Versa won't connect to GPS

[A_Giraffe]

I run the same route everyday and have done for almost a year. Same start and end point. Up until about a month ago, my Versa would connect to GPS within seconds and I’ll be on my way with no issue.

Recently, I tap exercise > run and it takes a very long time to connect to GPS. It’ll just say “connecting” for sometimes up to 30 minutes before connecting. 

Now I know about Bluetooth interferences, tall buildings etc but it always used to work which suggests a software issue.

I have full signal, unpaired/paired my device, restarted my phone, airplane mode off/on all the usual troubleshooting steps but nothing seems to fix it.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[A_Giraffe]

It’s annoyingly because I do all my pre-run stretches before I head out but by the time I’m connected, my body’s gone cold again 

[MrMarv]

@A_Giraffe -

I know it may seem to be a reach, but have you considered shutting the device down and restarting it?

NOT a factory reset, but a shutdown with subsequent reboot.

On the device - hopefully it is the same for the Versa as it is for my Versa 2. 

    Go to "Settings".

    Scroll all of the way down to "About" and tap it.

    Scroll all of the way down past "Factory Reset" and tap on "Shutdown". Shutdown leaves personal information and apps on the device.

    Answer "Yes" to "Do you want to shutdown?"

    After your device shuts down, wait a few seconds and press on the button for about 5 seconds until the logo appears.

Doing the above will clear the device memory of data no longer required by the device and its applications. One of the most wasteful uses of power by a computer's CPU (and your device IS a computer) and a hindrance to faster operation is the need to clean up memory by moving unneeded information around - this is called garbage collection. By performing a shutdown, your battery usage should improve and app operation speed should improve.

Since the Versa family of smartwatches uses assisted-GPS, it isn't a bad idea to shutdown and restart your phone occasionally, for the same reasons stated above.

I'd restart the phone and see if it helps and then the device whether the phone restart corrects the issue, or not. The battery life of the both devices should be improved, either way.

How often you need to do shutdowns depends on the apps you use regularly and how many leave data "hanging around". 

Good luck.

[A_Giraffe]

@MrMarv Thanks for your reply. I hadn’t actually tried that solution so I gave it a go before my run this morning. But alas, it didn’t solve my problem.

It did seem to take less time to connect to GPS but I still had to wait a significant amount of time.

[MrMarv]

@A_Giraffe -

Good to see s-o-m-e improvement.

Maybe couple that with starting the run app before warmup and see if it is connected when you are ready to start your run, assuming you don't need your "normal" watch face during your warmup.

I just ran a couple tests (it's the Geek in me). 

• I set my device timer to eight minutes.
• Started the Walk app - GPS connection established within 12 seconds (sorry).
• Walk app still connected and waiting for me to start it when the timer went off.

• I then set my time for 10 minutes and performed the same test.
• Walk app dropped after 6 minutes.

So I thought you had a fair amount of time to start the run app before warmup and maybe have GPS available in time for your run, but the second test shows app timeout is apparently not consistent.

Good luck.

[A_Giraffe]

@MrMarv Yeah that’s what I do, I start the exercise long before my run, normally while I do my stretches but like you said, if it takes too long it’ll just drop and I have to start over 

[niknik90]

I have the same issue however mine won't connect at all unless I have the fitbit app open. after about 30 seconds the GPS drops out. I'm running it with a Samsung s9+

[niknik90 · Accepted solution]

@A_Giraffe I've been doing some reading up and found a thread where samsung did a security update in September. This changed the settings for location for the fitbit app. I went into my settings and found that it was selected to allow when app was in use. I've changed it to always allow now my issue has gone away. I hope this helps you too. 

[A_Giraffe]

@niknik90 I have an iPhone unfortunately and my location settings for Fitbit is always on too.

[niknik90]

ah bummer, good luck 👍 

[A_Giraffe]

I just wanted to return here and give an update. This issue had been affecting me for over a month. Last week, I noticed my phone had a new iOS update which I downloaded straight away. Since then, I’ve used the exercise feature everyday and my GPS connected within seconds once again. So I believe the previous firmware had become incompatible (to an extent) as the new firmware fixed the issue

[MrMarv]

All right!!!

[RP_Versa2]

This seems to have worked for me too....Thanks @niknik90