fitbit and blackberry

[joe53]

I just purchased a fitbit Versa. I mentioned to the salesman that I had a blackberry passport cellphone, and he said I would not be able to play music. No big deal, I don't listen to music when I jog.

Now it seems I cannot use this Versa at all because my phone is a Blackberry? Is this true? I have a Windows 10 PC, but the download of the app stalls and asks for a fitbit dongle.

I think I have been had. Any advice appreciated.

[SunsetRunner · Accepted solution]

Blackberry isn’t a supported manufacturer so its a bit of pot luck with which, if any, features will work.

if you’ve a Windows 10 computer, with a Bluetooth radio, you should be ok, though again it depends on the model/age. You’d need to check it’s Bluetooth specs.

[GreginJaxFL]

Fitbit provides a list of compatible devices and Blackberry is not listed, so . . . . . .

[KidKreole]

Unless it is one of the much newer BlackBerry handsets that run Android, I doubt you will get functionality through it. Blackberry OS phones are substantially different in their inner workings then Android and iOS. Though, as I mentioned there are I think 3 Android based BlackBerry phones. They are the PRIV™, DTEK60™, and DTEK50™. Not a guarantee, but you may have luck if it is one of these three. Otherwise, you would need to rely on a different phone or a PC.

[Einstein001]

Hi

How are you making out with your Versa ? I got one last week and my BB DTEK50 (Android) worked just fine syncing apps and notifications.  It stopped a few days ago. (fitness data works fine). I spent 2 hours with Fitbit on chat and they told me my phone is not compatible. Of course that does not make sense since it worked till a few days ago. I understand that the phone is not on the "list" but I think that has more to do with the fact that Americans/Fitbit probably don't even know that BB has android phones. Would appreciate some feedback

[JohanneP]

Nope, the DTEK60 and the Versa are not compatible.

[SunsetRunner]

My Blackberry DTEK60 worked with Fitbit for over a year.  May 2018 I was having issues and had to wipe out the phone - the last sync was May 26, 2018. The phone now has Android 6.0.1, June 2018 security patch and fitbit is v18.0.1.

I'm now trying to get it to sync again but it won't complete.  I tried to sync a compatible device as well with no success.

I have a feeling there is an issue if you don't sync for a long time

[Transport]

I am very disappointed that I have to return my fit bit as it does not work with my android BlackBerry Keyone.  

[SunsetRunner]

I have a KeyOne and an Ionic and I have no trouble with it at all.

[Transport]

Wow. I just bought a Fitbit Alta HR and tried to sync with my Keyone with no sucess. After talking with fitbit support they told me it was not compatible. 

[Transport]

I am going to try and return it and find something that is compatible

[cuetee]

I have a KeyONE and versa - Using The charge2 with my Blackberry gave me no issues then i switched to the Versa which gave me no issues for several months. Now i have some syncing issues and all they can offer me is that the phone is not compatible. I am not sure why they will not test it since it is Android based and there is a community of users. I am very disappointed and I feel this is a fail for Fitbit ! .. insult to injury it is too late to return it !!

[joe53]

Just to update:

Since my initial question, my BB Passport died, and I replaced it with a BB Key2. I am unable to sync it with Versa for GPS or music. This despite being powered by an Android OS. Very disappointing.

[Jordanthegirl]

I use a BlackBerry KeyOne (and love it). I was gifted an Alta HR for Christmas since I had apparently complained about my Garmin Vivofit3 a few too many times. I'll never complain about Garmin. After being unable to pair my device, FitBit finally sent me a new one. I was finally able to sync one of them to my BlackBerry only after updating it with an old (and much hated) Samsung phone. Once the update was complete, I could pair it. It would seem that FitBit and Blackberry devices can't communicate to update, only to maintain. When a new update came through, the FitBit was no longer able to sync with the Blackberry. I'm once again updating it on the Samsung and hopefully will be able to re-pair it with the BB.

[apathy_aunt]

Hi Jordan - any luck with this?

[garama]

Similar issue with me. Blackberry Keyone stopped sending sms/text/calendar notifications to my charge 2 after the last security patch/update. When i connect my charge 2 to another android phone, notifications are received. My verdict:

1. It's not true what fitbit wants us to believe that only those phones listed as compatible are the only ones that will work with their products, all other android phones work well with fitbit. 
2. I believe its blackberry and their secure devices who locked out fitbit because they think if their phones are allowed to share text/calls/calendar notifications with other devices, then that is not safe.  Many fitbit /blackberry users have wondered why fitbit is not testing blackberry devices on android, and we never get any conclusive answers because fitbit knows why? 

It's sad how we support fitbit but fitbit does not care to support and help us solve this issue.  What will it take to meet with blackberry and discuss the way forward for the sake of us their clients???

I gave up on notifications, just have painfully check my phone every time as opposed to checking my fitbit. 

We have purchased their products, that all they care about.

[cuetee]

try a shut down of the watch and factory reset if that does not work. My notifications began working again but i cannot get pandora to work

[JulesVTx]

Hi, how do you do a shutdown of the watch? I'm trying to connect a Key 2 to an Alta HR, and I also saw on Crackberry to try shutting down the watch, but how does one do that?

[BenDover68]

Yes, BB does have android phones as I have a Key2 but doesn't matter - Fitbit doesn't work. I am staying away from Fitbit products. As you found out, they run for a while and then stop syncing. Customer service is useless - you just go around and around in circles until you give up and throw it in a drawer with all your other fitbit products. I had a Charge 2 - worked great for 14 months (2 past the warranty) then died. I bought a Charge 3 - worked great for 5 months on a Samsung tablet - then stopped syncing. I gave up after about 6 goes with Customer Service - going to try Garmin, or Samsung.

Good luck

[johnarms]

could not agree more, I have three dead arias, two dead charges, number of dead zips, I've never received a warranty replacement because i did not complain. when i did complain after finding out friends related their experiences I was told I was out of luck. I have refused to buy any more product. My brother gave me his old ionic because we were following each other, f ing thing wont work with blackberry key 2. I really have **ahem** luck with fit bit and their customer service. also spent ages with customer support to no avail. offered me a discount to buy more product???

Its a shame I was building a little fitness program around it even logging food etc. for months.

signed,

previous fan