Versa Lite stuck on Fitbit Logo

[veganpatches]

My wife bought me a Versa Lite last year, and I used it happily exactly 4 times, and then left it in my drawer for a little over a year. Anyway, I'm finally back home and was looking forward to using it, and when I charge it the following happens:

It gives a 0% battery sign after about 10 minutes of charging (no surprise there) which then goes black, and then after another 10 minutes, the Fitbit logo shows on the screen, stays for around 10 minutes, and then goes away.

The Fitbit logo comes and goes about every 40 minutes or so, and I've left it plugged in for nearly 4 days now, having tried my computer, 2 different USB hubs, and 4 outlets, just in case; the same result each time - a temporary logo that either never continues charging, or tries and fails to start the 'Fitbit' program. 

Is there anyway I can fix this? I hate that I only enjoyed this out-of-the-box NEW watch for a cumulative 6 hours before it stopped working, and I would love a solution, even it requires sending it in to have the software updated by the Fitbit techs. I am willing to do some amount of work to fix this issue, but if the best you can offer me is a discount on a new watch, I will decline. Currently I am very disappointed with my Fitbit and I would love for that to change. So how about it? Ball's in your court! 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Guy_]

Hi, it may have lost its setup after being off for so long. Interesting if it did.

1. While its charging plugged into the computer if you double tap it does it show you the battery level? If yes,

2. Try in the Fitbit App on your phone adding it as a new watch with "+ Set up a Device".

[veganpatches]

I'll give this a shot - but my 'above average' level of dealing with computers in my life led me to the same conclusion about it losing it's setup - I think that's a good guess. I'll try the computer charge double tap method here in a moment; I had tried adding it as a new device while the logo screen was up, hoping my phone might recognize it, but so far that hasn't worked either. 

I'll report back; but thanks for the idea. Anything I haven't thought of (like your suggestion) I am open to, so fingers crossed 🙂

[veganpatches]

Just to get back to you for your idea - I gave the double tapping approach a shot, and it doesn't respond in any way while the logo is up; so I allowed the battery to "definitely drain" by leaving it unplugged for 3 days, plugged it back in, saw the 0% screen with a slash through the battery screen, and tried tapping THEN as well, but with no results either. 

Initially I had paired it with my iphone last year when I was using it, but when this problem started up I had read that perhaps it needed to be RE-paired with my phone, so I removed the pairing, and now when I try to pair it, regardless of the stage of the Fitbit (black screen or logo screen) it can't find it.

Does anyone know if there's a way to access the Fitbit program online? It seems to me my Fitbit just needs the system software reinstalled, and I can send it to them, or if there's some interfacing program I can use on my computer, I can just connect it via USB and maybe we could reinstall it? 

[Guy_]

Hi, did you try on your phone [with the watch on the charger since an hour] to setup the watch ?

How do I set up my Fitbit device? 

[BraulioFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community, @veganpatches. I appreciate your assistance, @Guy_.

@veganpatches Thanks for the details in your post and for what you've tried so far. Do you see just the Fitbit logo on the display or do you see the Fitbit logo with a message on different languages directing you to fitbit.com/setup? If you see just the Fitbit logo, I recommend you to try a restart by pushing the left side button for 10 seconds until you see the Fitbit icon again and it goes off. If you see the icon with the message on different languages and you're having trouble to pair it with your phone, I recommend you to try the troubleshooting steps from here: Why can't I set up my Fitbit device?

Hope this helps.

[veganpatches]

Hey there, thanks for the comment - I'll do my best to give details about what's going on.

This weekend I left my Fitbit unplugged for 2 days so ensure it was completely without battery again, and then I plugged it in, and after about 15 minutes, the "zero battery" sign comes up - which is what has always happened when there's no charge. Then, after about 25 minutes, the Fitbit logo appears by itself; nothing about setting it up or anything. So I tried holding the button down during the logo display, and after about ten seconds the logo does disappear, but that's all that happens. Continued holding (for up to nearly 3 minutes) or a ten second wait period and then holding it down again does nothing to bring the logo back. My assessment is that when the logo appears while it's charging, I can take it out and hold the button down for 10 seconds and the logo will go away. If I don't remove it from the charger, and simply let the logo stay there, it will disappear on it's own after about 20 seconds anyway, without me doing anything. I believe that the only change I am able to visibly see is that I can make the logo go away by holding down the side button; but holding the button at any other time has no discernible effect on anything. Does that make sense? 

I have also tried setting up my device via my iPhone and the Fitbit app (which I just updated) and while it tries to find it, my phone never makes contact with the Fitbit. The result is the same whether I wait for the logo to appear and then tap "find my device" or if I try that while it's charging and the screen is flat black. 

Again, my uninformed opinion leads me to believe the program just isn't starting properly. My dad's old IBM tower used to do the same thing until we reinstalled the OS. 

Any thoughts? Keep them coming! I'll try most anything here 🙂

[veganpatches]

Hi Guy_ - I have tried that a couple times - I updated the app and everything, but my iPhone just can't find my Fitbit. It's not a bluetooth issue as I have two bluetooth stereo systems which connect quickly via my phone. I tried to catch my Fitbit at the "0% battery" screen to connect via bluetooth from my iPhone, but that didn't provide any different results; just a "searching..." message with no outcome.

Might be worth noting as well that as I recall when I used to be able to properly charge and use my Fitbit, that at some point in the charging dock, even if we were starting from 0%, the bottom lights would do that crazy flash dance thing; a 3 second strobe effect type of deal. I haven't seen that at any stage since this issue started. 

thanks again for the comment; any more ideas, send them over!

[BraulioFitbit]

Hi, @veganpatches.

Thanks for the update and for the detailed information. Based on what you described, it seems that your Versa Lite is stuck on a reboot loop. My advice is to contact our Support team by requesting a chat or calling them. They have the tools to check what's happening with your watch and look for a resolution.

See you around.