GPS doesn't connect and I' not getting notifications all the time

[Mwright53]

I haven't received the latest update and don't know what that might fix. Some of the issues are:

1. Gps never ever connects 

2. Notifications are hit and miss

3. Cannot customize watch faces. 

4. Weather app will not sync

5. Even on manual the screen wakes too easily 

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity 

[HeydyF]

Hey @Mwright53, It is good to see new members around the forums! Let me try to give you a hand with those issues: 

- If GPS feature isn't connecting, please take a look at the requirements and troubleshooting in this article so you can try to fix this. 

- For notifications, I'd like you to be more specific. Could you please tell me what notifications are you not getting? What is the phone model that you are using, is it a compatible device? 

- About customizing clock faces, I guess you are talking about Fitbit Labs, right? If so, please take a look at this help article for further assistance with it. But if you need like help with a specific clock face, let me know. 

- For weather app issues, I suggest you to review these requirements: 

• When you change location and the weather hasn’t updated in the new location, you must sync their Fitbit device with your phone for this update to occur.
• To use the Weather app, location services must be turned on for the Fitbit app.

- Regarding the screen, are you saying that it seems to be very sensitive? If so, try to restart your Versa to adjust this. 

Let me know how it goes! 

[Mwright53]

I'm using a Windows 950 phone. I now have the 10.20 firmware installed. The Exercise app will not connect to my phone's GPS. It is constantly trying to connect. Location services is turned on for the app and I have frequently rebooted the phone and the watch.

Notification work sometimes and sometimes they don't. When it is working, I will get text messages, calendar alerts and phone call alerts.

I am now able to customize the watch faces

The weather app will not sync. Location services are turned on

[HeydyF]

Thanks for your reply @Mwright53! Oh! I can see the possible inconvenience. The thing is that you have a Windows 950 phone, which is not compatible with Fitbit trackers. So, even though you were able to setup your Charge 2 and sync it, you might have issues with other features such as notifications and GPS connection. You can always try to follow the instructions that I posted above, but keep in mind that I can't guarantee all the features will work as expected. 

Let me know how it goes! 

[Mwright53]

Could you please point out where it said anywhere the Versa is not compatible with Windows 10 phones? Your own website said otherwise. https://www.fitbit.com/devices. The 950 is clearly listed here.

[Mwright53]

The 950 is shown as being compatible. Is the Versa an exception?

[HeydyF]

Hi @Mwright53! I apologize for the misunderstood. You are totally right, the Microsoft Lumia 950 is a compatible one, which means that syncing, notifications and connected GPS should be working without any inconveniences with your Fitbit Versa. Since you are using a Windows phone, I'd like you to take a look at the following requirements and troubleshooting to make them work: 

 

STEP 1. VERIFY YOUR PHONE SETTINGS

Open the Settings app to review your phone settings.

Confirm or adjust these settings:

• Windows version—Verify that the Windows 10 version is 10.0.15228.0 or higher. Find this setting under System > About.
• Bluetooth—Bluetooth technology allows your phone to communicate with the Fitbit device. Verify that Bluetooth is on.
• Quiet hours—This feature prevents your phone from sending notifications. Verify that Quiet hours is off
• Notifications—Your phone must be set to receive notifications before they can be sent to your Fitbit device. Check these settings
  • Make sure ‘Show notifications on the lock screen and play notification sounds’ and ‘Show and sound reminders when my phone is locked’ are on. Find these settings under System > Notifications & actions.
  • Make sure you allow the Fitbit app to access your notifications. Find this setting under Privacy > Notifications.
  • Make sure you allow apps to read or send messages, and that you specifically allow the Fitbit app to access your text notifications. Find these setting under Privacy > Messaging.
  • Make sure you allow apps to access your calendar, and that you specifically allow the Fitbit app to access your calendar notifications. Find these setting under Privacy > Calendar.
  • If your Fitbit device can receive app notifications, make sure you can receive app notifications on your phone. For example, you can receive Facebook notifications on your Fitbit device, but only if you also receive them on your phone. Find this setting under System > Notifications & actions. Make sure ‘Notifications’ and ‘Show notification banners’ are turned on and ‘Keep notifications private on the lock screen’ is turned off.

STEP 2. SET UP NOTIFICATIONS IN THE FITBIT APP

Set up the notifications you want to receive on your wrist. Make sure your charged Fitbit device is nearby.

1. From the Fitbit app dashboard, tap the Account icon 
2. Tap Notifications. If you're prompted to pair your Fitbit device, follow the on-screen instructions. 
3. Turn each notification category on or off depending on your preferences. If you want to see calendar notifications, make sure any other calendar apps are synced with your default calendar app. Only the default app sends notifications.  
4. If your Fitbit device can receive notifications from other apps on your phone, tap App Notifications and make your choices. If an installed app is missing from the list, sync your device and then check again. 
5. Sync your device.

You're done setting up. Notifications should appear on your device when it's near your phone (about 30 feet). If notifications are delayed or missing, see My Fitbit device isn't receiving notifications from my phone​.

STEP 3. TURN ON THE DEVICE'S NOTIFICATION SETTING

• Versa—Press and hold the back button and swipe left to access the quick settings screen. Make sure you can receive notifications from your phone.

Notifications should appear on your device when it's near your phone (about 30 feet).

Now in regards of connected GPS, when you select a GPS exercise, Versa vibrates when your phone finds a GPS signal. If your phone doesn't find a signal immediately, keep in mind that environmental factors including tall buildings, dense forest, steep hills, and even thick cloud cover can interfere with your phone’s ability to connect to GPS satellites. 

For best results, wait for your phone to find the signal before you start your workout. However, if you don't want to wait you can start your workout and GPS tracking begins when your phone finds a signal. 

Note that Versa uses your step count to calculate distance until it finds a GPS signal. In this scenario, your total distance calculated for the workout may be slightly less accurate than if GPS data were available for the entire duration.

If after verifying everything that I posted, the issues persist, I'd like you to wait until the next Versa Firmware update, since our team always make improvements on each update. 

Have a nice day and please keep me posted about this. 😉 

[Mwright53]

Thanks for your response. Using your suggestions, I have made a couple of adjustments to my phone settings. I will let you know how this works. Thank you.

[HeydyF]

I hope you are doin' great @Mwright53! 🙂  Thanks for taking the time to try the suggestions that I posted. Let me know how it goes. 😉 

Have a nice day! 

[Mwright53]

I tried all of your suggestions, but all my original issues remain. Notifications work sometimes and sometimes they don’t. No Connected GPS, weather app will not sync, watch faces will not accept customizations I have no idea why but I see many others with similar problems. I’m starting to wonder if the phone app is a big part of the problem.

[Mwright53]

I have gotten my notifications to work consistently by making a setting change suggested in this forum. You go to settings and battery. I changed the setting for the Fitbit app regarding running in the background. It is under "Battery Usage by App". It was set to "managed by windows". I changed it to "Always allowed in background'. Notifications

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@Mwright53 wrote:
I tried all of your suggestions, but all my original issues remain. Notifications work sometimes and sometimes they don’t. No Connected GPS, weather app will not sync, watch faces will not accept customizations I have no idea why but I see many others with similar problems. I’m starting to wonder if the phone app is a big part of the problem.

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work after that 

[ulyssesred]

This worked like a charm.

Thank you for that.