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I think you should be able to sync with your phone and then upload data at a later date. Let us store data locally so that an internet connection is not required to see current stats.
Why? Because Fitbit doesn't care what you or I or anyone else wants. They think that if they don't need something, no one needs it. Apparently they never actually use the Fitbit outside their office, or they'd know that not every place in the world has connectivity. But they have demonstrated, repeatedly, that they are clueless about what their customers actually want and need.
Fitbit's marketing plan is to sell to big companies who then give or sell, at reduced cost, the trackers to their employees. The idea is to get the folks exercising and in better health to reduce medical costs to the company. All of the data needs to go to the Fitbit servers so Fitbit can show how much the employees are using the trackers and how healthy they are getting. The fact that all data MUST go to the Fitbit servers is a selling point to the companies buying trackers in bulk.
So, the customer here is not you and me (single users) but big companies with hundreds of employees and because of that there will never be syncing without Internet.
Another frustration is that reviews of trackers that mention Fitbit do not call out this issue. I reached out to a recent reviewer about this issue and have not heard back. I think he got paid for the review/article and has moved on.
I had this off line data collection with my Pebble. Only got the charge 2 for heart rate tracking while I hike. In the wilderness. Just like the web site pictures show.
I am a submariner in the us navy. As you can imagine, I don't have internet access for months at a time. The ability to change the time manually would prevent my charge from being obsolete to me, and more appealing to my fellow sailors.
As well as my Fitbits, I have a Pebble and there is no problem to sync it with my iPad without the Internet. I would find it helpful to be able to do this for holidays as now that the Pebble has been taken over by Fitbit, I would prefer not to have to rely on it when I am away and out of reach of the Internet. So long as proper instructions are given, I do not think it matters how you accomplish it. Thank you.
Apparently Fitbit doesn't care about customer requests and certainly not their privacy. I was just about to purchase a Charge 2, until I asked myself the question where all the data is actually stored.
Why did Fitbit choose to store all the available information (heart rate, workouts, etcetera) on a server somewhere in the United States? I would like to live healthier but I care about my privacy. I am not going to purchase a Fitbit until they fix this feature that so many people are asking for. The data that's being collected by Fitbit devices should be synchronized over Bluetooth to your phone only and should be visible there only. No one wants all their private data in a suspicious cloud. It's none of Fitbits business where I currently am, what workouts I do, how much callories I burn and what my heart rate is. It's not the question why I do not want this, it's the question why Fitbit wants to store this information on their cloud in the first place.
I have used an Apple Watch for about a half year, and I am much more satisfied with the way they store data. This data is either stored on the Apple Watch itself, or on your connected iPhone. Collected data NEVER leaves your own devices because it's NO ONE'S business except your own business. Mind your own business Fitbit, my data is NONE of your business.
Fix this Fitbit, or a lot of people, including me, will not buy a Fitbit.
I do agree that this is not what I want but my reasons are different as people always are ! The problem is that I do not / need an iWatch, too expensive and features I don't need, but I do want to sync my tracker without wifi.
I do agree that this is not what I want but my reasons are different as people always are ! The problem is that I do not / need an iWatch, too expensive and features I don't need, but I do want to sync my tracker without wifi.
I'm a proud new owner of a Flex 2 thanks to a work health program. After using it for several days now and reading this forum post, I find the product is quite nice, but FitBit's complete lack of understanding on how customers are trying to use these devices without displays is just plain sad. For many people which do not have cellular data plans, or try to use these devices in areas which do not have good cellular data coverage, these devices are a complete joke and borderline worthless with the smartphone software in it's current design state. I understand why syncing to the cloud is a good thing, but in the cases where network connectivity does not exist, is limited, or the customer just wants to see the basic stats on the smartphone between periods of network connectivity, this is just silly that Fitbit is not even attempting to listen to the feedback provided on this forum post, which has been active for several years now. FITBIT... IT'S TIME TO LISTEN TO THE CUSTOMER... I plan to provide feedback to the company running my employer's work health program. If I have to wear a tracking device to participate in the health program, I want a device that does not frustrate me and pose usage challenges which could be easily addressed by the manufacture with a minor amount of software redesign. I will recommend they consider the use of other tracking devices which do not have this constant network connection requirement.
Fitbit seems to only listen to customers when they can monetize it. For example, customers asked for replaceable bands. Fitbit listened, but to get that you must, obviously, spend even more money buying a new fitbit. Similarly, customers wanted a HR monitor on the smaller Alta device. That request Fitbit implemented, but again you need to buy a new device to get it.
Changes that are only software, and can't be charged for? Don't hold your breath.
I was looking at the Samsung Gear Fit 2 the other day. Much nicer color screen, more info available on the device display itself, and the Android app is dramatically better than Fitbit's shoddy software. It offers more functionality, in a more user friendly display, and in spite of all the extra features is easier to use. Oh, and it's cheaper than the Charge 2, as well.
Hi everyone I really do think that after all this time FB just do not care. I've thrown mine out and certainly will not be buying any of their products in future.
I'd like to upvote this as well. I use my fitbit to make sure I'm keeping active during travel, and to see how much I'm moving while backpacking -- both situations with limited network availability. Since I use a flex 2 (I like to swim, and prefer small accessories), I can't even tell if the battery status without syncing. Shouldn't a device that encourages activity work for a 5 day backpacking trip? It doesn't!
How this is not in the current product is beyond me. Just this summer I had two occasions where I did not have internet and could make no changes to Time Zone or settings and could not sync to my Mobile device that has way more storage space than the FitBit does. I thought previously I was able to sync while I had no internet just to the app locally on my mobile device so perhaps they removed that functionallity but it needs to be added back. You don't think people might take their fitbit into the backcountry or out to sea with them and want to be able to see how they are doing?
I am a sailor and we do not have wifi. So when we cross timezones i had to go back to using my old watch making me feel like buying the fitbit was a waste of money.
The Garmin HR watches can at least set time without internet.
It's completely unbelievable that Fitbit doesn't support offline syncing. I lost my FitBit Alta while riding (the stupid strap came undone), and I was unable to find it as I did not have data service where I was (remote National Forest)
Just bought a blaze and 2 days later I found out I can't sync without an Internet connection.
I will be returning mine and recommending that family and friends get a vivosmart, garmin, Samsung etc. Sad really as it looks like a perfect device other than this. I'm more than happy for Fitbit to spy and use my info for whatever they feel the need to do with it. But it would have been so much easier for me to keep this device.
i live in the middle of nowhere with no net access and no mobile data. There is absolutely no reason for Fitbit to dig their heels in over this and lose new and current customers. Facebook is a strong marketing tool and also a good way to spread this issue with my family and friends. I did my research on which tracker to buy but am shocked that this software 'issue' isn't more widely known about.
I was on a trip for more than 6 days. On third day the battery of my Blaze was drained. After recharge the clock remained unsynced for more than 3 days because the sync requires to be online.
- Make possible to sync clock when offline.
- Make possible to upload data to phone (offline) and sync data when the phone is online.
I was on a cruise across several time zones. I could set my phone for the right time but the fitbit wouldn't sync to the right time, so I always had to do the math in my head. When I travel, I don't have an internet connection so the fitbit doesn't sync. Can you at least sync the time? This is ridiculous! Am I going to have to leave my fitbit home? Maybe I'll buy another brand that works better, perhaps Garmin. It's time for a new one anyway.
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