Versa won't stay connected to phone

[GrumpyCyclist]

Hi all.

I'm getting to the end of my tether with Fitbit and the Versa. Lately my Versa just won't stay connected to my phone Bluetooth. I use it to keep my phone unlocked using Samsung Smart Lock and it has previously worked flawlessly on this same phone. Now, almost hourly, the phone isn't unlocked and the phone will say the Versa isn't connected if I go into the Smart Lock settings. If I go into the Fitbit app it will almost always tell me the last sync was X hours ago and will often say "Looking For Device" (photos attached, taken as I am writing this). You can see it says last sync was 02:44. That's 9 hours ago, and that's with the app open too. I used to be able to open my app and it was bang up to date unless I happened to catch it between two sync operations which used to be about 20 minutes apart if I recall correctly. Now, the data in my app is NEVER right unless I open the app and sync manually. I get no notifications either unless I open the app frequently. ALL battery saving settings to do with Fitbit are off - it can run in the background, its battery use is not optimised, so there is nothing in the phone settings that should be preventing this.

I'm fairly sure the last time it worked correctly was before they removed the "all day sync" switch in the Android app. They say it's "on" by default in the new app, but my experience tends to differ and it seems to be off requiring a manual sync almost every time.

No, I'm not running the latest firmware on the Versa itself because I don't want my Fitbit turning into a useless brick, and from what I've seen they haven't yet fixed the firmware.

Fitbit app version: 3,24 (current Android version)

Phone: Samsung Galaxy S10+

[KirstieA]

I'm running into the same problem using iOS on iPhone 11  Hasn't stayed connected since the "all day sync" was removed. Definitely doesn't look like its on by default. Frustrating!

[GrumpyCyclist]

@KirstieA Well, I finally gave up on the Fitbit and bought a Galaxy Watch. However, something weird has happened. For the last, oh I don't know, maybe 3 months, like I said the Fitbit has not stayed connected to the phone unless I open the app and it has to "look for device" again. The Smart Lock setting on my phone that keeps the phone unlocked if the Fitbit is close by was reporting it as "not connected" until I opened the app.

Today, since pairing the Galaxy Watch to the phone, the Fitbit has stayed connected all day. I can only assume that something to do with the Fitbit connection is allowing the Bluetooth stack on the phone to go into 'sleep' mode and that's what's unlinking the Fitbit. The Galaxy must be keeping that connection alive, maybe by pinging the connection periodically, and therefore the stack isn't closing. Maybe the Fitbit, since they removed "all day sync" isn't necessarily pinging the Bluetooth connection all day and so the phone is assuming that the device isn't around or is turned off and is releasing the connection after a time.

Either way, it seems the Fitbit DOES stay connected if the Bluetooth stays alive but for some reason isn't currently keeping that connection alive itself.

[marsydoats]

Same problem here with my Versa Watch. Note: My Bluetooth is ON in settings in my iPhone 10. However, Versa is listed as "Not Connected" and warns me "Connection Unsuccessful Make sure Versa is turned on and in range". IT IS.

First symptom was the Versa watch itself is losing minutes. So, I opened the app on my iPhone 10 and it synced and updated the time correctly. However, unless I open the Fitbit App and sync every single minute it will not keep the correct time and loses minutes.

    NEW TODAY: I am trying to sync the watch to the Fitbit App and it is "looking" and is stuck there. It never syncs, nor give me a message saying it is not connected or anything. AS AN ASIDE: I just went into Fitbit App Profile>WiFi Settings>Networks. It looks and looks and doesn't connect to my home wifi like it was doing for years automatically. It not only doesn't list my wifi as a choice network it ALSO warns me that it "Can't Find Device We're unable to connect to your versa"

     Can someone please help? Thanks ahead of time!

[Annisa]

I have a Samsung s9 and am on a versa 1 and am having same issue. I have also tried resetting versa and undownloading n reinstalling app. I havent been given a update in last 3 weeks but my watch has refused to connect unless I manually go on app and have to try multiple times to sync phone to watch. Nitemare please let me know if resolution is found 

[marsydoats]

Will do for sure because this is ridiculous!
I have tried doing every single thing the forums say and still the watch is losing minutes, I can’t sync, I can’t change the watch face since some people said to try that....it goes on and on.

[BareBish]

Same problem,  lose connection when phone sleeps. Reopen app and it hooks, sleep loses connection. Riding a bike and constantly opening app has me thinking this is not for me. If no hemp soon it will end up with other useless smart devices, bottom of some drawer most likely. 

[SunsetRunner]

I am having the same trouble with my husbands Versa - he has given up on it so I’m trying to sort it.  I’m having the same trouble as you and, it seems, lots of others are too.  I removed the device and tried to re-install it but it is still searching even after I followed the troubleshooting advice.  Mine is working fine connected to my ipad.  

[miretted]

Same problem except it is with Moto x4, and they sent a replacement device, that was able to connect for a few months, but then same problem!  After 2 hours on the phone, Emmanuel, told me that they could not do anything except give me a 25% discount.  This is after 2 defective versa lites.  Insisted on speaking to a manager and after several attempts, finally got Daniel, and he again reaffirmed that since they gave me a replacement device, and the original device was now out of warranty, they could not do anything except give a 25% discount.

It looks like it is only the Versa Lite that has this issue, so I would steer clear of this device.

[SunsetRunner]

'Device not found' all the time unless by some random chance it synced after a long period of time. Whats the point in wearing a watch that doesn't tell the right time? Its always losing time. I have uninstalled the app and reinstalled, restarted my fitbit alot and restarted my phone (s10) with no success. So frustrated!!!

[marsydoats]

I gave up and bought an Apple Watch Series 5. This is the second time the same Versa has seriously malfunctioned. And no one can help with this 2nd fiasco. It should happen twice in 2 yrs. I can never get back the hours I spent trying everything and researching. Versa sucks. Good luck!