An App is Needed to Use this Device??

[SunsetRunner]

Suddenly my Versa 2 no longer receives text messages on the watch. Checked to see if it was still connected to Bluetooth and when I click on Versa 2 it pops a message - An App Is Needed to Use This Device. I have the app. Everything was working a week ago. I cleared the app cache - restarted the phone and the watch. Nothing is working. Within in app I can sync the device. But still don't receive text messages on the watch or have it connect to bluetooth. Anyone else having this issue? Need help.

[Melissa2017]

Any one else still having issues with this problem?  I just got a new phone last night (Samsung S21+) and I cannot get my watch to work.  At. All.  

I have tried the steps provided by Mypib and nothing.  I'm so frustrated with this, so any guidance is appreciated.  

[Lilstar0800]

Thank you so much!!! This worked. I was super frustrated 🙂 

[sandiwalton]

This worked for me, thank you!

[marshasuzanne]

I’m frustrated, ready to give up on this device and go to Apple

[SunsetRunner]

Hi, I got a new phone and my fitbit is now doing this also.

I have tried all of the tips (Checked settings, Bluetooth on and off and restart of phone) but I continue to get this message.

The phone will sync if I go into the app and it is tracking sleep and workouts but the connection isn't there for messages and notifications. 

Does anyone have any other help tips. Have tried to contact support but it sends me here....

Thanks, so frustrating!

[Tassia27]

Same here. It's so frustrating 

[BBBird]

OMGOSH, Mypib, Thank you!!!!! I was going nuts over this and your fix worked!!! I can't thank you enough ❤️

[Rich_Laue]

Hi @SunsetRunner it is doing what. 

To switch phones. 

• Turn off old phone. 
• Load the fitbit app on to the new phone. 
• Log into your fitbit account. 
• Accept any requested permissions. 
• Setup notifications. 

The fitbit app will at some point request permission to attach the tracker to the phones Bluetooth. 

Note: we did not remove the tracker from the app or fitbit account. 

The user never sets up a tracker to the phone, they setup a tracker to a fitbit account. 

The fitbit app sets up the tracker that is connected to a fitbit account to the phone. 

[DustinT134]

Hello mam I'm new I've been having a problem with the Versa 2 watch I'm trying to connect my Versa 2 to Bluetooth from my phone but it keeps telling me an app is needed to use this device would you happen to know the name of the app that is used to connect your phone to your versa by using Bluetooth

[Rich_Laue]

That is correct @DustinT134 as mentioned above you setup the fitbit tracker through the fitbit app. 

Any attempt to pair the tracker with the phones Bluetooth will be rejected by the tracker, resulting in the message "To use the (Fitbit) app"

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1872.htm?Highlight=Setup

[dmf57]

The link you provided is to set up a Fitbit Charge 4 not a Versa 2. My Versa 2 was set up through the app. The error message "an app is needed" still appears when you try to pair the app with Bluetooth. Your reply does not and will not solve the problem. 

[Rich_Laue]

My link points to the help instructions for setting up a fitbit tracker. The top of the page might say Charge 4, but the process to setup any fitbit model is the same. 

• Load fitbit app on phone, tablet, or Win 10 computer. 
• Open the fitbit app
• Log into your fitbit account. 
• Tap add device and follow prompt. 
• It is exactly the same process that was used to setup a tracker back in 2015. 
• Once the fitbit tracker is connected to your fitbit account, the app will ask for permission to connect the tracker to the phone. 

[dmf57]

As I stated in my previous reply my Versa 2 was set up through the app. It is the only way to set up any Fitbit. Everyone who responded to this post has set up their Fitbit through the app. The problem is the app does not sync with a phone's Bluetooth. 

[Rich_Laue]

While setting up, do you get any error messages? 

The app will not sync any data from the watch until after the watch is setup. 

I simply was responding to the "I'm told to use the app", this tells me that the user is trying to manage the BT connection. This is a Bluetooth Low Energy device and requires an app to manage the Bluetooth connection. In this case, the fitbit app. 

[LBReed]

This worked for me, too! Thank you! I've been trying to resolve this for weeks! (I hate calling customer service for multiple reasons.) I have all my notification functions back now.

[LambCore]

I asked my partner to get me this watch specifically because I'm working from home, and syncing the calendar up is a feature that I wanted.

I've set it up, out of the box, with a Samsung S21 Ultra. I've uninstalled the app and reinstalled it, yet I'm still getting the "An app is needed to run this device", while literally running the app. I can use the app to customise my watch face, get WhatsApp notifications, but it will not sync up to my calendar. Even though I've given the app the permissions it needs to do so, and set the default calendar to the one that I need.

Any answers?

[Rich_Laue]

@LambCore where are you seeing the message that an app is needed. 

Also what steps do you take before the message shows? 

[SunsetRunner]

Thank you so much!!!! That helped after the first try! I've tried other ones where you have to turn it off and then on and that doesn't do anything , but after the first try with your advice mine is synced, connected and ready to go! 

[jmahieu]

Same problem.

[Rich_Laue]

As mentioned above, @jmahieu if you see the message that an app is needed, you will have to setup the tracker. 

However this may not be the problem, since there is a few unrelated problems being discussed in this thread.