Fitbit Versa not working after swimming

[Kai-n]

I went swimming in a pool a few days ago with my Fitbit Versa on and it stopped working for about two days. It would not turn back on even though it had a full charge. Then after about two days it turned back on. Now the heart rate sensor does not work, the lights on the back wont light up anymore and it wont display BPM. I have factory reset the watch and it still wont work. Also sleep tracking does not work as well.

I’m guessing there was some sort of water damage and after a few days it had dried out enough to start up but the heart rate sensor was damaged. Has anyone sent a water damage watch to be repaired or replace under warranty. The watch is only 3 weeks old so would want a replacement, if they just repaired the watch it would most likely get damaged the next time I go for a swim.

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[jjohnso]

I've read too many of this comments to trust that the fitbit Versa is waterproof.  Too many comments of people saying their fitbit died while swimming.  They are sending me a new one and I will not put it in the water.

[Krose13]

Same. Bought my Versa 6 months ago. Generally it only sees water if I get splashed or caught in the rain. I went swimming for the first time today and it shut down completely. I can see the water/humidity droplets in the light windows in the back. Fitbit is sending a replacement but, I agree, there is either a serious manufacturer defect or blatant false advertising to push that price tag up. 

[roxygill5]

I agree. I had mine replaced 10 months ago. Not getting in the water with it

[jwyoungy]

If something is advertised as being water resistant up until 50 m of depth, that goes way beyond the pressure experienced in the shower. I don't think I would want to trust it scuba diving however regular swimming shouldn't be an issue. I have a 9 year old Citizen watch thats rated exactly the same, 5 ATM. It was in the shower every day, been in dozens of pools and swam in many oceans even doing SNUBA twice (can only dive about 20') and it NEVER leaked. Fitbit either needs to stop advertising it as being resistant to 5 ATM (50m) or solve the issue 

[VAPS]

I agree! When I received my replacement watch that replaced the one with water damage, the documents noted that I should dry the watch off after getting it wet.  I also sent messages through this forum to the Fitbit Rep. that has responded to others.  I wanted to know if I had another 1 year warranty with the replacement watch.  I never received a response. 

I also dry my watch off after it gets wet, and I no longer take it in the shower, pool, or ocean.

Thanks!!

[jjohnso]

I understand and at first did not put my replacement watch in the water while swimming.  Yet one of the reasons why I got it is for the swim tracker.  Like everyone is saying, Fitbit should not say that swimming tracking is a feature of the watch and it is not.  Consequently I took the watch in the pool last week, it survived.  I will take your advice and dry the watch off when I get out.
If it dies after several swims, which I expect it will, I will call for a replacement.  If they refuse to give me a replacement I will buy a better made watch.  I'd love for it to work properly, yet from all of the posts it is not made properly.

[Jwett]

Bought my Fitbit just over a year ago. Had it replaced after 9 months when it died after swimming. Just went swimming for the first time with the replacement Fitbit on the weekend and noticed it was dead after getting out of the water. Screen wouldn’t turn on after drying off and attaching to charger or doing a hard reset. Called customer service (because live chat customer service was “unavailable”) and told the rep what happened. He offered me 25% off initially because I purchased the original Fitbit over a year ago, but I insisted that I would not purchase a new one and they had a responsibility to replace this one because it was a faulty replacement they sent me 4 months ago. He goes off and talks to his manager and comes back to offer me 50%. No way am I accepting that, I insist I will not purchase another one and will take my business elsewhere and encourage others to do the same if this one is not replaced. Then he immediately sends me an email with a free replacement offer but warns me that this is an exception and the warranty is over, if the same thing happens again I will not get another replacement. Pretty slimey that he got approved to give me a replacement but tried to only offer 50% off first. Only caved to give me a replacement once I raised my voice over the phone. Why doesn’t Fitbit address the bigger issue here? You want to advertise and sell a $300 “waterproof” watch? Make sure it’s actually waterproof!! Or remove that claim and lower the price!!

[jjohnso]

Yeah, it's a rip off.  Glad they replaced it. I'm seeing how long this one lasts.  If they replace it great, if not I'm looking into other quality brands.  This one has the price, not the quality.  

[ChrisChad]

Mine died yesterday. I've swam with it before, and showered, etc. no problems. yesterday I went for a swim with my kids in the kiddie pool, not more than 2 feet deep. the thing is all over the place now. buttons don't work, then they do, then they activate by themselves, and the heart rate sensor is all clouded with moisture on the inside now. I'm out of warranty by 2 months, I was a release pre-order on the special edition. Support offered me 25% off a new one. no way I'll go with another fitbit after that. of all things. I baby my devices, but I expect them to hold up in the most basic of their functions. 

[jjohnso]

That is too bad.  How long is the warranty?  I decided to go in the water with the replacement, that is one of the reasons I bought it. For the swim tracking. Curious to see how long this one lasts. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy , an AT&T LTE smartphone

[Amsaunders]

I've had my Versa for a little over a year now and never had any problems with it in the water up until now. I got this watch in particular because I take water cardio classes at the gym 3 times a week and wanted to be able to track my workouts while in the water. Everything has been fine until last Saturday when I noticed my watch acting funny during class. Afterwards it kept acting funny (the alarm function kept popping up on its own and wouldn't go away no matter how many times I pressed the home button). But it was still syncing my steps and heart rate to the app, so I just figured it would work itself out. Then at midnight, the watch seemed to just freak out and go blank. I haven't been able to get the watch face to display anything but it seemed to be syncing and slowly things were coming back to life through the app functions (tracking steps, tracking sleep, tracking active minutes, etc.) I was hoping that it would come back to life on its own any day now but I wore it during my water class this morning and now its not syncing to the app and seems completely dead. I contacted Fitbit Customer Service earlier this week and since I am outside of the 1-year coverage, all the can offer me is 25% off a new one. Wondering if it's even worth it if I can't wear it in the pool and make it last more than 1 year?! 

[Biddie5683]

I had the same exact thing happen to mine. They will just send you defective replacements which is what keeps happening to me. You have 45 days to get a full refund. The Versa has known issues that there is no solution for. Get your money back and RUNNN. 

[Quebella]

Hi guys !!! This is an update ! I recently went to the beach August 9th and forgot I had my watch on so I was obviously enjoying the water ! Once I realized I went to take it off and never washed it I just put away a week later I decided to take a look at it and I put it on the charger the light came on once and never came back on. I called customer service and we tried restarting it and cleaning the charger piece it never worked.i ended up getting a replacement for FREE thank god I called ! They give u two options one two purchase another Fitbit and get 50% off or get a replacement. It should arrive 5-7 days 

[jjohnso]

Yes, I was fortunate to get a replacement as well.  The issue though is the watch is advertised as being waterproof and so many people have the same experience you did - is it really waterproof?

[aprildaybreak]

The same thing has happened to my 15-month-old Versa. Fitbit apparently is aware of this issue because customer service had the audacity to ask me if it had gotten wet! I am not happy! Of course, it got wet, it is supposed to be swim-proof! The only solution I was offered was a new watch at a discounted price of $150. No, thank you! If they do not last longer than 15 months, why would I want to spend more money! Not a happy customer! 

[jjohnso]

Exactly.  If it were in the warranty they would replace it.  It can't be counted on in the water though... or to track miles on a bile.....

[augusttt]

all of my fitbit's stop working after I swim. I have a new versa2 and three times after swimming the the screen would not work. Any ideas for waterproof cases.