Versa 3 constantly losing Bluetooth Connection

[MrClutch]

Hi All:

I have an iPhone XR and don't have the FitBit app on my iPad (This was an answer I've found to this problem). My Versa 3 constantly loses Bluetooth connection. It is completely unreliable in terms of receiving notifications on the watch, phone calls, etc. I've searched around for answers, and "Reboot" my phone and watch is all I've seen. That's not good enough. I've also heard that having the FitBit app also on your iPad causes disruption, but as noted that's not the case here. I'm assuming many others with an iPhone are having the same problem,

I switched over from a Fossil watch for this same reason. The Fossil Watch OS (Which was the google OS) just couldn't stay connected to an iPhone. I thought FitBit with its own OS would solve this. But, it's the same problem and even worse at times. If I had to guess - I'd say Apple is in the mix here as the cause of the problem.

HELP! I'm confident that if I switch to an Apple watch that the problem will be solved - BUT I'm trying everything in my power to not have to do that. I love the Versa 3 for a ton of reasons - the 5-day battery life being one of them (and everything else). That said, I can't hang around much longer if the Bluetooth connection doesn't work reliably. 

Thank you!

Regards,

John

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[MrsEgg]

Has Fitbit ever offered a solution to this? I have to repair with bluetooth every time I want to look at any fitbit data.  

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[MrClutch]

Greetings.

I never heard back from Fitbit directly and sort of gave up on this.

In addition to the post here I did a fair amount of online research (within this message board and the Internet in general) and found more complaints, but no solution that worked at all.

All I heard was make sure the fitbit app is still open in the background (that didn't work) and reboot either your iPhone, watch or both from time to time (Also doesn't work).

At the end of the day I *think* the issue is with the Apple iPhone end of it. I previously had a Fossil watch (running the google watch OS) and that also failed miserably, which is why I gave the Fitbit a shot - hoping since it was a diff OS then maybe it would work.

I'm trying to hold on hoping this will work one day (with an updated firmware or software from FitBit) since I do like the 5-6-day battery life on the watch - but I may soon totally give up and move to the dark side and get an apple watch - which is the only one I've had work consistently over time.

[CindyMFitbit]

Hi there @MrClutch and @MrsEgg. Welcome to the Community Forums. 

It's good to see you participating in the Community Forums and I appreciate all the details that you have shared about the difficulties that you are having, as well for all the troubleshooting that you have tried so far.  

Please note that if you have any other Bluetooth devices paired to your phone, I'd recommend removing them and then please restart your phone and test the behavior of your Fitbit Versa 3. 

If you continue having difficulties to get the Fitbit connected, I'd recommend removing the Bluetooth connection between your phone and your Fitbit device:

1. On your phone, tap Settings > Bluetooth > the information icon next to the name of your Fitbit device > Forget This Device.
2. Open the Fitbit app and set up the connection again. You should receive a message asking you to allow your Fitbit device to pair with your phone.
3. Tap Pair to approve the request. Also, please make sure no other mobile devices are nearby as this can interfere with the set up or sync process. 
4. Please make sure to keep the Versa 3 and the Fitbit app updated, as this improves the connection. 

Hope this helps. 

[MrsEgg]

I had to "forget this devise" and repair 6 times yesterday. It is 10:40 and I just did it a third time today. I have shut the phone off, deleted all of my other paired devises. I'm impressed that MrClutch has put up with this for several months. This is my 7th fitbit in 4 years. I was already very hesitant to buy this one...I'm still within my 30 days. If there isn't a solution, I am very tempted to make a switch to a different fitness tracker.

[Delacombo]

I just wanted to reply and offer my experience is that other Bluetooth devices can sometimes cause issues with the Fitbit Bluetooth connection.  This happens with my Skullcandy Bluetooth ear buds, etc, as well.  And I do believe it has to do with how the iPhone prioritizes a Bluetooth connection, since I don't have any issues when connected to my car's Bluetooth.

[MrClutch]

Hi Cindy and Everyone.

First, Happy Holidays and hope you and all are well and safe.

Now, I upgraded to a brand new iPhone 13 in November. I only have the Versa connected to Bluetooth - no other devices at all.

For the first week or so things were OK - then it went right back to the usual which is the Bluetooth connectivity is completely unreliable and it loses connection all the time. I have to reopen the Fitbit app on the phone (It's always "open" in the background) to cause a "sync" which seems to reconnect it.

I've tried everything mentioned throughout the board here and nothing works. I know many others have the same problem, so I'm hesitant to think my watch is "defective" in any way. As I may have noted - I had the same problem pre-Fitbit when I had a google watch running the google watchOS. I abandoned ship on it and came here to Fitbit for that reason.

Unless someone out there...anyone...has a good answer on how to fix this permanently - then I have to move on....and get an Apple Watch since it's the only watch I know of that does not suffer from this problem. I hate to do it (for many reasons - one being the awesome battery life on the Versa), but I'm at the end of my rope here.

Thank you all and Happy New Year!

Regards.

Mr. Clutch

[Sassygirl215]

Yep me too! iPhone 13. Just got my Fitbit versa 3 a week ago. So frustrating! I also deleted the app off my iPad   
how can the steps ever be accurate!?

when I loose Bluetooth my temperature goes back to Celsius!

looking looking …. Phone is right next to versa 3. 

[Sassygirl215]

did all that!   So frustrated with Versa 3. Ready to ship it back! Only had it a week. 
Can’t forget device since it’s  not connected to Bluetooth. When I go to app it says “looking”

hiw can my steps be accurate?

[MrClutch]

I got rid of my Versa3 and bought a Fitbit Sense - the Sense (knock on
wood) has been staying connected as it should.

[SunsetRunner]

Hello @Sassygirl215 and @MrClutch 

I can see this is an older post that you posted on recently. Firstly I’m happy you are now not experiencing syncing issues with your Fitbit Sense. That’s awesome! I did notice the iPad was brought up a few times in this post and having syncing issues. I’ve only had my Fitbit connected to my iPad only and have never experienced a syncing issue. But I totally understand that an iPad is not at convenience as having it on a mobile device such as a phone. 😂 IPad’s just look silly if you try to put it in your pocket so a mobile device makes sense for most. I do know that having your Fitbit Tracker connected to two devices, such as your iPad and your phone will/can cause conflicts and confusion trying to sync and stay connected. I would certainly only recommend one device for better results. @Sassygirl215 make sure your Versa 3 is not appearing on the Bluetooth list of the device your not using to sync with the Fitbit App. Go to the device you do want it to appear in and try turning the Bluetooth off, wait a couple of seconds then try turning it back on again. If that doesn’t work try logging out of the Fitbit app, force shut the app by swiping it upward then turn off your phone for 1-2 mins then turn it back on and log back into the Fitbit App again as you normally would. Now try to manually sync again. If the problem persist try restarting your Versa 3. You will not lose any of your data performing a restart. Just hold down the button on your Versa 3 until you see the Fitbit Logo then release the button. You should feel the Versa 3 vibrate indicating the restart is complete. Hopefully that resolved the syncing issue. If not try changing your clock face…preferably to the original clock face that came with your tracker or at least one made by Fitbit to see if that helps. 
😃 I do hope this helps. Please keep me posted 

[Delacombo]

Huh? 

I haven’t worn mine in months. Got too frustrated. 

[robjmiller]

Right there with you … giving up on the Fitbit and heading to Apple Watch. Not wanting to but there just doesn’t seem to be any help from Fitbit in solving this apparent problem. 

[SunsetRunner]

Same here, heading to Apple. I like the ability to take calls on verse 3 but with this constant unpairing, especially not knowing when it unpairs, makes this feature useless. In fact, makes the entire tracker useless. 

[AllunMorgan]

Done all of the above, several times, I’ve also deactivated the Versa from my account and set it back up as s new device, deleted the app and reinstalled and nothing works, the minute I walk away from the phone it losses connection and won’t reconnect, I have to go into my phone Bluetooth settings, forget the versa and reconnect and it’ll work for as long as the phone and tracker are in the same room. I have been reconnection it several times a day just to sync the data for weeks.