Versa lite keeps failing to sync

[Charlie27]

I have tried everything that has been recommended and my versa lite keeps

saying that it fails to sync. Can anyone help me please 

[LiliyaFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community @Charlie27. I am sorry for the delayed response.  

I appreciate your participation in the Forums and sharing the syncing issue you're having with your Fitbit Versa Lite. Thank you for your troubleshooting efforts. I've shared your post with our Support team and they've mentioned that you already have a case with them. I know they will be glad to help you out and provide you a solution, please keep an eye on your inbox for further instructions.

I'll be around if you need further assistance. 

[SonCamaro]

I have the same problem since yesterday.  I purchased the watch a month ago and all went fine initially and until then.  It’s my third generation of fitbit and love the new one, I would love this problem to be solved.  Please! 

[LiliyaFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community @SonCamaro.

Thank you for joining the thread and sharing that you're experiencing the same issue. Thank you for being a Fitbit customer, I understand that you love the device and would like to continue using it without any issues. Have you tried the troubleshooting steps mentioned before? Do you have another tracker paired to your Fitbit account? What phone and the operating system are you using? 

Please keep me posted.

[SonCamaro]

Yes I have followed the trouble shooting steps.  I usually sync with either an ipad or an iphone.  It was never an issue with the Charge 2.  I am back using the Charge 2 as, even if it's the only device on the list, the Versa 2 does not sync.  I would not only like for the Versa 2 to work properly but would appreciate if both my devices could be used, one being a bit more discrete to wear.  Thank you

[Charlie27 · Accepted solution]

My versa stopped working altogether and was sent a replacement by the retailer that I bought it from, the new one is working fine at present 

[SunsetRunner]

Charlie27, I suspect that the cause is the BlueTooth Radio going to sleep all the time and then not "waking up" and connecting properly.

I just bought my Versa Lite a couple of days ago and already I've seen the no connection issue.

I do have it set to always stay connected.

I am a Certified Computer Technician and Electronics guy and I'm very good at troubleshooting.

What I've found and what I suspect this problem is related to are a couple of things.

It has to do with the Bluetooth radio that the Versa has.  I suspect that it may not be of very high quality to begin with.

But even with that feature to always stay on (all day or some name like that), it will drop the connection.

What I think is happening here is that the software is NOT keeping BT alive and that the BT radio does go to sleep (hardware sleep mode).

The reason I suspect this is that in my troubleshooting of the device, when it wouldn't sync and/or I couldn't send it a new face, all I had to do was go into the NYTimes news app and when it launches, it is looking for the connection and this seems to "Wake Up" the BT radio.

Because after some hesitation, it will then show the news and WAHLA now the Versa Lite is again communicating with the Android phone, WITHOUT having to do anything with the phone at all.

So even with that "all day" option on (I do forget the exact setting or what it's called) the BT radio for sure, does go to sleep.

I've dealt with many developers in my life and I was one long ago.  A common factor is that many, if not most, are not interested in someone else uncovering a bug or flaw in "their code" so they can get stubborn and won't even listen to any suggestions or ideas.  So I'm not going to even bother trying.

But if the devs want to check this out, they might want to consider that when the button is pressed for any reason (like show the clock) that it also runs the function that wakes up the BT radio (as does the other apps, like the news app).  The code doesn't seem to be open source, so I have no way to go through it, but if I did, I'd want to see the function call that wakes up the BT Radio and then make sure it is in fact called when the button is pressed.  A simple IF statement would do it.

[pseudo code]

if(pwrButton == TRUE)

{

    CallBTRadioWakeupFunction(); 

             /* whatever it's called, of course.  The wakeup function would first confirm if the radio is away AND if it's connected to the phone. */

}

It's very possible that this could solve these disconnect problems that are being reported in great numbers.

This MIGHT even solve the constant restarts that many are reporting as well.  Although, that could be also faulty hardware related too.

We'll see if better updates happen soon.

I just bought my watch 2 days ago, so if it does have problems, I have 30 days to take it back for a full refund, which I would absolutely do.  I also bought extra warranty that covers it for 3 years.  So I'm good.

[SonCamaro]

[SonCamaro]

Blonde SL, your explanation makes a lot of sense and I hope this bug will be fixed.  I might do like Charlie and exchange for a new one but it was all working fine for a month ... not sure I want to exchange it monthly!   Hoping that Lilly will reply with a solution ...

[Starkaryen]

I have a very similar problem with a Versa and have already exchanged mine once, however I have exactly the same problem with the second Versa as with the first. After a long time troubleshooting with Fitbit support I was told the syncing problems are something to do with the most recent version of Android and that they are working on a fix. I was not given a timeframe on how long it would take, just that it would be as soon as they can. The watch is useless at the moment as I can't get it to sync without a protracted process of restarting the watch, Blueooth and sometimes my phone.

[SunsetRunner]

What concerns me about the statement that it's a known issue with newer versions of Android, is that in my case, I have an older version of Android!

Bluetooth connects from the watch to the phone.  It's their software that sets up the communications.

Bluetooth is a "standard" and as long as all companies follow the standardized protocols, then this disconnecting thing should not happen (or at least, not TOO often).

I stand by my discovery that its the watch's software itself that is allowing the Bluetooth radio to go to sleep.  Again, I can see that as being an "as designed" feature just like Windows does to  various components like Bluetooth and even network cards.  Laptops are notorious for this.  At least, in Windows, you can control these devices by disabling Windows from putting devices to sleep.

Again, though, I suspect that if the developers would just do, on push of the button, to jump to the routine to trigger the BT radio, that could help.

They should also keep it alive as long as there's activity.  Perhaps the code already does.

We'll wait and see what the FitBit people do.

After all, word of mouth can create major sales or can reduce sales world-wide.

[PBStevens]

I bought a new Versa Lite yesterday. I tried to use it this morning, but it was not syncing. I tried many times. 

[SunsetRunner]

if you haven't yet, try installing a weather app and a news app to it.

If those install, that proves that the watch IS at least communicating with your phone.

Then, go into one of those apps to assure it's getting current info.

As it does, then try the sync again.

Each time it fails, use your finger to pull down from the top of the screen (on the app though, not the very top).  This can force it to sync again.

I find that I have do to that several times then finally it works.

Also, use the batter level as the indicator that it's communicating.

What I mean is, if it did sync once and say the phone apps shows the watch's batter at say, 80% but the watch shows say, 50%, keep trying to force the sync until you see the 50%.

If that still fails, do a full restart of your phone.  While that's restarting, press and hold the button on the watch until it appears to shut down.  It doesn't actually shut down, but it will also reset.

Once both up, repeat the above.

Good luck.  I hope it works.

p.s. if it does not, then perhaps return it to the store for another one.

If you bought it from some place like Best Buy, perhaps buy a 2 or 3 year warranty on it.

I did because I think I'll need to use it.

The problem with syncing is software.  As a Certified Computer Tech who did spend a lot of my career as a programmer and currently write software for home projects, I know that this is a software problem.  Could be just the watch's app, or the phone.  I think BOTH!

I just don't have confidence in the FitBit dev team to find it as they've not shown interest nor taken ownership of the problem.

[Gizmoday]

I had the same issue as everyone else. I finally went to the app on my phone and went to my account, selected the device and scrolled down to where is says remove this Versa Lite. After that I added it back and did a re-pair. Once I’d done that it synced.

[LiliyaFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community, @PBStevens @Gizmoday. It's nice to see you around @SunsetRunner. I am sorry for the delayed response.

@SunsetRunner @Gizmoday I appreciate your participation in the Forums and sharing the tips to help other users. Thank you for your time and efforts. 

@PBStevens I am sorry to hear about the syncing difficulty with your new Fitbit Versa Lite. I would like to confirm if you were able to set up and sync your watch after following the suggestions in this thread? 

I'll be around if you need further assistance. 

[SunsetRunner]

As you can see by my post, I am a Certified Computer Technician and previous a software developer.

I was able to find workarounds that "usually" work.  This is because I have a fairly good understanding and idea of what's going on here.

The watches aren't actually "disconnecting" from bluetooth, even when the Android App says that it "can't find device."

It can fail even when the watch is receiving say, email notifications or other notifications that are enabled.

It receives those because in fact it's connected via BlueTooth.

So the fact that the app all of a sudden cannot "find" it, while it is connected, shows a major bug in the app and I suspect too, the watch's software.

So I'm hoping that the FitBit developers and troubleshooters are searching for the bugs in BOTH the Android app AND the watches software as well.

I really think there's more than just the 1 bug causing this issue, that MANY MANY PEOPLE are reporting.

Hope that helps.   😎

[LiliyaFitbit]

Hi @SunsetRunner, thank you for your reply. I am sorry for the delayed response. 

Thank you so much for using your experience and knowledge in order to help other users. I really appreciate your efforts and your time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feedback. Our team is always working on improving our devices and user experiences, and your comments are always welcome.

Feel free to explore the discussions forums to Share Your Story, Get Fitter, Find Fitbit Friends, Sharing Recipes and much more.

Keep on visiting the forums!

[Kuriositty]

I have tried all of the above troubleshooting options given. I have tried syncing on both my phones (iphone and android) and neither have been able to recognize that I even have the device. I have had a versa lite since April 2019. It was been working fine until November. I stopped wearing it for the month of December and it hasn't been able to sync since then.

Somehow the device miraculously updated through the android app, but still hasn't been able to sync with either phone. In the previous months leading up to this the app and device were not syncing up well when I wanted to update my sleep/steps/etc. into the app. Sometimes I would have to try several times before it would update and other times I had to wait until the next day. 

I have reset the device to factory and still can't get it to sync with either phone and now I'm stuck not even being able to use it as a simple watch. I'm extremely disappointed in this product now.

[LiliyaFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community, @Kuriositty.

I appreciate your participation in the Forums and sharing the details of the syncing issue you're experiencing with your Versa Lite. I totally understand how you are feeling and appreciate your troubleshooting efforts. Since the issue persists, I've sent your information to the Customer Support team so they can get in touch with you and provide further assistance. You should be getting a reply soon. 

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Meganboulden]

I have had my Versa Lite since Oct 2019 and it has worked fine until today when I noticed the app will not sync my steps. It appears to be communicating with my watch because my exercises are synced but not my steps. When I try to sync it gives me a failed to sync option. I have done every single thing on the troubleshooting article but have had zero luck. I don’t want to have to get a new one, it was a gift.