Samsung Galaxy Buds not working with Versa correctly.

[ChellyBunn]

Hi all,

The Galaxy Buds pair with my Versa Special Edition, but no sound is coming through them. The music bar is definitely moving indicating the song is playing. I’ve tried turning the volume up with no luck. I then went on to disconnect the Galaxy Buds and connected my Jaybird X3s and sound comes through them fine. Went back and reconnected the Galaxy Buds, zero sound. I tried the Galaxy Buds on my iPad to make sure that at least worked, and they started playing music instantly. 

I tried turning the Versa off and back on again with no luck. The Galaxy Buds are definitely paired since they show up on the Versa’s Bluetooth menu.

Moderator Edit: Clarified Subject.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @ChellyBunn, I hope you're doing well, it's great to see you around the Fitbit Community. 

I appreciate your participation in the Forums and for sharing your experience with us. I would also like to thank you for letting us know the troubleshooting steps you've tried so far. At this moment, I would like to suggest you to remove all Bluetooth devices in your Versa. Then, restart the Versa again by pressing and holding the Back and Select buttons (left and bottom right) until you see the Fitbit logo on the screen.

After that, restart your wireless buds following the instructions from the manufacturer. Then, pair the buds again and let us know if you're still experiencing the same situation so we can check this further.

Thanks for your patience and understanding, we'll be waiting to hear from you. 

[ChellyBunn]

Hi Marco,

The Versa and Galaxy Buds are brand new, so the Galaxy Buds were the first, second, third, fourth, fifth.... thing I connected to the Versa. Yeah, I've tried countless times, and in between those times of trying to connect, the Versa was restarted multiple times. 

So, I've pretty much already done what you instructed before I even posted here. Only after those first ~5 times of trying to connect the GBs, I tried the Jaybird x3s.

Anyway, I did as you instructed and restarted the Versa and ensured the Jaybirds were completely deleted from the device. The GBs paired instantly but there's still zero sound. The music bar is moving. I've tried turning them up using the top right button with no luck.

I am currently using my GBs on my iPad and they're working perfectly. 

[AD211 · Accepted solution]

Hey - they don't work with the Ionic and Versa's due to [what I think] is their incompatibility with Bluetooth Low Energy. I did countless hours of research when I had the Gear Icon X 2018 (BT 4.2), which also didn't work properly, before returning them. I thought the Galaxy Buds being BT 5.0 would resolve this issue, because I've used $17 and $50 BT 5.0 wireless earbuds that worked fine, but they don't. I don't know if this is a Fitbit or Samsung issue (guessing Samsung), but either way, neither manufacturer cares to research and give a clear answer. 

Could there be a way to resolve it? Maybe. Will there be? No. Fitbit has a financial incentive to refrain from testing compatibility and working with non-Fitbit earbud manufacturers. This is not a dig at the Fitbit CSRs and Marco, who are helpful. 

[ChellyBunn]

Since the Versa and the Galaxy Buds are so new to me, I'm not too attached to either of them, meaning they're both on the verge of a return.

I'm waiting on the release of the AirPods 2 (hopefully within the month). At that point, if the Versa works with them, I may keep it. If not, I'll return it and possibly get a Vivoactive Music and test both the AirPods 2 and Galaxy Buds with it. 

Thanks for the Bluetooth info. Good luck with the Jaybirds if you end up getting them. 🙂 I like the X3s alright, but I want true wireless and the reviews on the Run XTs have ruled them out for me. 

[ChellyBunn]

Since there's really been no attempt to help me from any other Fitbit forum admins for a few days now since I did state I was still having issues, I just decided to go full scorched earth and return both the Versa and Galaxy Buds. Apple Watch and AirPods here I come. 

[AD211]

Sucks but better to cut your losses. I'm waiting for the beoplay e8 1.0s to go back down to $150. Confirmed to work with Ionic/Versa. 

[Iceas]

Hi, I was sorry to see this post before. When I bought Samsung Buds headset for Fitbit Ionic smart watch, I tried to connect them to Fitbit Ionic in the store, and it was successful, but I didn't try play music. But when I came home and tried to connect them again, pair was successful, but when I tried play music I didn't hear the sound. I tried to restart Fitbit a few time and nothing. So I have this problem too. Is it possible to fix it?

[AD211]

That was the issue I ran into. It’s hard to say. Until Fitbit or Samsung addresses this, or a techie that fully understands the hardware/software limitations can chime in, we won’t know for sure. 

[b-bowling]

---

@Iceas wrote:

Hi, I was sorry to see this post before. When I bought Samsung Buds headset for Fitbit Ionic smart watch, I tried to connect them to Fitbit Ionic in the store, and it was successful, but I didn't try play music. But when I came home and tried to connect them again, pair was successful, but when I tried play music I didn't hear the sound. I tried to restart Fitbit a few time and nothing. So I have this problem too. Is it possible to fix it?

---

I had this issue too after first pairing but after changing songs a couple times it started playing.  Not positive what I did to get it to start playing.

Maybe it's a recent fix but I'm able to connect and play music from my Versa to my Galaxy Buds

[AD211]

When did you get them and try it? Does it work on the 1st try now when you connect it?

[b-bowling]

I just tried them again today and they connect no problem but now I'm not getting sound to come through, which I've seen other people have issues with too...

[ChellyBunn]

So dâmń is considered a cuss word? Lol. It was replaced with "**ahem**". 😂😂😂

I'm so sorry to see that this is still an issue.  I ended up with an Apple Watch and AirPods 2 and I couldn't be happier. With the Galaxy Buds, I'd turn my head and my hood from my hoodie would interfere with the connection. I couldn't even take a walk with my boyfriend and him wear a bud and me wear one. They would crackle and the sound would go in and out intermittently. With the AirPods, we don't even have to have them in the closest ear to each other and they work flawlessly.  I was using the GBs with a iPod Nano, so it's possible there were connection issues due to that.

The main reason I returned my Versa was the lack of response from the admins on here about my issue. Another reason is the Apple Watch had more music storage. 🙂 If it wasn't for those two things, I was considering a Versa and Airpod combo. 

I hope the Fitbit people actually are working on a fix. But I suppose that's doubtful since they want you to buy their earphones. 

[PiGirl]

I have had my Versa Limited Edition and have been able to get my AKG N60 Wireless headphones to pair with sound. I purchased the Samsung Earbuds, and have paired them with the Versa, no luck with sound. The Versa face shows music playing. Hopefully FitBit will address this issue. The FitBit Flyer wireless headphones are not available, so there can't be a preference for people to purchase them instead of competing brands..

[AD211]

Hate to break it to you, but they aren't going to. Look at the Iack of responses from them, and the generic nature when they do. I don't think either manufacturer understands or cares about the issue. The only chance is a new device (e.g., Versa 2, Ionic 2), and I'm not sure there have been enough complaints to catch their interest. I'm considering a Garmin forerunner now, even though their sleep tracking isn't as good, which is one of the top two reasons I bought the Fitbit for. It's no wonder the apple watch has surpassed them. 

[PiGirl]

Hi! I passed my Versa on to a friend and went for the sale priced Apple
Watch Series 4. This has been a satisfying switch, other then not having
the sleep app. I went full iPhone 8 and Air Pods. I had upgraded my android
to Note 10 plus. I can use the Air Pods on both devices. Apple Watch with
the GPS, I can use without my phone, which is convenient when walking my
dog. Also, the Apple watch has more memory storage for music. I won't give
up my android and will not be purchasing any more FitBit products.

[PhilN-G]

Check https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Versa-Smartwatches/Is-it-technically-possible-to-connect-Galaxy-Buds... for a crazy work-around that worked for me.

[MacJW]

So I have been purchasing Fitbit's for my family members for a while now. Usually as Christmas presents. I gave a Versa to my daughter recently, which both my wife and myself own. She wanted to use wireless earbuds while she worked out so she bought some $150 earbuds. To her dismay and extensive frustration she could not get them to work. She talked with both Fitbit and Apple to no avail, each blaming the other. So to solve her dilemma I purchased Samsung Galaxy buds for her for Christmas and a pair for myself and son in law. We all own Versa's. So I was extremely disappointed when my experience was exactly the same as @ChellyBunn. This is also a bit embarrassing as I've sold them on Fitbit. To top it off I was keen to go to Versa 2 for the Spotify app availability. Since it's an exercise device, wireless music connectivity is a no brainer. I'm an IT guy so it was very clear this is a Fitbit issue. This stream is simply further proof. So I've given $360 worth of wireless earbuds that are useless. I tested them on my iPhone and they worked without issue. So neither these or Apple earbuds work on the Versa. The entire purpose of purchasing the Versa was to not have to carry my phone while exercising. If I don't obtain a satisfactory answer, which seems exceedingly unlikely, I will simply return the earbuds, which is quite difficult since I drove 800 miles to give these as presents. I'm really not sure how this isn't fraudulent. Selling a device based on it's ability to play music via Bluetooth (Pandora, Deezer) when in fact it cannot. Then further pushing music playability (Spotify) without having resolved this serious issue. I do not want to do business with a company that acts like this. It was a huge initial debate with Fitbit vs Apple watch but this makes it fairly simple. I didn't want to pay the higher price but the disappointment, misleading information, lack of response doesn't even compare. I would simply like to know why your product doesn't work with Samsung Galaxy buds? I'm sure it will be the same case at to why they don't work with my daughter's Apple earpods. I hope I don't have to end my relationship with Fitbit which began in May 2015.

[PhilN-G]

Several of us have had the same problem as you. I haven't tried syncing the AirBuds, but have been able to repeatedly get the Galaxy Buds to sync. Check https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Versa-Smartwatches/Is-it-technically-possible-to-connect-Galaxy-Buds... for the process.

Still hugely frustrating, but workable enough for me.

Best wishes!

[MacJW]

Thanks for the info. I tried your process a number of times and still could not get the Galaxy buds to play any sound. Connect yes, play no. So I've returned mine and am now in the process of returning my daughters. Seems ridiculous and a major failure on Fitbit's part to not ensure working wireless earbuds with Bluetooth technology. I have a pair of wireless Beats which work fine but I wanted to get rid of the connecting wire as well. My daughter and son-in-law are a different story. I'm now looking at Apple Watch as it appears they have no issues with any earbuds. Huge investment wasted.