Fitbit Versa won't sync or hold wifi connection

[lee09]

Versa won't sync even after turning off the app, the phone, the watch itself.It just keeps "looking" for the watch even when I'm sitting by the internet router. I had the Charge 2 which didn't have a problem. So frustrating!!!

[Marrrmaduke · Accepted solution]

@lee09 Phone model and OS?

In the meantime, you can try this:

1. Unpair (remove) Versa from your phone's bluetooth settings
2. Uninstall the Fitbit mobile app
3. Reboot your phone and install Fitbit mobile app
4. Reboot your Versa by pressing and holding the left and bottom right buttons until Fitbit logo flashes
5. Login to Fitbit mobile app
6. Grant all permissions

[lee09]

iPhone 6s.. iOS 12.1.1

I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled previously.. I just don’t want to keep
doing it daily. I had to create another account that seemed to work.. then
it didn’t 😞

[Marrrmaduke]

@lee09 From my experience, it's not about uninstalling and re-installing. It's about whole procedure, mainly unpairing (removing from phone bluetooth settings) and re-pairing your tracker (from within Fitbit mobile app not phone bluetooth settings). I myself performed it once and didn't have to ever since. But, I believe just removing from paired devices in the phone Settings and then opening Fitbit app and trying to force sync (granting all permissions as you go) might do. Unfortunately, there are no major workarounds here. You can attempt factory reset which should install the latest Versa firmware. I am not sure which version you are running now.

[JuanJoFitbit]

@lee09 Welcome to our Fitbit Community! I'm sorry to hear that your Versa is not syncing with your iPhone. However, I want to follow up and would like to know if the issue persists or if the issue got resolved after following the great workaround that shared my friend @Marrrmaduke.

Looking forward to your response! 

[bernkraf]

I tried the approach in this thread and got my Versa to sync for the first time since October. I'll see how long it manages to keep synced this time. At least it now has the correct time. Between Oct 12 and today (12/6) it lost 8 minutes. I realize that's a bit off topic but the minimum I would have expected from a digital device is that it would keep decent time. It wasn't a matter of totally discharging and losing the "uncharged time" but it was a gradual loss time.

[Marrrmaduke]

@bernkraf a few more tips:

• Versa needs to sync because that's how it updates time (syncs with the network time)
• Uninstalling and reinstalling of the app (at least on Android) probably can be skipped. Forget Versa in bluetooth settings, turn off bluetooth, reboot versa, turn on the bluetooth are usually enough
• If you're on Android, you can downgrade to version 2.74.2 of Fitbit mobile app. I find it to be the most stable build.

[lee09]

Hi!

I don’t know what I did but it decided to work last night just as I was
talking to Customer Service on the phone. I turned on all-day sync and from
8pm to 11.20pm there were no problems. Then after that it stopped syncing
again. I’ve been trying to pair it from the app, sitting by the wifi
router.. it starts looking for device then stops. This device is more
trouble than it’s worth.

[JuanJoFitbit]

@bernkraf Thank you for joining us in this thread and our Fitbit Community! Thank you also for trying the troubleshooting steps that shared @Marrrmaduke above. I'd also try the other tips that were mentioned above and please let us know how it goes, we'll be happy to assist you further.

@lee09 Thank you for getting back! Since the issue persists even after trying the workaround provided provided by @Marrrmaduke and our Support team, I would like to know if they assisted you after you noticed that your Versa is still unable to sync. Did they provide a solution?

See you guys later! 

[bernkraf]

Thanks for the explanation about needing the network to sync the time. I do have enough of an engineering background to figure that out. But that could be helpful to others. My point was that I've had plenty of digital devices (including cheap digital watches) that don't need a network sync to keep pretty good time once you set them. So I was disappointed that the most expensive digital watch I've owned  was losing time. As I mentioned it didn't seem that it was a matter of letting the battery die. I was still using my Versa to track steps even when not synced and kept it charged. It still lost time. 

Speaking of charging, one of the selling points for the Versa for me was the advertised 5-day charge life. Mine is maybe 6 months old and the battery life has degraded to around 2 days.

And thanks for the Android tips, but I'm running with an iPhone 6s. Yep, not much of an early adapter.

[JuanJoFitbit]

@bernkraf Thank you for getting back and providing more details about the issues that you are experiencing with your Versa. Since the syncing is not consistent and the battery drains fast, let me go ahead and forward your case to our Support team so they can investigate further and provide a solution. You should receive an email from them soon.

Let me know if you have any doubts! 

[bernkraf]

Thanks.  But I may have an update to the battery issue. As I mentioned earlier, when the Versa was not synced battery life was only 2 days.  However, since it has finally been synced, the battery drain does not seem as bad. I finished a full charge 48 hours ago and the Versa is still reporting 55%. No idea why this should make a difference but there it is. I'll update in a day or so to see if the power holds. Extrapolating the 55% doesn't wuite get to five days but it definitely is an improvement.

[Marrrmaduke]

@bernkraf that's actually typical drain. If it continues at this rate you're good. One possible cause for rapid drain of your Versa when it wasn't syncing was exactly that - inability to sync. Versa would keep trying and trying, hogging Bluetooth and draining battery. Pretty much same happens with Fitbit mobile app. one may see phone battery drain as well. That's why I always ask if Versa syncs properly. Well, report back!

[JuanJoFitbit]

@bernkraf As @Marrrmaduke mentioned, that would be a regular battery drain. I'm so glad to hear that you saw some battery improvement and don't hesitate to let us know if you need further assistance.

See you guys around! 

[bernkraf]

One final update on battery drain. That first measured endurance I mentioned ended when the charge was down to 10% after 84 hours. I didn't want to totally drain the watch but it sounds like it was not going to make 4 days. Right now I'm 48 hours into another charge and it's at 52%. I guess my concern is that the original publicity for the Versa touted 5 day battery life. I'm not sure if my watch's performance represents degradation of the battery 6 months into my use of it or is there some guidance on what I should do to maximize battery life? For example, I'm running with "All Day Sync" set to ON. Would it help battery endurance if I turned that off and only synced when I checked my stats with the app on my phone? Does All-day sync really do anything worthwhile for me apart from clock sync?

[Marrrmaduke]

@bernkraf 48 hours and 48% used. That puts you 1% per hour which is normal drain. There's no degradation. Versa's battery lasts around 4.5 days depending on the use according to manufacturer. So, all is well. Keep the All-day-sync ON. I'm running everything, and mine pretty much lasts about the same. Happy holidays.

[JuanJoFitbit]

@bernkraf The information that shared my friend @Marrrmaduke is totally accurate. In addition, please check out this help article which provides some tips that can improve your Versa's battery life.

Please try the tips mentioned and let us know if your Versa's battery lasts 4-5 days.

Keep us posted!