Run or bike exercises not connecting

[LMY72]

I have just bought the new Fitbit Versa, everything is OK, it’s connected to WiFi, it’s connected to my iPhone 6 and relays all the information on the app, however, when I go on either run or bike exercise  it just doesn’t connect, it just keeps saying connecting on the watch, therefore not measuring distance and the rest, just time, any ideas please?

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[UnhappyUser1423]

Same thing happened to me. I troubleshoot for hours, trying absolutely everything but it still wouldn't work. I contacted FitBit customer support, but they were nothing but rude and abrupt and refused to try to rectify the problem. My android OS is 8.0, so according to the link the agent sent me about compatible phones it should work.no problem. They refused to send me a new FitBit, so I returned it to Amazon and will be purchasing a Garmin instead. 

If you're having this issue, my advice is to just get rid of FitBit altogether. Terrible customer service. Will never purchase a FitBit product again.

[trmn8er]

Here's my take:  

I have a dedicated Garmin GPS that does tracking perfectly with Strava - but I have to use the Garmin HR strap which I hate to wear.  Obviously my Iphone runs Strava too, but again I'm stuck wearing the stupid Garmin HRM.  So I had hoped that with the Versa, I could eliminate wearing the HR strap and use the Versa to track my HR, and even leave the Garmin at home for local rides.  But it seems that the connection is prolematic at best. I got it to work tonight on a test ride by opening the Fitbit app on the Iphone, then starting an ride from the Versa.  I'm just hoping it is reliable!  On longer rides or a Race I will use the Garmin device and Garmin HR strap to ensure success.  I still carry my phone (unless racing) so I can take pictures on a ride, but I would sure like to drop a device or two!  

[insideoutbrain]

Hi everyone. The thing that solved this for me was changing location permissions for the Fitbit app to "allow all the time" whereas I had previously set it to "allow only while using the app." Hope this helps!

[AbbyDC32]

Thank you! Yes that works, but I don’t want Fitbit to be tracking my location 24/7. I want to be able to open the app (allow location while using setting) and then have the app track my location, and then go for a bike, run, etc. But for whatever reason “allow location while using” doesn’t actually allow location while using. It’s all or nothing. So I’m not even sure why there is an option to allow location while using. 

[SunsetRunner]

You are correct, that works great.  But it looks like Fibit (Google) wants to know where you are 24x7.  Not just when you are using their app.  Same goes for most of the downloadable watch faces for the Versa 2.  A lot of those are from other 3rd parties, even worse.

They need to fix this data issue.  Or I for one will be looking for an alternative.

[Ilovesunshine]

I have up trying to set my fitbit when cycling as it just refused to connect. Then a few days ago I noticed an update was available so I downloaded it. Tried to vonne t but still didn't work. Then 2 days a ago much to my surprise it connected. It also connected yesterday  Then today, guess what, back to the usual connecting. It really is do annoying. I am doing a challenge for April and need to record my miles. My husband has a ham in which works. We have been cycling together so I have to photo his screen for my records. It really isn't good enough.

[AoibheannMc]

I'm having the same issue - and have done all the tips and the only thing that works is leaving it on fitbit the app with phone unlocked 🙄

I wonder if there is a correlation with upgrading to the premium? These two things happened around the same time.  It used to work. It's beyond frustrating and potentially a last straw for me with fitbit versa, along with things like the screen going nuts randomly, the fact it can't track basic things like roller blading - makes things up for weights worksouts rather than actually watching the heartrate, and most annoyingly - before this issue it was giving me vastly different distances for the exact same runs 😡 so you really can't trust it 

[StingaW]

I have a fitbit Versa 2 because I researched that it was the best one for swimming and whilst I was swimming it was great. But since this lockdown I have been bike riding instead and have tried to use the bike feature on my phone. I have a Samsung A10 and it has only worked once. It always tries to connect. It may connect while I am within the WiFi reange but as soon as I am out of WiFi range it disconnects. I have Strave installed on my phone and usually put that on as well. But ihave tried with it on and without it on. This is getting very frustrating. I have done all the steps to reset my Fitbit reinstalled the app on my phone etc etc. I have been trying for 6 weeks now to reconnect and it JUST DOES NOT WORK. I would like some advice FitBit people please.

[judyk1214]

I was having this issue too.   I opened the FitBit app on my iPhone  first and then started the exercise and it worked.   I believe my old Charge gave me a message to do this.  

[CRO123]

I was having a very similar issue with a Charge 3, also with an iPhone 6.

In the end, I seemed to fix the problem by going to Settings-> Fitbit -> Bluetooth Sharing and ensuring Bluetooth Sharing was ON. 

Oddly enough I could sync just fine, I just couldn't track exercise with connected GPS. This happened out of the blue when my iPhone offloaded unused apps. When I re-installed the Fitbit app this problem seemed to appear out of the blue.

[Shahid_Ali]

Sometime back I was also facing similar issue and didn't know what to do. Then I tried below exercise and after this my fitbit versa is working fine and would suggest other community members also to check if same is workable to all of you.

1. Close first your fitbit app in your moble. 

2. Hard boot your Fitbit versa.

3. Finally hard boot your mobile. 

Hopefully this will help to resolve your issue of GPS disconnecting in background while running and doing exercise and fitbit versa will be connected permanently while running or doing exercises.

[AdeebM]

1. Force stop app

2. Shut off watch

3. Reopen app

4. Power on watch

Hope this helps.

[MannyFresh]

For my situation I found that turning on Data Roaming on your phone fixes the problem...let me know if this helps.

[MannyFresh]

Turn on Data Roaming

[Lolo22]

My versa 2 just started doing this as well (start my run and it just says connecting but never does). I realized I recently changed the setting in the app after a prompt from my phone about apps running in the background. This only allows fitbit to acess my location when the app is running so when I start my run from my Versa and my app is closed it can't find my location for GPS.

I fixed this on my S20 by going to settings - apps - fitbit - permissions and then allowed the app to access location even when not running the app. 

This seems to have done the trick! Fingers crossed it doesn't randomly start 'connecting...' and never connecting again!

[gohrnz]

I found all I need to do is 
1. force stop the app
2. clear cache
3. restart app

now my next exercise attempt will connect fine.

[lisaligus]

I have never been able to connect to GPS. Just tried shutting off the WiFi on my phone and it connected!!! I have not actually tried using this for biking or walking yet, but preparing for a biking trip. I’m eager to see if it has effectively fixed the problem.

[Dogwalker221]

I just tried this myself and it worked.  The problem began when there was a firmware update on my Fitbit.  I don't know why this happened, but that's when it began, around September 26, 2020.  Thanks for the suggestion!

[Lwolfe1971]

Worked for me too! Thanks!

[LeneBean]

The only thing that worked for me was

1. Turn off wifi

2. toggle Bluetooth off/on

3. Go to iPhone settings > fitbit app > location service > toggle Precise “on”

4. open Fitbit app on iPhone 

5. select Exercise on Fitbit and it connected in seconds