perfectly working piece of hardware for a setting/software issue.  Thoughts?

Moderator edit:  updated subject for clarity

[Julia_G]

Hi, @Afob3 , in order for many of the Fitbit’s functions to work properly you will need to have the app set to “run in the background”.  It should not necessarily need to be open or the phone unlocked, as long as the app is still running.

[JuanFitbit]

@Julia_G Thank you for your help.

@Afob3 , A warm welcome to the Community! Thank you for your message and efforts. 

As mentioned by our friend Julia_G you'll need the Fitbit app to run in the background. 
The Inspire HR uses Connected GPS, meaning it uses the GPS signal, from your phone but the connection between the Inspire HR and your phone is handled by the Fitbit app. 
Please on your phone go to the Settings >Apps> Fitbit App > Battery   (path and names may vary depending on your phone's OS) . 

[Afob3]

@JuanFitbit  & @Julia_G ...  Thanks for the input.  Unfortunately that setting is already in place.  

 Bluetooth services are similarly unrestricted along with my music app that continues to work fine when the phone/app isn't open.

The HR had been a pretty reliable device until several weeks ago.  

[JuanFitbit]

@Afob3 , Thank you for your reply and further information, as well as the screenshot attached. 

Do you have other Bluetooth devices connected to your phone when recording an activity? (eg headphones, speakers, etc).
If so, this could explain the connection failure. Try using only the Inspire HR as Bluetooth device during the activity. 

Have you also try the steps here?Phone (connected) GPS, (scroll down for the description for some troubleshooting tips. )

[Afob3]

Although I've been tracking runs while listening to Bluetooth music for years, this is a variable worth eliminating.  

Unfortunately, even a short run without other Bluetooth devices still drops GPS tracking shortly after the phone is closed.

[JuanFitbit]

@Afob3 , Thank you for your reply and feedback. Our team is looking into this, and will work on a solution. 
I'll be updating the thread as soon as I receive further info.