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@LeeW1 Exactly! It should be on the product info. Also, as I said many times in this thread, it is no on ALL the help pages about multiple devices on one account. In fact, it's not anywhere on the help page that tells how to set up a fitbit device which has a section "HOW DO I SET UP A REPLACEMENT DEVICE OR ADD A SECOND DEVICE TO MY ACCOUNT?" Also, there is this blog post that will come up if anyone searches adding multiple fitbit devices: https://blog.fitbit.com/sync-multiple-trackers-to-your-fitbit-account-with-multi-tracker-support/
No info has been added to that blog explaining the current limitations. Fitbit is well aware of all of this (I know because I told them) and they choose to not make it clear that this limitation exists.
Has anyone seen any opensource projects in hope of the community fixing this problem? I would be willing to spend a few weekends hacking this, but I'm sure I would need help from FitBit engineers--which might not be feasible since Google.
It's clear Fitbit is not even reading these comments.. are they? I've emailed with them regarding this issue and they "assured me" that they are "working on" it... that was 6 months ago! Meanwhile, I am glad I still have my Alta HR so that I can at least have that one and either the charge 3 and versa on my account but switching is a pain..
Just an FYI fact: the first posting about this problem was in 2013. PLEASE NOTE: PureEvil explained below that it was not consistent since 2013. I apologize for my misunderstanding.
The reason why the thread dates back that far is because the moderators merged older threads for older tracker, which incidentally works. None of the trackers mentioned on this feature request were released before September of 2017.
To imply that Fitbit has been ignoring this for seven years is misinformation.
It is interesting that FitBit added multi-device support, then got rid of it when the "App Gallery-compatible" trackers were introduced around 2017. I'm lucky I can use my Ionic in conjunction with my Charge 2, buy my Charge 2 is on its last legs. There are new Charge 2 available out there, but now they're more expensive than a new Charge 3.
Multi-device support is not mission critical for me, but definitely a nice to have. Come on Google/FitBit!!
I found a solution... You can add the ace 2 to your profile and keep it on your profile. I currently have an ace2, ionic, flex2, and zip. I found this out when I got an Ace 2 for my nephew and accidentally put it on my account. I was able to switch it over to his account. After I realized this bug I bought an ace 2 and was able to add it to my account. I got it to replace my zip which it is eating through batteries now. I have it working on my account now
Although @PureEvil is correct, I understand why you'd think Fitbit has been ignoring this for 7 years and if Fitbit would address the issue clearly and transparently, there wouldn't be this confusion. Below is the best that I've been able to figure out. If there are any inaccuracies, I apologize but that's what happens when users have to figure out what has happened rather than Fitbit making a clear statement. So as best I can see, Fitbit has most recently been ignoring this issue for 3 years, which is much better (sarcasm intended).
This was something that was requested (sounds like back in 2013) before there was a Fitbit operating system. Fitbit added this feature in 2015 as you can see from the blog post below. A blog post that Fitbit has decided to leave as is rather than put a disclaimer at the top that this is not available for any devices it is currently selling on its website.
They then took it away in 2017 with the release of the Ionic. This is when they developed Fitbit OS and I use "develop" loosely as Fitbit OS is based on the Pebble watch OS (which was only reason I came to Fitbit). I assume that they didn't want to do the work to adapt Pebble OS to meet the needs of Fitbit users by providing features that were already available to their users.
I don't know if they weren't aware that mutliple devices would be able to be added with the FItbit OS or if they just didn't care. Either option is pretty bad. So, briefly, in 2013 this feature was requested, in 2015 it was added by Fitbit, and in 2017 it was taken away for Fitbit OS devices.
Good point! I agree with you. I just don't understand WHY this is such a big deal. At the end of the day it's good for the company to sell MORE trackers and people using one would like to use two (or three) with SAME account. Garmin does this job without any issue, Polar as far as I know also... So what's the big deal with it? Why ignoring customers? I just want to use Fitbit whole day (isn't this the aim of Fitbit from the beginning?) and use DIFFERENT tracker when I'm at work than when I'm at gym. Is this really SO HARD to understand?
@Tanto I couldn't agree more. It will take programming time to make this change but they should do it. Because if they don't, they're pretty much taking away functionality. Even worse is that they're leading users to believe that it is still possible to do with ALL devices even though it is only possible to do with the new devices they are selling if you also have an older device (a non Fitbit OS device).
Anyone who is thinking of responding to this telling me that they show this on the FAQ page that asks if you can have multiple devices, don't bother. Although that is true, the help screen that tells users how to add a second device doesn't clarify that it is only certain devices, it is NOT on the product pages as it should be, and there is a blog post saying that it's possible to have multiple devices and doesn't clarify this.
I keep responding here because I get notifications in my email and I think it's terrible what fitbit is doing. But I've already decided to switch to Garmin. Had higher hopes for Fitbit when they bought Pebble technology.
Fitbit has sold 100 million trackers and has 28 million customers.
There have been about 300 people complaining on here, that is 0.001% so I guess adding a feature to allow multiple trackers on one device is not a big winner for them (0.001% of their existing market and nothing of their new market). They would probably get more sales if they put a 'Hello Kitty' logo on the front than adding multiple trackers to one account.
I am quite happy with my Ionic and Charge 2, they sit on the same account, as does my Surge (when I can be bothered to charge it up), pity about my Versa, but I can live with this and it is not much hassle to change it over once in a while.
I am not a Fitbit employee, I have just had a series of trackers for several years, starting with a Charge. I also owned a couple of Garmin's and an Apple watch, just to balance the scales.
I am an electronics design/production engineer and also write a bit of software (I have a free watch face and navigation app) so know a little about making and selling electronic devices and calculating a few numbers. The stats came from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitbit
I am also a realist. I decided long ago that we were not going to get multiple trackers on the same account, but I still like my Fitbits for every day tracking and sleep monitoring (my Apple doesn't have a long enough battery life to do both) and so just get on with it.
...and when your Charge 2 will be retired? Than what? Your writting is reminding me like those people who weren't concerned about COVID-19 virus saying.."It's in China.. Who cares..."
And yes... Main purpose of Fitbit since Kickstarter was - tracking ALL your activities. Also sleep etc...
As former professional sportsman I'm interested what's my average HR etc. And maybe calories (which will give you really wrong result using multiple accunts!!?!?!?!).. So the most acurate is if I wear tracker whole time. Whole time means also at work, at activities, at sleep. So... Why IS SUCH A BIG DEAL to have multiple trackers tracking this? Why? 300 people speaking about this is just SPEAKING about this and complaining. This doesn't mean that others won't have a need for this feature?
You speak really funny. Reminds me how Microsoft employees were talking around how Windows Phone is muuuuch better than iPhone.
Thanks for your post and your link to Wikipedia. I am a Versa2 user with a Charge3. This combination does not allow both devices on the same account. I am frustrated but not enough to switch. I too, with “deal with it”. Thanks
...and when your Charge 2 will be retired? Than what?
I still have my Charge HR and Charge 1, both still work, so would probably use one of them if my Charge 2 dies.
Your writting is reminding me like those people who weren't concerned about COVID-19 virus saying.."It's in China.. Who cares..."
I wouldn’t compare Fitbit with Covid-19, one is a nasty virus that has killed thousands of people, the other is a watch. In my day job I arrange production of my designs, much of this is in China, I was painfully aware of Covid-19 before it hit the headlines.
So... Why IS SUCH A BIG DEAL to have multiple trackers tracking this? Why?
Fitbit’s OS appears to be basically a single user/device architecture, that’s why it is a big deal. Since you seem to know something about Microsoft I will give you an example. Your Windows PC/laptop runs a single user version, you can have several different users with their own accounts defined, but only one logged in at once, even if you try to login in remotely using Remote Desktop. Now compare this with Windows Server edition, they look very similar, but Server allows multiple concurrent users, even the same user logged in locally and remotely at the same time. How is this possible, could you just expand the ordinary desktop version to do this, the answer is no, they might look the same but are in fact very different.
This is potentially the same problem with Fitbit, if it is basically a single device operating system it will be a major re-write to allow multiple devices.
300 people speaking about this is just SPEAKING about this and complaining. This doesn't mean that others won't have a need for this feature?
True but still very small in comparison to the number of users who just buy one tracker.
You speak really funny. Reminds me how Microsoft employees were talking around how Windows Phone is muuuuch better than iPhone.
I had a Windows CE phone many years ago, I was given it to port a software package across I had written for an earlier PDA. I stopped using it when I got a Nokia N95 which was much better and stop using that when an iPhone 3GS came along. I still have all three as well as a iPhone 6s and iPhone 11. I have never thought that MS phones were better than iPhones.
i actually think that my Apple Watch is far better than any of my Fitbits or Garmins, but here is the thing the battery on the Apple doesn’t last long enough and my Fitbit does a good job of tracking steps and sleep, so it’s an Ionic which is on my wrist the most.
Tanto, I was just replying to the questions you raised, sorry you had difficulty understanding my English, I will try to rephrase the answers in a different way....
Like yeah whatever, man.
PS. Best of [British] luck with getting what you want.
I'm responding to your post that I'm sure has been deleted by Fitbit because of what you mentioned.
Google buying Fitbit, not a definite any longer (unless you have some inside info). But I don't really care. First of all, I'm going to Garmin. Second, if Google does buy Fitbit, it could be good for Fitbit users.
Fitbit's help page on their website: https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1715 First of all, I have no intention of pursuing anything and didn't say that I did. Maybe read more clearly. I was trying to explain to you why users posting here are so upset by this. But I don't think you'll get it. Although the help page you reference gives the info it should, this one "How do I set up my Fitbit device" which includes a section "HOW DO I SET UP A REPLACEMENT DEVICE OR ADD A SECOND DEVICE TO MY ACCOUNT?" does not:
You don't think that help page should also include the info included in the other page?
About it being very clear that the devices don't work together and about me referencing a 2015 blog post: So, here's a scenario. A current fitbit user is thinking of buying a newer fitbit OS device and adding it to their account where they already have a fitbit OS device. They start to investigate the newest devices and find one they like. Then they continue to investigate to make sure they can add the second (newer) device to their fitbit account. First they look at the product pages and it isn't addressed. That is, it doesn't say that they can't (why isn't the info here if fitbit wants to be transparent?). Then they search and find the help article in the link I provided that includes a section on how to "ADD A SECOND DEVICE TO MY ACCOUNT" which also doesn't say that you can't have 2 fitbit OS devices. So the current fitbit user figures, I'm good. But, just to be sure, they search a little more and come across the 2015 blog post that announces 2 devices can be added to the same account. And, again, nothing in this blog post about not being able to add 2 fitbit OS devices. Yes, it's from 2015 but it announces that it is now possible to do this. So user figures it wasn't possible before but it now is. There's no later info that says it isn't. They stop looking and don't come across the one help article that says you can't. User buys the second device.
You're right. "It is very clear." (yes, sarcasm intended)
I don't know but here's an idea. Change this from "Under Consideration" to a status that would indicate that Fitbit does not intend to add this feature back in. And update all the links I mentioned in my scenario (including product pages) and any more that should be updated. Then I would agree that it's "very clear."
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