Syncing difficulties with Google Pixel 4

[Krisi-82]

I was able to connect to my phone with my device a couple days ago, now it won't find my device at all. I have followed all the steps for syncing my device with no luck, any help would be appreciated.

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity

[RicardoFitbit]

Hello @Krisi-82, welcome to the Community Forums! It's a pleasure to assist you today.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention and for troubleshooting your device prior to posting too, I understand how frustrating this situation can be for you. If you haven't already done so, I recommend you to check how the syncing procedure works here and see if there's a missing requirement on your Android mobile device that's preventing the syncing procedure to be completed. Also, you can move forward to the troubleshooting steps that are specified on: Why won't my Fitbit device sync? and let me know how it goes.

Keep me posted and let me know if you have more questions for me to answer.

[areyes163]

I just got the Versa 2 and it disconnects itslef from my Pixel 4 XL. I have to turn the watch on and off again to get it to pair again. The watch is update to the new software as well as my phone. Whats the issue. 

[Splunge861]

Spoiler

I received a pixel 4 on Sunday. Worked great withy versa until 3am last night (last sync). No longer will sync. 

[Jessrh911]

I have a Google pixel 4, received versa 2 yesterday. I can get it to connect and I'll get notification that I have a text message but I can't see from whom or read the message on watch. Everything else seems to be paired. I've tried all troubleshooting and nothing!!

[QBailey73]

I got the Versa 2 for my wife and she couldn't get it to sync with her Pixel 4 either.  She contacted the help desk and they said that the Pixel 4 is not compatible with the Versa 2 yet even if it is running the most recent Android OS.  The "help" desk was not helpful at all and only said that a patch was in the works, but they did not have a anticipated release date.

[MrAndrew]

I am also having problems with Versa2 vs Pixel4 (which I find weird, since Versa2 and Pixel4 were two hot xmas products, and Pixel4 runs plain vanilla Android.) They will appear to connect, and the Versa will buzz when my phone rings, will control Spotify, and so on. On my phone, the Fitbit app shows number of steps walked, etc. So clearly, they are connected (mostly.) However, on the Versa2, when I am on a walk (or ride, or spinning), the watch endlessly shows "Connecting..." in the upper left corner.

I spoke to customer support just after I got the Versa2 (a few days after Black Friday). They told me that the Pixel4 hasnt been tested with the Versa, and that once it is tested, it will work. [Of course, that is a nonsense statement - the act of testing it does not fix it.  Fixing it fixes it.] The CSR had no idea when it would be "tested" (i.e. fixed), and was very reluctant when I asked him to inform development of the problem.

Anyway, it is over a month later with no fix. I have to imagine that some thousands of customers must have received or upgraded to this product pair since Thanksgiving and must be having this kind of problem (unless it is a hardware defect in some watches.) Seems like something they should look into. Further, since Google now owns Fitbit, they should have the expertise and resources necessary to make Google Fitbits work with Google phones! Sigh.

[JACluvsya]

I have the same issue with my inspire HR. I'm constantly restarting my phone, turning Bluetooth on and off, logging in and out of the app, and even re-pairing the device. I just contacted support today just to find out that they never finished making the app compatible with the Pixel 4 so that's why we all have this problem.

[ChrisE7]

Same issue here. Versa 2 and Pixel 4 XL. Won't sync anymore. Worked on and off for the first month. Then just stopped. 

[MikeVi]

My P4 just stopped syncing with the Versa a few days ago - not sure why since I've had both since Dec? Did they ever find a solution? 

[MrAndrew]

I have changed my opinion about what is going wrong here; I think it is a problem with the Pixel4, and not the Fitbit. The Fitbit was the first thing I noticed with bluetooth problems, but it wasnt the last. I have a number of other bluetooth devices that are either flaky or dont work at all with my Pixel4. The only thing that really works reliably is earbuds.  Reading on the Pixel4 forums, it sounds like plenty of people are having problems with bluetooth on the Pixel.  I wish Google would take a look at this!

[MrAndrew]

SOLVED (my version of the issue.)

My Versa 2 worked fine as long as Fitbit was the top app, any my Pixel 4 screen was on. If either were untrue, it would show a box with a green line and the word "connecting..."

First: I had (very reasonably) assumed that the box, green line, and "connecting..." meant it was not connecting via bluetooth (or possibly WiFi.)  That is NOT what it means. It means that it cant connect to GPS!!!  It would be nice if Fitbit had documented that! 😖

Second: When I set up the app on my Pixel 4, I chose “Allow access only while using the app” for permission to allow the app to access the location. 

Thus, the fix is obscure, but trivial. Simply changing the permission to "Always allow" fixed the problem instantly.

[CherBoo]

Thanks for posting your fix!! I followed your direction (change App permission to "all the time", restarted my Pixel 4, and presto!

Really appreciate your post!

[Gvaz]

I have the XL and I'm having the same **ahem** problem with my Versa 2. I am getting increasingly more and more frustrated.

I changed permissions to always allow, rebooted the phone, can't use the fitbit without updating it first, I just get stuck on "searching for your fitbit versa 2"

[Gvaz]

it eventually sync'd, but now I can't connect to Alexa

[MikeVi]

What a pain 

Moderator Edit: Content

[Storyman]

After changing from an iPhone to a Pixel 4a my girlfriend’s Versa 2 would lose 20 minutes in about eight hours. Twice a day I made certain that it was forgotten by the cell phone’s Bluetooth, then I’d do a factory reset on the Versa 2. Finally, I’d uninstall the Fitbit app. All this was necessary for the Versa 2 to reconnect to the Pixel 4a.

After rebooting the cell phone, the Fitbit app was once again installed and the process of syncing the Versa 2 to the Pixel 4a began (along with updating the Versa 2’s software). It didn’t matter what I did or how I did it the Versa 2 would again lose time along with the Bluetooth connection.

At first the watch was considered the problem, but then why was there never an issue when the watch was synced with the iPhone? The problem seems to more likely be a problem with the Pixel 4a. But then why is it loosing a couple of minutes every hour along with losing the Bluetooth connection? I’ve tried the suggested protocol for re-syncing the cell phone with the Versa 2 and really at a loss as to what to try next.

[m_eastwood2]

I was having the same issues when I got my new phone. I'm not sure which solution worked. First I removed other Bluetooth devices. This enabled the phone to find my Fitbit. I also changed battery optimization to no and then disabled transliteration. I started to get notifications but no vibration. This morning I noticed that DND was constantly enabled. Once I took that off, the vibration and notifications are working as they should. I hope this helps others who have been having similar issues.