Screenwake: set to manual not working

[SunsetRunner]

Setting the screen wake option to Auto works as expected (a bit too senstive though), but setting it to manual doesn't seem to work. The screen still turns on when I move my wrist.

Moderator edit: title for clarity 

[sarah_lin8]

So yesterday, got my versa, super excited! Found out one thing tho, the screen is suuuppppeeeerrr sensitive. I would hardly move my arm and my screen turns on. And when it turns on, it doesn't turn off for another 10 seconds which is super annoying because that really drains my battery. Also, there's this feature where you put your palm on the screen and it's supposed to turn off... supposed to. The second I move my hand away, it turns back on and sometimes I have to put my palm on the screen for about 3-5 seconds or slowly peel my palm off the screen and even then it still doesn't always turn off. Anyone else have this problem? And can we change the options for how long the screen stays on (backlight delay)? I'm too lazy to go the features suggestions. Thanks!!😊

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Moderator Edit: Updated Subject For Clarity.

[RobertoME]

Hi there @sarah_lin8, nice to see you one more time in the Fitbit Community! Regarding your concern about the screen is sensitive, this feature should react normally when you turn your writs towards your face.

If you feel the screen is too sensitive, perhaps turning Off Screen Wake option will help you to save battery. Swipe left to access the shortcuts screen. On the shortcuts screen you can select from Auto to Manual. 

If the tracker is more sensitive than normal, perhaps a restart will do the trick: How do I restart my Fitbit device?

Now regarding the concern of the backlight note that the minimum time to set, are 10 seconds. This is a normal behavior of your Fitbit watch. Manage basic settings including brightness, heart rate, and paired Bluetooth devices directly on your Settings app and tap a setting to adjust it.

See you later and hope this helps.

[AlessFitbit]

@SunsetRunner Welcome to the Fitbit Community - Versa board!  Nice to see you here. 

For what you're experiencing, I would give the Versa a restart with those instructions. I would also toggle between both options and go back to Auto, then back to Manual.

Please let me know if that helps! 

[SunsetRunner]

Thank you for the suggestion Aless.

Unfortunately it didn't help.

To add more details: In manual mode the screen auto wakes up less often, but still wakes up.

Also, I'm not sure if this is related, but now that I'm paying more attention to this I noticed that the screen stays off when notifications come in or when my alarm goes off to wake me up. I think those issues started when I set my screen wake to manual, but I'm not sure.

[MrGlenn]

I can't seem to find a definitive answer anywhere so:

Is "Manual" Screen Wake supposed to only wake the Versa by using on of the physical buttons? Or is it still supposed to respond to all sorts of random external inputs?

Because as of right now, when my Versa is set to Manual the following still happens constantly:

• It wakes when any screen part of the Versa is tapped (even lightly!)
• It wakes when any non-screen part of the Versa is tapped (like the band or the back)
• It wakes when you move your arm/wrist around abruptly (like clapping your hands together)
• It wakes due to movement during sleep (like brushing up against blankets/pillows)
• It wakes from any rain/water droplets hitting the screen, causing the screen to do to all sorts of random actions unintentionally (it's the 'tapping' effect, not the water itself)

I've seen a few suggestions regarding this issue that amount to "restart the device/reset the device", but as far as I can tell that changes nothing on my end.

The only thing "Manual" seems to prevent at the moment is waking the device when rotating your wrist (and even then it still wakes sometimes)...

[WavyDavey]

Hi @MrGlenn,

As far as I can tell, it's working as designed. The manual setting prevents the wrist turn from starting the screen on. Taps to the screen or the band where it meets the screen, as well as the buttons, will also wake the device.

[MrGlenn]

Are you sure? Because that seems like a huge waste of a (in theory) useful setting.

Because it still does respond to many wrist movements in Manual mode, if you even lightly brush up against anything (like a sleeve or pocket or a pillow).

So it doesn't really prevent any accidental waking of the device at all, and it leads to a lot of unnecessary battery drain during sleep cycles for example.

If this is the intended behaviour, the name of the setting isn't very intuitive if all it manages is wrist motion On/Off.

Or am I completely alone in thinking this was supposed to be the way to set these devices to "wake from button press only"?

[WavyDavey]

I agree that the naming could be better. 

[davgu3]

I too am experiencing this issue. At work I started setting the screen wake to manual but that did not work either. After lots of testing and returning my first Versa for a new one I discovered that any sort of vibration on the watch band causes the screen to wake (even when set to manual). So if you rest your hand on a desk or set it on a counter at work it can easily wake the screen. See video linked below.

This is very frustrating for me. I already gave away my FitBit Blaze so if I return this second Versa I will be without a FitBit. Maybe it's time look into another brand. ☹️

YouTube Video of Screen Wake Fail

[LaurenJR]

I’m actually having the opposite problem! I am upgrading from the Fitbit HR, which would always turn on when I would turn my wrist hard to look at the face, the Fitbit Versa isn’t turning on unless I tap on it. 

[davgu3]

Is Screen Wake set to "Auto" or "Manual"? If you hold the left button down for two seconds it will open a menu. There should be two or three screens you can scroll between. Music - Screen/Notification - Wallet (if NFC Payment in enabled).

On the Screen / Notification screen make sure Screen Wake is set to auto.

[LaurenJR]

Haha it was on manual 🤦‍:male_sign: Thanks all “fixed” 😂

[davgu3]

No problem. Happy to help 

[MrGlenn]

I feel you @davgu3, unfortunately it seems for now this is intended behaviour.

I hope at least they find a way to make the 'Manual' setting less sensitive at some point to avoid some of these unexpected responses.

[Mwright53]

I have the same issue. I decided to go to manual to save battery life after driving at night and realizing how often the screen would light up. The screen still switches on without my input. You would think manual mode would prevent this.

[healthyry]

I restarted my versa. I have set screen wake to manual. However, I still think the screen is too sensitive.

Whenever I move the watch on my wrist (ie, fidgeting) the screen turns on. It is especially problematic at night - when the screen turns on by itself the light disturbs my sleep. Is there a "sleep mode" or something that I can turn on before I go to sleep and turn off manually when I wake up? This way no matter how much I move at night the watch will stay off unless I press the left button?

Thanks

[Danshb]

I am experiencing this same type of issue too!! I really hope they figure something out and fix this in the next update 

[deza69]

My versa is the opposite. It' on auto wake and I can flick my wrist 2,3,4 times before it will turn on. I realise there' s a slight delay but even waiting it won' t turn on unless I flick really hard. Any suggestions?

[Mollybea]

 When I switch to manual it won’t come on at all when I turn my wrist and I don’t like that for sure.

Update:

When set to manual, I just discovered that screen will come on but not when I flick my  wrist but when I touch the face of the watch it will come on    I would rather leave it in manual and touch the screen each time rather than having it come on constantly when I move my wrist  and running the battery down more quickly. 

Moderator Edit: Format