Fitbit Versa 2 showing wrong time

[thybountyhunter]

So my fitbit is 2 minutes behind my computer and tablet.  It never used to be.

I have tried syncing it.  I have tried turning off Automatic time zone, selecting one that is not mine then selecting mine and then syncing it.  I have done that then rebooting my watch. 

I have tried rebooting my watch.  Still 2 minutes off. 

Moderator edit: clarified subject.

[Julia_G]

Hi, @thybountyhunter , your Fitbit will update to the correct time if you are able to sync it.  Please have a look at this help article for troubleshooting a Fitbit that doesn’t sync.

[ManuFitbit]

Hi @thybountyhunter. It's nice to see you around the Fitbit community.

Thanks for the details regarding your the inconvenience with time on your device.

I suggest you follow these steps:

1. In the Fitbit app, tap Today tab > your profile picture > App Settings.
2. Turn off the Automatic time zone option.
3. Tap Select time zone and choose the correct time zone.
4. Sync your Fitbit device.

Thanks @Julia_G for your help.

[thybountyhunter]

Hi,

Thanks for that reply too bad you never read what I stated, as I did cover the whole automatic time zone stuff.  

[thybountyhunter]

Thank you as well for not reading my reply, I did say I tried to sync it.

[Julia_G]

Hi, @thybountyhunter , I did note that you said you had tried to sync it.  However, it clearly did not sync - otherwise it would not be two minutes behind!  It will only update the time if it syncs (I am assuming that your phone time is correct).  That is why I referred you to the help article which gives you step by step instructions of troubleshooting a Fitbit that won’t sync.  I suggest again that you look at it.  If your Fitbit syncs, it will update the time.

(In this case timezone is irrelevant.  There are no zones that change by 2 minutes.)

[thybountyhunter]

My app is on my tablet, I never leave the app open, I always have to open it (so there is no need to force a close) and when I do it syncs.  I have also gone through the steps of manually syncing it.  Hence why I said I tried to sync it and hence the frustration when you tell me to sync it when I said I did.

My computer says one time, my PC is correct,  my tablet is the same as my PC.  My fitbit app says shows the same time as the PC and my tablet.

My watch however is 2 minutes behind.  I understand how the systems work together. 

My fitbit is updated (versa 2) and everything runs fine except the time.    Seems like people figure I am lying but here is a picture of my watch on my tablet with the fitbit app time beside it.

Edit: Before I came here I searched and did everything I could find to troubleshoot this, I have worked in the tech industry, I know the steps to take to assess and address issues like this, before posting I googled the exact issue I am having and every link shared I visited prior.  It didn't fix the issue so that is why I posted my issue.

[Julia_G]

Hi, @thybountyhunter , I am so sorry to have frustrated you!  I was simply trying to help… I don’t work for Fitbit, and I don’t get paid for answering (or trying to answer!) questions…. 

As you obviously know, the Fitbit can only get its time from the device it syncs with.  It does not keep time independently.  Some Fitbits seem to “hold” (for lack of a better word) their time better than others - that is I have observed that some Fitbits can keep an accurate time even if they haven’t synced for a week, and others start to lose minutes pretty quickly. 

I assumed that this was the case with your Fitbit and that it was likely that it hadn’t actually synced (at least not synced fully) for a few days…. If you open your app and go to the account screen (by clicking on the person icon/photo top left) and on the account screen clicking on your Fitbit (Versa 2) it will show you the time and date of the last sync to confirm.

Do you sync with a phone as well as your tablet?

And even though you say there is no need to force quit your Fitbit app, I would definitely recommend that.  I think a force quit will require you to log in again.  This may help to flush everything out and prompt a full sync that updates the time.

Good luck!  Please keep us posted on how it goes.

[thybountyhunter]

As I said I have worked in the tech industry, how I found this board is searching for solutions to my problem, so I have done everything.  When I charge my tablet (as I don't have a phone) I turn it off, so the program has been force quit, in fact I never leave it on in the background at all.

I have done the sync and the photo I provided was after a sync.  I understand you don't work for fitbit but I have done everything suggested as well as not suggested directly here prior to posting my first comment.

As I said I worked in the tech industry I know how to troubleshoot and search so I have done it all.  I am hoping there is some solution that has not been mentioned at all.

Edit: if you can't help that is fine but wasting my time going over things I said I did....is just pointless.

I have done:

Sync,

Force quit and then sync

Restart watch and sync

Force quit, restart watch and sync.

Turn of Automatic time zone

Turn off Automatic time zone and sync.

Turn off Automatic time zone restart watch and sync

Turn off Automatic time zone force quit and sync

Turn off Automatic time zone restart watch, force quit and sync.

Turn of Automatic time zone and turn it on

Turn of Automatic time zone and turn it on and sync.

Turn of Automatic time zone and turn it on restart watch and sync

Turn of Automatic time zone and turn it on force quit and sync

Turn of Automatic time zone and turn it on restart watch, force quit and sync.

So now you see I have tried everything, if there is nothing else just say so, and admit it is screwed but don't ask me to do something I already did.

[Guy_]

Hi @thybountyhunter - it seems your troubleshooting and reporting is very thorough and those steps should have resolved it, and is a bit of a mystery.

It is odd the watch lost 2 minutes somewhere but is not losing more time, a one time fault or was switched off for that time, perhaps. The point is the watch is not faulty if it doesn't consistently lose more time.

There is another possible but unlikely cause, the clock face itself. Have you tried switching to another one?

[thybountyhunter]

Ya I thought of that after my last post, I deleted all clock faces forcing it back to the default one.  No good, still 2 minutes off.  

[Guy_]

Thanks, @thybountyhunter  incredibly weird. Another option is both pc and tablet are not on correct time and watch is.

With the pc off, can you logout of the Fitbit App, swipe off the active window, clear the storage cache and force stop it and restart the watch and tablet one more time and sync, just in case it helps.

[Guy_]

@thybountyhunter  - try this link to see live internet time for comparison.

[Julia_G]

Do you know anyone else with a Fitbit?  If so, I would try logging into your account on their phone or tablet and sync and see if that updates the time correctly.  Fitbits don’t access internet time independently - they update to the time on the device they sync with - or at least that is what they are meant to do.

I don’t think that timezone should be relevant but there is a trick that fixes a Fitbit that doesn’t update properly when changing time zones which you don’t seem to have tried.  I suppose it is worth a try since nothing else has worked so far. Go to the time zone section of your app, turn off auto timezone and choose any WRONG timezone and sync your Fitbit.  (The Fitbit should show the wrong time - you may need to sync a couple of times to force the update.) Then go back and this time choose the correct time zone and sync again.

[thybountyhunter]

So I had but forgotten so I did try again, deleted my faces and went to default, I also changed the time zone and still nothing.

[Julia_G]

Hi, @thybountyhunter , I don’t know it it will work, but did you try my suggestion of choosing the wrong timezone, syncing and then choosing the right one?  That does force an update when switching time zones when the phone updates but the Fitbit doesn’t despite syncing, so possibly might force the Fitbit to take the time from your phone.  Just a suggestion.

[thybountyhunter]

I had talked to fitbit support, that was also suggested (I referred them to this post so they did not get me to do things over again) one thing I did but never stated was what you suggested.  I changed the time zone synced it Time changed (still 2 minute off) then set time zone to mine re-synced it and still 2 minutes off.

At this point my next purchase will NOT be a fit bit as this is infuriating.  I should note that I have owned this for 3 years (my account was created on April 2020) and so I am now outside of my Extended Warranty, call me paranoid but I find that suspicious, and nothing anyone says can change that.