Allow Offline syncing / Store data locally

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.

 

Moderator Edit: Added Labels

646 Comments
Santino619
Jogger

If you like the cloud thats fine, we want an OPTION to store data locally on phone and sync that way. I NEED this feature as I work on ships and transit many time zones without internet connection, making my fitbit useless as a watch because i cant change the time without internet connection.

ChuckyB
Jogger

If Fitbit has known that this is an issue for over two and a half years and has decided to do nothing about it, you can only assume they indent to NEVER address it.  The only way the company will change is if something hits the bottom line and I don't think the small number of us with an issue will hurt the bottom line.  As to a solution, I see two choices, 1: find an alternative device with works the way we need it to work and advertise it on this forum; or 2: find a very capable App developer who can develop an app which allows us to set our alarms when we don't have Wi-Fi or cellular data.

billypea
First Steps

I Agree completely. The app is limited by the internet. The app should store data locally on the device, with the option to back it up in the cloud. The app should show all your data with or without an internet connection.

 

Further, if you have the app on both your phone and tablet, you should only be required to sync Fitbit with one device. The apps should sync automatically with each other over Bluetooth, wifi, or cellular. 

 

You can also back it up to Fitbit servers if you must but that feels invasive regardless of the terms of your policy. IOTW, let me access the data I create with my activity without Microsoft/ Fitbit having to store it first. 

ali812
Recovery Runner

I really wish this was a thing. im about to leave on deployment for 7 months out in the middle of the ocean with no internet and after 4 years and multiple upgrades and an aria scale, this may be the end of me and fitbit for almost a year... ugh

Awesomewalks
Base Runner

It needs to have a connection to upload to the server

hungrywombat
Jogger

Hiya,

 

Yup I know that - however if I can control the music on my phone from the Fitbit, surely the technology exists to be able to write code to allow the watch to sync with the App on the phone - and then when it gets connection to a server, sometime in the future, it can sync across.

 

 

Gunnerkane
Jogger

How about a stand alone program for people who are u able to get internet like service members out to sea or on deployment to a country that for some reason or another do not allow fit bit. Also sync flex 2 using the surge dongle.

SailorJerry
First Steps

I work in the merchant navy, and can be in the middle of the ocean with no internet access for up to 4 months at a time. By not allowing local syncing this product is effectively useless for thousands of seafarers and thousands of military service men and women.

Mine is being returned. 

SailorJerry
First Steps

I'm in the same boat (no pun intended) as you. Are there any 3rd party aps that allow syncing without an internet connection ? If not my charge 2 is going back for a full refund !!

rges
Jogger

This is a much needed feature.  Without it the alarm is pretty limited in usefulness.

BobM2
Hill Runner

Yes, it needs a connection to sync to the server, but not to sync to the fitbet.  The two shouldn't be linked, especially since there are things you can only change from the app. Last week I was in a meeting room deep inside an office building. I wanted to set a silent alarm, but couldn't because there was no data connection. If the app can't find a data connection, it should still sync with the watch.

hungrywombat
Jogger

Yeah I want full functionality with the app - it can sync to servers at a later date - shouldn't be too much of an ask!

KLeBlazeS5
Runner

The problem I have is travelling overseas.

Currently there is a need to have an internet connection even to change the time on the Blaze when you land in another timezone.

Mobile data rates are too expensive and an open wifi connection is not always available.

 

The app should be able to sync time and alarms atleast without an internet connection and also having it store data locally on the phone until a connection is available to sync to the servers should also be easy to do.

KLeBlazeS5
Runner

The problem I have is travelling overseas.

Currently there is a need to have an internet connection even to change the time on the Blaze when you land in another timezone.

Mobile data rates while roaming are too expensive and an open wifi connection is not always available.

 

The app should be able to sync time and silent alarms without an internet connection as the phone itself can set the local time from the cell information.

Rich_Laue
Community Legend

I would suggest adding your vote to the existing request, which i notice is worded the dame. https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/Allow-Offline-syncing-Store-data-locally/idi-p/8...

Rich_Laue
Community Legend

Instead of adding a second reqiest, thus either splitting the votes or startinhbthe count from zero. I suggest adding your vote to the existing request at https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/Allow-Offline-syncing-Store-data-locally/idi-p/8...

KLeBlazeS5
Runner

Hi Rich,

That request is specifically for data syncing rather than mine being about changing the time and silent alarms which I consider to be totally separate.

For that I have also opened another request.

Rich_Laue
Community Legend

Well sory, this thtead is about syncing the Fitbit without the internet, which makes it a duplixate of the request i pointed to.

I was not looking at individusl post, but your unrelated request is a duplicate of https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/Sync-Clock-and-Alarm-using-Bluetooth-only-no-nee...

 

Orineu
Jogger

A lot of people in the Navy use Fitbit Flex series devices with their cell phones, and completely lose access to their current stats whenever they go underway. For surface folk it's not terrible, internet can be gotten in ports, but submariners can be underneath the water for months at a time. Sure, the Fitbit device may save daily totals for a month or so, but what if I want more information? What if I want it sooner than 'when we're back in port'? I feel like I bought the wrong brand device here, maybe I'll return this one and get a Google device instead.

Naotaku
First Steps

I dumped Fitbit and got the Polar A360 a few weeks ago. Guess what? It works exactly as you'd imagine. It syncs with your phone via Bluetooth (no Internet required) and the app then syncs with the cloud whenever you have Internet again. That alone is a killer feature after 2 years with Sh*tbit. But it's also waterproof (can even track swimming!) has a touch screen and a heart rate sensor.

If you've not heard of Polar before, they're a Finnish company who were making fitness watches way before most Fitbit developers were even born. I highly recommend checking out their product range. 

 

 

Bentbins
Jogger
Off to look at them. Post everywhere


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Stephen Coppinger
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LindaOZ
Jogger
Thank you for that information. I am a FIFO worker with 3 week rotations.
I "used" my fitbit blaze on two rotations. Useless. So i haven't bothered
using it again. I shall look into your recommendation.
davemanford
Jogger
Many thanks for that bit of info. Bye bye FB!!
staniere
Jogger

it is a shame to be unable to sync without network (which is quite often for me because of bad 3g reception or because my 50Mo data have already been used for a month)

it is quite annoying to not be able to look at stats after or during a run just because no network.

Andrius77
Jogger

I'm a software developer and I find your app design really bad! How come that none of your software architects and BA's didn't think about some local storage in the app when there's no internet connection?? This is so stupid! I bought Charge HR couple months ago and I loved it and right now camping and hiking season is coming and I just found out that my fitbit will be useless in wilderness where's no internet connection!! Why the hell you don't say on the package that IT REQUIRES internet connection to SYNC???? For me, as a nature lover it's a very big dissapointment!! I was planning to buy Charge 2 for my whole family but they also love being active outdoors in the middle of nowhere for several days in a row.. So I'm going to return this useless thing...

Btw, it's not so hard to implement local temporary storage to store synced data in the phone until it gets internet connection and is able to sync with your servers..

SHAME ON YOU FITBIT!!!

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