Allow Spotify offline on Versa series and Sense

[Giampi71]

After long time Fitbit released a Spotify app for Ionic/Versa (for now only on Versa 2). See this suggestion now marked as solved.

However this app does not allow to download music for offline listening (for example while working-out).

Hence this new suggestion.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[l0ta]

It's taking forever for this to be a reality...so sad.

[zdawgy]

What's really funny about this issue is that everytime someone posts on
this thread I get an email.

I keep forgetting that I bought a fitbit watch and the package it came in
was so difficult to open that I had to tear into it to get the watch. After
ruining the package, making the watch pretty much unreturnable and trying
to set up the watch for a few hours, I learned that the Ionic did *not* allow
downloading of Spotify playlists.

Now I feel that I wasted money on a fitbit watch and that it is in my
drawer not being used. And thanks to this thread, every time someone else
has this EXACT same issue I get a notification and a reminder that I will
never buy a fitbit watch again.

The triple whammy of non-user friendly packaging, buggy software for PC and
immoral marketing about their Spotify integration has really made me regret
my decision.

[SunsetRunner]

@RobIgoUK you can, yes. But I have neither Deezer nor Pandora. And I’m not about to pay more. At least with Apple Watch I can download music from my personal library of owned songs that aren’t part of a streaming service from my laptop. I actually just purchased my Apple Watch series 6 and will be returning my Sense via mail tomorrow. I considered giving it longer but seeing how long this thread has been up and how many years users have asked for this on other threads gives me 0 hope. 

[EliotH]

Finally left the Fitbit ecosystem, and got a galaxy watch. Spotify offline works great. If you are trying to sell this as a smartwatch, it has to have smartwatch capabilities. I'm never going back to Fitbit, and I would suggest that some of you do the same. 

[RobIgoUK]

You can download your own personal music to the watch from a PC.

[bartver]

You do nog really understand, do you?  Most people do no have music on their 'pc'. We have Spotify. Online music. Which can be offline as download. If Fitbit is getting a deal with Spotify.

[David85]

Please, Spotify offline!!

[l0ta]

@RobIgoUK actually not even that I can do, because fitbit connect is not working properly and it doesn't allow to login... 😐

[SunsetRunner]

Yep. I can’t either. Personal library doesn’t pull up as an option and it won’t connect to my laptop. I’m so much happier with the Apple Watch I’ve had for a day now. Unless you’re serious about the EDA then I highly recommend swapping if you have an iPhone. Sleep Cycle has smart wake and I can see my SpO2 without a specific watch face. If no iPhone it seems the Galaxy watch and Garmin are also excellent.

[youhippy]

I may move to a Garmin. I need the longer battery. 

Fitbit, you're losing customers frequently now. 

[LisaCanada]

Wow, really? This is only "under consideration" at this point? Fitbit realizes that the return policy of most retailers is 30 days for wearables, right?
Too little, too late. The return window for my Versa 3 is quickly closing, so it will go back this weekend. The moderator mentioned, "it can take some time before updates are available or a release is finalized" and unfortunately, I can't take that gamble with a $350 watch.

The time I have spent setting up my watch, only to find out I can't play offline music when I go running, PLUS all of the frustration and time spent in these forums trying to fight for BASIC features that SHOULD be on this phone is *ridiculous*. I'm done with Fitbit.

[EliotH]

@LisaCanada if you need a new watch, I would recommend the apple watch for ios, and the galaxy watch3 for android. Both have better apps, and sensors then the versa 3, with way better features, and software. 

[LisaCanada]

@EliotH Thanks for the suggestions! Unfortunately, I'm not really into spending $600 (incl. tax) for the Samsung watch. And, I'm an android user, so the AppleWatch is out. I really appreciate your help, though. 🙂

[nicozingerle]

Of what use is the greatly advertised built-in GPS if I still have to take my phone with me (and connect it to the internet) for music?

Leave my phone at home, go out, start the run/cycle on the FitBit exercise app, open Spotify and go. That would be it. It can't be that hard to implement, especially with the Versa already having 4GB internal storage.

[blindrunner]

This was posted over a year ago, of which multiple new watches have been released since then, but yet this feature has not been added to them. Fitbit clearly doesn't care about what users want and only care about whatever deals they have with Pandora/Deezer to prevent Spotify from being used offline. Don't waste your money with Fitbit anymore. Let's hope hurting their pockets will make them take seriously. Until then, Fitbit is dead to me and I'm switching to Apple.

[vanessa1027]

I created an account JUST so I could vote for this feature. I am brand new to the fitness/smartwatch world - I finally decided to get a smartwatch for the following reason: I wanted to be able to leave my phone at home, but still track my mileage AND listen to Spotify on my run. After much research, I decided on the Fitbit Versa 3.

I was just about to make a purchase when something told me I should confirm that offline Spotify play is available. I was certain that such an obvious feature would be available, but I felt I should double-check just in case.

Imagine my shock when I discovered that Fitbit - the leading fitness watch - did NOT have an offline Spotify play feature! This is such a monumental oversight and disadvantage that I had to hold off on my Fitbit purchase. One of the main reasons I wanted to buy a Fitbit was to listen to music offline on my runs so I don't have to take my phone with me.  The Spotify app currently available that only allows play when connected to your phone is completely useless for this reason. 

The fact that this feature is not available truly blows my mind - and it's even more unbelievable that the Fitbit community has been asking for this for years, and Fitbit still hasn't delivered. So disappointing. 

Please, PLEASE, make this feature a priority. 

[BexK]

This really is needed as I'm currently trying to decide between fitbit sense  and garmin venu and after years on fitbit am now leaning towards the garmin purely because of this feature given I'm already a Spotify member! No idea what these other supported music services are! Guess they are US only? 

[BexK]

Makes no sense to release a watch with built in GPS if you still need to bring your phone to listen to music. It is a bit like selling a bike without wheels! 

[youhippy]

I think in 2021 I'll move over to Garmin and get the new 745. I've seen you can export all your Fitbit data over to Garmin. Very handy as I have over 5 years of data stored with Fitbit. 

The Garmin is more expensive, but it has all the bells and whistles that I need and without the fitbit paywall 'premium' 

[AcmeAlphA]

Please allow for Spotify to work offline on Fitbit Sense 🙏 

[kumschick]

Hello Fitbit, hello everyone,

Some news, Spotify just announced they it’s literally impossible to have offline support on WearOS, that the Google watches for those who don’t know.

So Fitbit, want to have an huge advantage? Plase add this feature for us! You will be able to have an advantage compared to WearOS and that also means more sales!

thank you

[okra0001]

I think that this is one of the most important features for a runner and me, as a Spotify user, I feel very disappointed for not having that on my Sense. I don't want to change to Deezer, as I think that is not a good solution for me. Please, work together and bring this feature to us!

[KatyaKean]

The lack of offline Spotify is my reason for not buying a new Fitbit. I'll probably wait until they make that feature before buying.

[BexK]

Sadly I've today migrated from Fitbit to Garmin after several years because Fitbit does not allow Spotify playlist storage on the device making the whole GPS  inclusion pointless. Let's see how I fare. Very annoying to have to jump between platforms but fitbit does not leave much choice as the feature has been requested for years and there seems to be no resolve to build it even now there are the new versa 3 and sense. 

[RobIgoUK]

@BexK let us know how you find the Garmin overall as it's something I'm considering.