Versa 3 Controls won't stay connected to my phone's Bluetooth

[D-Mit]

The Versa 3 Controls that control the Calls and Input Device settings from the phone's Bluetooth settings continually disconnects. 

Here's what's happening & what I've been doing. 

I'm on a Samsung Galaxy s10 phone.

The Versa 3 was added to the app and the Versa 3 Controls were working but when I got a call it didn't come through to the watch after the first day. So when I went into the phone's Bluetooth setting & found the Versa 3 Controls were paired but didn't show "connected". However the app and watch synced fine. 

So I forgot the Versa 3 Controls and disconnected it in the Bluetooth settings in the watch. I then re-paired the watch with the phone and the Versa 3 Controls showed "connected for calls" again.

However after a certain amount of time this disappears and the watch doesn't take on wrist calls anymore. However, the watch & Fitbit app sync just fine. 

So I go into the Fitbit app, click the "On Wrist Calls" button then back into the Bluetooth settings of the phone and it shows "connected for calls" again in the Versa 3 Controls. Then, again, after a certain time, it disconnects.

Round & round it goes, but after about 2 more times it just doesn't work doing that anymore and I have to completely forget the Versa 3 Controls in the Bluetooth settings and re-pair it again. Then it disconnects & I start the process all over again. Meanwhile, this whole time the watch syncs just fine with the app. It just doesn't take the on wrist calls. 

The watch is 3 days old.

I've also removed the watch from the app & re-installed it. That didn't help either. 

Any ideas? 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[exlixx]

@Rich_Laue Thanks for the input.  I have at the same time 4 smartwatch (2 Garmins, 1 WearOS watch and this Versa 3).  I am comparing them using the same mobile phone.  Versa 3 is about 2 feet.  The other 3 are about 20 feet.

[Del8phin]

Thinking to return the versa 3 for exact continuing issue. 

[bjstead69]

Exact same issue. I have to uninstall the Fitbit app and reinstall it for it to work.  It will work for about 12 hours then disconnect once again. Fitbit and phone sync fine but once again not receiving any notifications. Phone is only a week old 😞  

[KRowan67]

Hello,

I’ve learned that it doesn’t stay that way. It’s not meant to. It will
reconnect and sync on its own. It connects when you get a call or message
and that’s how it works. I spent a long time on this because I was going to
send mine back.
It stays connected with your Bluetooth and the controls are there and
connects as needed. Hope this helps

[kezrob23]

Incorrect. That's how it's meant to work. Reality is completely different. Maybe go back through the thread and read the ALL the comments...

I haven't been receiving calls or texts on my watch for a couple of days. I've just given up.

Now I have the added pleasure of the watch not syncing to my phone. I just get an error message when I try to do it manually. I get to restart my phone EVERY SINGLE TIME I want to sync. 

Isn't this Fitbit just absolutely awesome??!!! So worth the $400 I shelled out on it... 

[KRowan67]

I apologize. I’ve apparently missed something. I don’t have the syncing
issues. But I was upset about controls not staying connected. That’s when I
searched and found that the controls don’t stay connected that they do it
as needed. I will have to go back and reread I’m sure there has been more
added since I was there. I agree the $ of the watch(es) are way to costly.
And when we pay out this kind of money it should do what was promised.

[SunsetRunner]

Thank you

Sent from my iPad

[Emma79350]

What a lot of people do not realise is, to keep continuous sync, and notifications, you have to keep the app open/running in the background on your phone.

controls does not stay synced, it will connect when you receive a notification, call etc.. again, only when the app is either open or running in the background.

[bjstead69]

That's the problem. Once it disconnects it will not reconnect. I get a
notification to restart my phone. (that does NOT work) So I will not
receive any notifications at all. I have to once again uninstall and
reinstall Fitbit to once again start getting notifications when I get a
text or call.

[buffgrandpa]

Exactly! My Fitbit app is on all the time and the Versa 3 will not
re-synch automatically when it disconnects! And I don't get calls or
notifications.

--
~*RAW*~

[Jeffx2]

I've used the tracker on both an S8 and an S21. I've never had a problem with the the controls passing calls, messages or controlling the music app on my phone. However, I have noticed that after I reboot the phone I will occasionally need to restart the watch to restore those functions. Not every time, but once in a while.

I did go in and remove the ability for Android to put the Fitbit app to sleep after periods on inactivity. That was causing an issue with some of my other apps I need to be active at all times. Don't know if it would have caused an issue with the Fitbit app, but turned it off anyway.

[Rich_Laue]

@buffgrandpa I'll assume you have an android phone. if your app is open, and in the front. Make sure that the phones screen never sleeps. I assume you are recovering to the User Interface and not the background services. 

Alternatively disable power management. 

Yes @Jeffx2 as per the android notes, power management needs to be disabled. 

[exlixx]

Assuming this can resolve the issue, so we have to keep the phone on all the time???!!! And, we will be charging our phones 2 times a day because of this ... Fitbit??!!!

How come my Garmins never have this problem by the way?

[Rich_Laue]

No you don't need to keep the I one on. You need to give the proper permissions to the fitbit app. One of which is to allow background. 

Still have no idea what OS your phone runs, but with android please disable power management for the fitbit app. 

Move the fitbit app to the background and the I one can be turned off. 

As for Garmin, a quick search will confirm that many do have problems. 

[kezrob23]

I agree, this seems a rather ludicrous fix ...

I have all my (android) settings as they should be. Yet watch still after a day will stop receiving calls and texts. App will not automatically sync. Then I have to restart my phone again. Not to mention the watch just randomly restarting during the day. I think the record so far has been 3 restarts in one day.

I think they were too keen to compete with Apple, Samsung, Garmin and the like, and released a rushed, substandard product with iffy technology. 

[buffgrandpa]

Agreed!

🏋‍:male_sign:RAW🏋‍:male_sign:

[exlixx]

We are providing feedback here for Fitbit to improve, yet being seen as criticising, or no value add.  It is defensive to quote other brands also have problems.  So, other brands having (similar) problems is the reason for Fitbit not to improve to be better than competitors?

For reference, I have had, over the past 5 years or so, 3 Android phones, 3 Garmin, 1 Samsung, 1 WearOS and 1 Fitbit.  All the other don't have similar problems, at least with the phones I have had.

Currently, I am having at the same time this Versa 3, 2 Garmin, 1 WearOS.  All these 4 are paired up with the SAME mobile phone.  And, do I not have a relatively good comparison of their features, capabilities and reliability?

When all my other brands (even for the buggy WearOS) don't have this problem, with identical power settings on my mobile phone, I am wondering what is happening to the Fitbit Versa 3?  There must be something the others are doing correctly while this Versa 3 isn't.

When a company is in this denial mode, we all know what a consumer can/should do .... We are all here providing feedback for them to improve and yet they don't seem to appreciate it ... Why are we/should we be struggling with them?

[KuffKid]

Having this same issue. I have paired and re-paired so many times. None of my calls and texts are coming through. At one point they were and it’s hit or miss if it’ll show that I have a call coming through. Even if it does, it won’t vibrate. I switched from Apple Watch to this and it seems to be just as bad, if not worse, than the Apple Watch.

[Han-gry]

I have been experiencing the same issue. I just spent about 30+ minutes trying to resolve it. I restarted my fit bit, re-synced my fit bit, deleted the fit bit app, turned off Bluetooth, turned Bluetooth back on, disconnected fit bit from Bluetooth devices, re-connected. Nothing. However, as a last resort I restarted my iphone and now i am receiving text & call notifications 🙌🏼  give it a try!

[Rich_Laue]

Hi @Han-gry 

• Open the phones bluetooth
• Remove the Versa 3 controls, if you see it listed. 

No fitbit app needed. also explained on the same page. 

• On the Versa 3
• Swipe to settings and tap
• Vibration and Audio
• Tap Versa 3 controls. 
• This puts the controls on discovery mode. 
• Open the phones Bluetooth
• Tap on the Versa 3 controls. Bluetooth scan should find. 
• Confirm pin number. 

Under Fitbit app

• Tap profile picture. 
• Tap Versa 3
• Tap On Wrist Calls 
• Tap setup.