Red light stays on

[MarindaB]

A bright red light stays on the back of the Versa, battery running down fast and no heart rate

[SunsetRunner]

Hi @MarindaB. Your Versa should be able to get back to normal with a restart. Tap here for instructions. If the reset does not work, that page also provides info on how to turn the Versa off, then back on. Please let us know if it works. 

[MarindaB]

Sorry it did not work



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[SunsetRunner]

Thanks for letting us know, @MarindaB.  Let’s try another approach.

From your Versa,

• Open the clock face, then swipe to the left until you see Settings. Tap to open.
• Scroll down to Heart Rate. Tap to turn it off. Go back to the clock face.
• Restart your Versa.

At this point, the lights should be off. If they are, I’d wait a few hours, then go thru the process to turn Heart Rate back on. 

Again, please let us know how it goes. 

[MarindaB]

Sorry it didn’t work, the red light stayed on even when I shut down

[MarindaB]

Yes the light is off, will try later tonight again 

[Losohawt]

Marinda did that work for you? I’m having the same problem so I’m wonderig if anyone has found the solution.

[MarindaB]

unfortunately my watch did not turn back on again, it "died".

It didn't however I obviously have a battery malfunction and Fitbit has responded to that.

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Castalure]

You will get a much faster result with customer service if you call them instead of emailing them.

My Fitbit Versa lasted 6 weeks. The red light came on and stayed on. The pulse monitor failed. I did the factory reset, the restart, reinstalled it several times. The distance monitor failed and all I can get now is the Fitbit logo.

i am waiting for my replacement in the mail.

[obsessedfit]

hi.. In the same situation. My fitbit is not tracking my sleep properly. The red light stays on. this was my replacecment device. The original one was not tracking heart rate continuously. SO I got this less than a month ago. this doesnt work and Fitbit is asking me to send it back with my own money and they are going to send replacement within 5 days after they receieve it. What a crappy servicec. When they know its their fault, why am I paying for return shipping and have to waot for 3 more weeks without a fitbit. Stupid customer promise. I have no problem sending it back with my own money.. but not having it is the problem. I am just getting back into working out, eating properly. if I have to be without it for 3 weeks, I know I am going to be back to square one. This is the last fitbit device I am owning. 

[Ac1993]

The exact same thing happened to my Fitbit. The red light stayed on and killed the battery, when I complained to customer service they said the red light was normal and the battery was dying for an unknown reason. I did all of their recommended resets and nothing worked. They refused to replace my Fitbit however since it was over a year old. Such a shame, I really loved my versa and have now switched to apple. It’s not surprising Fitbit keeps losing customers when this is the quality of service they provide. 

[Gothgem]

I have the same problem. I was sent a defective replacement device after the screen detached from my original Versa in March. The new one stopped giving me detailed sleep stats last Thursday. There is a persistent red light that drains my battery. My heart rate readings are also no longer accurate. I contacted Fitbit support via Twitter, and after I supplied several screenshots depicting the problem, (I'd already tried rebooting the device, turning it off and on, turning off the HR sensor and rebooting) I was told there is no immediate fix for this problem, and to basically sit tight:

"We appreciate that you've tried our fixes and for letting us know about this. We’re aware of it, but may not be able to provide a fix in the immediate future. We'll continue to monitor the situation, and keep our team informed of the impact to you and other customers. We understand that this isn't the resolution you're hoping for, but rest assured we're always working to improve our products. We appreciate your patience and look forward to getting you back on track." My original device is less than a year old. I definitely should have bought a Samsung Galaxy smartwatch.

I apologize this post appears twice, but it was flagged as spam and deleted the first time by a moderator. When I reposted, I disclosed the cause of the disappearance of my original post, then the op mysteriously reappeared. Following this, another moderator edited the new post for word choice, omitting the statement that it was deleted by a moderator. Keep an eye on your posts. Keep Fitbit honest.

I have the same problem. I was sent a defective replacement device after the screen detached from my original Versa in March. The new one stopped giving me detailed sleep stats last Thursday. There is a persistent red light that drains my battery. My heart rate readings are also no longer accurate. I contacted Fitbit support via Twitter, and after I supplied several screenshots depicting the problem, (I'd already tried rebooting the device, turning it off and on, turning off the HR sensor and rebooting) I was told there is no immediate fix for this problem, and to basically sit tight:

"We appreciate that you've tried our fixes and for letting us know about this. We’re aware of it, but may not be able to provide a fix in the immediate future. We'll continue to monitor the situation, and keep our team informed of the impact to you and other customers. We understand that this isn't the resolution you're hoping for, but rest assured we're always working to improve our products. We appreciate your patience and look forward to getting you back on track." My original device is less than a year old. I definitely should have bought a Samsung Galaxy smartwatch.

Moderator edit: Word choice 

[TrailTrekker]

Has anyone found a solution to this issue?  Mine just started doing this tonight. These watches are too expensive to have to keep replacing them as often as I've had to replace them.  Seems Fitbit watches only last about a year.  I'm pretty much done with Fitbit. 

[SeattleRos]

Same issue here. Has worked fine since  I bought it about a year ago and on Saturday I noticed heart rate wasn't  working during a cycling class. Then I noticed permanent red light which is draining battery. I've used Fitbit for years (starting with Flex) so this is really frustrating. I've done reset, turned  HR off, etc but red light status on (draining battery) and HR doesn't display. ☹️. Is it time to switch to Apple?

[Gothgem]

I do not appreciate having my posts edited when I am calling out problems with Fitbit devices or the community forum. Fitbit should hold itself accountable and not sweep issues under the rug.

Update: Fitbit is sending me another replacement device because my original is still under warranty.

You'll definitely have to contact support, and email seems more effective than direct messaging via Twitter. If it has not quite been a year since your purchase, they should send you a replacement. 

@SeattleRos wrote:

Same issue here. Has worked fine since  I bought it about a year ago and on Saturday I noticed heart rate wasn't  working during a cycling class. Then I noticed permanent red light which is draining battery. I've used Fitbit for years (starting with Flex) so this is really frustrating. I've done reset, turned  HR off, etc but red light status on (draining battery) and HR doesn't display. 

. Is it time to switch to Apple?

Moderator edit: merged replies

[Khinz13]

How many times did they have to replace it? I am so frustrated. I got my versa on June 17th (or 16th, don't have receipt in front of me) and I had it replaced July 23rd and now I am getting another one whenever it ships cause it keeps "dying". I vote the better business bureau needs involved cause it's faulty equipment that people spend hundreds of dollars on. I know I'm not the only one with this issue having what's going on three in LESS than three months. 

Also not sure how to post this in the topic vs. comment. I've never posted. Just frustrated!! 

[SeattleRos]

So my Versa is now out of warranty (purchased May 2018) and whatever they did last week caused the same issue - red light permanently on, draining battery, HR no longer displaying, Sleep no longer tracking. Not sure if it is connected with the updated app as that was around the same time. Tried all steps mentioned here and when nothing worked, called support. They got me to do a factory reset (and app also had an issue as nothing was displaying properly - separate issue but clearly something is going on with quality control) but that didn't fix issue and THEN Versa would no longer connect to my phone despite multiple tries (and the red light was STILL on). Agent then said Versa is clearly defective and, because it's out of warranty, they could offer me 25% off a new one. Sorry Fitbit bit I'm NOT spending over $120 on a new item when I did nothing to cause this. I don't expect free since it is over a year but I do expect to at least be met half-way with 50% (ish). I escalated to a supervisor (who clearly was very junior) as she could do nothing other than say "please put this detail in your survey". I explained I've been a fitbit customer since 2013 and I WILL leave and go to Apple but she didn't seem to care or was not empowered to do anything. I'm SO disappointed in Fitbit after being committed to them for over 6 years  on multiple devices but I'm NOT investing another penny in a company that thinks so little of their long-standing customers. I'm also really glad now that I did not buy a replacement scale when our Aria V1 stopped working (kept running out of battery REALLY quickly). I bought a different, much cheaper, scale that works great to fitbit but also to another health app I now use. To finish, EVERYBODY knows in Sales it's easier to keep the customers you have than get new ones so if this is the way Fitbit treats their loyal/long-standing customers - who knows?

They wouldn't replace mine as it was purchased in May 2018 so out of the 1 year warranty. All they would offer is 25% off a new one. I refuse to pay over $120 for a new watch after some update by Fitbit broke my current one. Tonight I purchased an Apple watch and, so far, loving it - it's not even a comparison. Sad thing is - I never even would have looked at an Apple watch if my Versa and just kept doing what I bought it for - Heart Rate, Sleep and staying connected to my phone (which customer service broke when they told me to do a factory reset and it wouldn't reconnect).

I did call support and they broke my watch even further. Instructed me to do a factory reset and then it wouldn't reconnect to my phone at all. Their only solution was to offer me 25% off a new one. I'm not about to pay more than $120 for a new watch when Fitbit broke my current one with an update. I purchased an Apple watch tonight which I never would even have looked at if my Fitbit Versa had kept doing what I bought it for - Heart Rate, Sleep and staying connected to my phone.

Moderator edit: merged replies

[Ac1993]

I completely agree! I purchased an Apple Watch as well. I refuse to spend good money if in another year I’d have to spend another $200 or so on a new watch! I loved my versa and I did believe in Fitbit as a company but this is so ridiculous. I do expect the company to care more about their customers and they should have replaced my watch. They can track all my data and therefore KNOW the watch was working perfectly one day and stopped the next. That’s not my fault, it’s faulty equipment. 

[Khinz13]

I have been told that they will replace my next one (yet to receive a
shipping confirmation), and after that they can only offer a discount. I
find it absolutely terrible that we as customers spend well over $100 to
have something not work. Any other device (computer, tv, etc.) You'd be
able to take it to the store and get help. Fitbit doesn't seem to care. The
last time I called about my dead watch (again, the next shipped one, if it
does, will be my 3rd one in LESS than three months!) They told me that it
must be something I am doing and refused to put me in contact with a
supervisor. Have they read the forums?! There are SO many watches out there
not working due to being defective. My sister has had hers for over 8
months and swims in it often and she loves it. The SECOND mine went in
water, dead. She must have had one of the properly made ones.

I have already chosen to leave Fitbit for a brand called Whoop (it isn't a
step counter but I am a competitive athlete so recovery is important which
is why I wanted Fitbit, kind of "did all." When it worked that is.

Whenever I get my 3rd one, if I get it. I will be sending my 2 dead ones
back because I have no use for them. Fitbit should be brought to the BBB.
There are way too many unsolved and inappropriately solved cases. They're
receiving our money but continuing to send defective items. I believe that
is called theft.

[CLA29]

Great  Mine just started doing this a few days ago. Red light 95% of the time, poor battery, lack of sleep monitoring, no heart rate functions. I've tried EVERYTHING outside of requesting a replacement. Now that I've read about 100 similar posts written in the last 2 months, I'm thinking this is a major firmware problem.