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

[greenis421]

My screen will not stay lit long enough to read the display.  I can't even figure out how to stop my workout session.  Not to happy with the Charge 3 now...

[GunGuy]

I'm repeating on this post as I hope Fitbit will respond.  It address the screen time, screen brightness and inaccuracies.

I've had/have 3 Fitbit's, the Surge, the Blaze and now the Charge 3.  None of them have been totally accurate.  Heart rates sometimes off by 50+ bpm, distance incorrect, steps incorrect.  I ignore the heart rate when it jumps on the Fitbit because I know when my heart rate is up.  But higher than my theoretical max.  C'mon Fitbit?  Most of the time they are fairly accurate.  Example of inaccuracies when worn (different wrists) along with the Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular and GPS.  Yesterday:

Charge 3 - total steps, 14,271, flights 45 (WAY OFF) and total distance 5.41 miles.

Apple Watch - total steps 15,307, flights 11 and total distance 5.87 miles.

My biggest complaints are; the ridiculous screen on time and screen brightness.  It's a no brainer to add another icon/widget or what ever you want to call it, and give the user multiple screen on time options (5, 10, 15 seconds and continuous (for those who need it like the medical profession, etc)).

I do a lot of outdoor walking and cannot read the display wearing my everyday glasses.  Forget sunglasses. In the sun forget it and overcast barely.  There needs to be a Bright setting rather than the dim, normal and auto settings.  The Blaze has the Max setting for brightness.

So, you might ask why I bought another Fitbit? One reason was the f..l who said it was the fitness watch of the year for 2018.  He/she needs to have their head examined.  However, the main reason was the food database and the ability to scan barcodes or manually enter nutrition information.  Still, I am contemplating taking it back  If Fitbit would address my 2 main issues (screen on time and display brightness) I would be satisfied with the Charge 3.  I'm not concerned about reduced battery time.  2 1/2 days and I'm still at 85% which includes over 4 hours of walk time using the outdoor walk exercise.

[Kelley16]

I recently found a watch face for my versa that has a button starts a timer that causes the watch to vibrate every 15 seconds until it is turned off. it sorta solves this problem of needing the watch face on for checking pulse and respirations.

The watch-face is called: Nurse's Watch

hope this helps 

[natesnj]

Is it possible to get that on the charge 3?

[Mark312]

Add screen timeout setting matching versa please.

[Traceym85]

I love my charge 3 but who on earth can read messages and even check the time within 3 seconds!! Surely it's not that difficult an update to make considering it was in the manual at the start

[Renabeni]

I really don’t see how this is an idea/suggestion. To me, it seems evident and smart to allow the person who owns their watch to decide how long they want to their screen on. I don’t understand why I have to write an idea message so that the makers of a fairly smart device would program an option where the owner can choose, can make their own choice, can have the freedom to choose (am I making myself clear here?) how long their screen should be on. It is such a basic thing. And yet, here I am: Fitbit, can you please allow me to choose how long my screen is on? And how fast I wish to burn through my battery? Thanks. (I’d apologize for the sass but...over it). 

[1dude1]

I find myself frustrated when actively looking at the watch and it turns off. I think the delay to turn off is too short, adding in a customizable time offsetting would be greatly beneficial.

[Jim6313]

We need at least a 10sec display time.  

[Littlelyd]

The screen timeout is ridiculous! Needs to be fixed or both watches bought for household are going back and we’ll be done with Fitbit. Good ole Costco.

[joepaul7]

We need the option to keep the screen on for longer. It is very difficult to monitor the activity now. It is a very basic requirement in any display.

[SunsetRunner]

This should be a pretty simple code fix, can it be put on the development roadmap please Fitbit?

[ymorin007]

Please add this option it's a must

[4jaegerboys]

Please fix the time out issue. I really need the option to have the heart rate displayed continually during a work out. Got this specifically so I could know where my heart rate is in real time during my work out and alter how hard or easy I go during the work out. Getting the data in tiny snippets is impossible when I’m the middle of a workout. 

[UserSD]

Just returned mine and this was not easy. We bought mine at Macy's 15 days ago and it was a fight to get the refund. Basically, their rhetoric is you cannot returned a used item. Well, how to do you know that the item is indeed working and useful? It took 20 minutes to make the manager understand that this is a defective item with a 3 seconds screen time that it is unusable. At the end, she gave us a store credit which is better that a useless piece of crap on my wrist. Good luck everybody and Fitbit never again.

[SunsetRunner]

The setup of my new Charge 3 was easy and worked great!  However, before I can read the time and my steps (let alone the date), the display cuts off. I have to keep tapping it to read the info on the screen. Please increase the display time. Or at least, give us the ability to increase display time. 

[RachieR]

Far too short! A real pain.

[SunsetRunner]

Yes, Please give us an option for a  longer screen timeout.  Even if it means charging the battery more often.

[MattiasL]

I'm looking to buy a fitness tracker and from reviews the Charge 3 looks good but from the threads I've seen here the Charge and the company that makes it seem totally broken. I can only see the info for 4 seconds, there are no display for seconds on the time and no date? And the product has been out for months without updating this? I literally went through the laborious process of registering to this site to leave this comment because it seems just unbelievable to me. Can somebody explain the through the process here?

[Jim6313]

I talked to the help desk about this. They told me if I need it longer I
have to scroll up or down to keep the display on. That makes the charge 3
almost worthless. I did some more research and decided to send it back. I
found that the Versa has screen times up to 1 minute,so I ordered that one.
It’s more expensive but the reviews are good and some of my friends
recomended it. We’ll see how that works .

[option]

How do I unsubscribe to this thread? I returned both my fitbit junk and upgraded to a better brand... that works...

[elle.gee]

Purchased the Charge 3 today and have spent way too much time looking in Settings for a way to adjust the screen-on time.  Imagine my dismay when I find this thread and see that it's an issue that has had no  resolution.  Seriously considering return the device. 

[christinelank]

I returned my Charge 3 and bought a refurbished series 1 Apple Watch on eBay for the same price. Has everything I need, including a screen that stays on for 70 seconds!! If you are dissatisfied with the Charge 3, I recommend looking elsewhere.

[PFuerte]

I will be returning my Fitbit Charge 3.  This is a basic function required by many and it is sorely missed.  Losing my business and that of many other people. I hope Fitbit reads this and others frustration!

[fitover40]

you can now change your clock screen to include a date , but still the
screen time is short. Hopefully an update will fix this..