Versa 3 won't keep the correct time

[RpbH]

I have a Versa3 about 2 months

I'm amazed to see a device which has built in GPS losing time

I have seen posts re syncing with phone and when I manually sync it does seem to fix the time

I dont see an option for the phone to sync regularly but surely the watch should be able to keep time itself

Is this a fault?

Phone is a Huawei P30 lite Android 12.0.0.225

Thanks

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hi there, @RpbH. Welcome to the Community Forums. Thanks for trying to troubleshoot the issue with your Versa 3 before reaching out. I understand where your concern is coming from. 

While reading your post, I was wondering if by any chance you used to have another Fitbit device prior the Versa 3? If any previous Fitbit devices is still linked to your phone's Bluetooth settings, that might be causing connectivity issues with your Versa 3 and the Fitbit app and somehow, syncing issues what would explain why the time won't stay synced. 

With that said, try the steps below: 

• Unpair your Versa 3 and the previous Fitbit device from your phone's Bluetooth and Fitbit app.
• Force quit the Fitbit app.
• Turn off other Bluetooth connections when not in use. This can help to prevent connectivity issues or Bluetooth interference.
• Shut off your phone and turn it on after 1-2 minutes.
• Turn on the Bluetooth on your phone.
• Plug it into the charging cable and open the Fitbit app.
• Set up your new Versa 3 again.
• If there is no connection, restart your Versa 3.

After trying the above, keep and eye on your Versa 3 to see if the issue persists. 

[Peb8484]

Did you ever get it figured out ? I continuously have the wrong time and date !

[Guy_]

Hi @RpbH  - you are right, you would think a watch with the nano second precision of GPS should be able to keep perfect time but it is not used.

Only sync corrects the time.

However if you lose more than a few seconds per day when not synced the watch is possiblity faulty. 

I sync my watch every 5 days or so and it remains within a few seconds of the correct time.

@Peb8484 - is it possible you aren't syncing your watch to set the correct time and date?

It may require a restart and sync to get the correct time.

If that doesn't work, in the Fitbit App, click profile photo and App settings, turn off automatic time zone and location and set the time zone manually and sync a few times. Once fixed you can turn the options on again.

[RpbH]

Thanks Maria

That seems to have worked. I does sync regularly now which fixes the time. I'm not sure but I think the issue may have been other bluetooth devices on the phone list even though they weren't active. I did have a Charge2 previously but this is not paired and I had previously removed this from the app also.

Its still I think a major flaw to have a device which can't keep time itself and relies on the phone sync.

[RpbH]

Yes, the feedback from the moderator seems to have sorted it - setup the device again and unpair other devices. 

I think its still crazy that a fitbit can't keep time correctly without being synced to a phone

[RpbH]

Thanks for the suggestions,

I reckon I am losing 1-2 minutes per day. I followed the moderator recommendations to setup again (which I had done previously). The only new things were having the watch plugged into the charger and unpairing other devices.

[Guy_]

@RpbH-  if it loses 1-2 minutes a day with occasional syncing in the day the watch is faulty. May be worth getting it replaced under warranty, 1 to 2 years depending on country law and/or store.

[SherlockWatson]

as others have stated - a device that must be synced to another device to keep accurate time over the course of a day, week, month is absolutely asinine. I just got done talking to phone support and that went about as well as you’d expect. 

If Fitbit designed phones they could never be powered off because that would disconnect them from the network and they’d lose time. 

Not the dumbest designed-in flaw ever but certainly worthy of an Honorable Mention. 

my wife just very hilariously pointed out - Fitbits are….wait for it…watches. What’s the purpose of a watch? Keep time!

a computer has a battery so it can keep time when unplugged and will do so for days on end until the battery starts running down. That’s how almost every battery driven watch operates. Fitbit says - “we don’t need that noise!”