Longer Screen Time for Charge Trackers

[SunsetRunner]

I purchased my charge 3 after seeing it would have a Screen Time out Option.  It shipped without one.  Moderator Kate says it’s not available at this time.  The manual is now being changed to reflect that.

I really, really want/need that option.  It was the reason I chose the Charge.  That and my 50’s year old eyes.  The current screen only stays on for 3-4 seconds.  That is a very short amount of time.  I have to repeated tap the screen to read a text that comes in.  IF we are going to have the ability to get notifications, we need the ability to read them.

Please Fitbit, give us the option that was originally in the manual to change the screen time out.  The Versa has it, so I know it can be done.

Moderator edit: Title

[RunnerSoph]

Imagine how happy they will make us 🙂

[Sammie1966]

Thats the only thing we can do , imagine !

[Hayleyhoo]

So I bought my charge 3 today as the first Fitbit I’ve owned thinking it would be great to take to work as a veterinary nurse as an alternative to my fob watch and also to monitor my steps etc. And the first thing I thought was the screen isn’t on nearly enough to monitor a patient’s hr/resp rate. Been looking extensively online to find a solution only to find there isn’t one. So disappointed, I can’t see why they would design a smart watch without the option to extend the screen time under the understanding it would reduce battery life. 

[Hayleyhoo]

After reading the 25pages of comments with the same problem I think I might save myself the hassle and see if I can return it so I can buy a garmin vivoactive 3, only £80 more and has built in gps 

[Islivingwell]

Not only is there not a solution,  after brief participation by a fitbit rep (months ago) suggesting it would be addressed,  there was nothing from them.

I learned when i bought a highly defective fitbit scale a couple years ago (that would record my weight with as much as 6 or 7 lbs difference within 20 seconds) that, like good politicians,  they pretended their product was working within a normal range of accuracy and then... NOTHING.

Same here,  from FITBIT, no response to hundreds of users' complaints about one feature, fixable through software.

Pretty awful cs.

[Sammie1966]

Wont get any better then this ! Already complaining over 6 months !
Return while you still can !!

[workout999]

I figured a quick google search would tell me how to extend the timeout for my new Charge 3.   Instead it sent me here.  It is hard to believe Fitbit hasn't addressed this problem with a simple software fix, after it has been identified by so many users over a period of more than 6 months.  I am not particularly interested in all the "lifestyle" features, what I really want is a device I can glance at quickly during workouts.  This thread makes me doubt that Fitbit ever intends to address this problem, though, so I guess my only choice is to send my Charge 3 back before the return deadline runs out, so I can check out the Garmin, which another poster said has an extended timeout feature.

[Sammie1966]

Fitbit is not responding at all !! Already for over 6 months!!
They are not going to fix The screen time out setting ! They cant or/and they wont !!
Return while you still can !!

[WilliamIPark]

Come on Fitbit.. Get a move on with this. It's clearly in huge demand. 

[MrTony]

You almost had me FitBit! I registered here just to comment on this thread. I'm glad I searched for FitBit Charge 3 issues and found this thread BEFORE I bought one. No way I will buy one now. I'm a computer systems engineer & I know it would take all of about 5 minutes to modify the code for this timeout. The way I see it, not addressing this can be summed up as a sales strategy - "function available in the next (Charge 4) release". No thanks. With over 1,200 upvotes and 600+ comments on this feature, all you're doing is alienating people at this point by not addressing it.

[Sammie1966]

@MrTony

One saved from a big mistake is better then none !
Fitbit if it is so easy to fix , why do you keep refusing this feature ?
I think because people keep on buying the C3 without knowing they are being ripped off .
I will try to keep on warning people for the useless stuff you are selling !

[SunsetRunner]

Reply from Fitbit Customer Services re my query about longer screen timeout

We are glad to assist you with your Charge 3 short screen time. We appreciate the feedback you've provided.

Upon review, we can confirm that there's a Charge 3 associated with the email address you're using to contact us. We understand how important your Charge 3 is in achieving your fitness goals. With that, we'd like to let you know that we have taken this issue and it has already been escalated to our Fitbit team.

On the other hand, we're constantly striving to improve Fitbit products and services, and we very much appreciate all of the input we receive from our customers.The suggestion mentioned is such a wonderful idea and we think that it will be a great update to our Fitbit App and Fitbit Connect. We will be passing your request along to our team for consideration.

We hope this helps. Should you have any questions, let us know and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Sincerely,

Christian R and the Fitbit Team

[Islivingwell]

I believe we received a very similar response ("we're going to escalate") many months ago.

What is the solution?  to just keep telling your customers you're working on it? 

You must think customers are stupid--another offense.

[Rich_Laue]

What gets me if this feature was added to the Ionic and with the Blaze, Ionc, and Vera were have the option of a quick stopwatch that will stay on until the battery dies. 

[Sammie1966]

@SunsetRunner
Its a shame , this is what they are telling us already more then 6 monts and hundreds of complains . The comments from fitbit stay vague and they give us nothing !
Nothing is promised so they can keep this up till a new watch comes out that maybe will have this feature !

[whybenorm]

I can guarantee you that if they do not fix THIS model that I have already spent money on, I will never give them any more of my hard earned money no matter how nice their product is.

[Sammie1966]

DITTO

[whybenorm]

Come on Fitbit, tell me THAT is a great idea and you're sending it to your product team!!

[Dusthom]

Just received my charge 3 today. One of the first things I noticed was the screen time out was way too short. With no change in sight from the looks of the comments I will be returning my tracker. Garmin seems to have a better grasp on customer needs. Good luck to the already charge 3 owners, nice device that could use some simple fixes.

[SunsetRunner]

Returning mine. I am not sure who this device is for. I can't afford the wrist real estate for a physiological sensor. I need a watch and audible alarms. 

[Jenn.erer]

Truly disappointed about the extremely short screen time before timeout! This one downfall is significant enough that it pout shadows

[indebtbassfreak]

Just purchased mine today spending quite a bit of time figuring out how to get consistent email notifications, so far unsuccessfully and have been frustrated with the screen going dark after two seconds. Finding this thread confirming this issue with NO!!! fix in six months of complaints has me boxing this **ahem** up and will return tomorrow. Just wow this glitch hasn't been resolved. To bad as otherwise its a nice unit although i haven't figured out everything yet.

[Lwiles..]

Yes!!! Just bought two, one for me,and one as a gift. The gift will be returned, the option to view timer for longer than 4 seconds is not available. this is needed for pulse and respiration monitoring. Can't believe you guys missed it!! Please make the screen time out an adjustable feature!! 

[indebtbassfreak]

^ I wasn't getting 4 seconds, more like 2.5. I never saw the second hand move three times before the screen went dark. Already returned mine. 

[Rosebud4me]

Being 64 years old I back te suggestion for a longer and adjustable screen time.