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

[minnican]

I am so surprised that the newest Charge 3 doesn't have a user defined screen timeout. This is commonplace on so many of our gadgets these days that the omission  is surely an oversight. Please make the introduction of said timeout a priority for your next software update. Thanks.

[auntemi]

Would love for the charge 3 to have a customizable screen wake time. Hard to use the timer if you have to keep tapping, or take heart rates,

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

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.

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or anything that takes more than 3 seconds!

[WVFD1800]

Please add the ability to increase the time out for the clock face.  This is much more important than adding clock faces.

Being in emergency services I need to look at my watch for at least 30 seconds at a time.

[RustyGuts]

AGREED. got mine as a xmas gift. Should have got a garmin or similar. The display is ridiculously short making the watch difficult to use. Update software is required... NOW

[JaneEG]

I received my Charge3 for Xmas and quite like it. Only I can’t use it as the screen on time can’t be extended. I am a nurse and need the sweep hand (taking pulse etc). The screen keeps disappearing and won’t come back unless I press the button. Of course that clearly interrupts my ability to do my job as I then have to let go of the patients wrist. Terrible shame it will spend most of the time in my drawer, kids spent a fair bit of money on it. It appears the makers don’t have any plans to fix this problem.  Would appreciate some support for this upgrade.  Cheers J

[Eynatfe]

I loved some of the faces suggested by SunsetRunner. Having the day of the week appear on the clock feels basic to me, my old analog Swatches had that "feature". I loved the idea of adding the weather! Design 6 is very lovely, with simple notations to give you all the info you want (although I would have positioned the watch on the top or center). Designs 1 and 7 are also very good. I loved the simplicity of design 2 which has steps and HR and the day without being overly "crowded" for people who might feel that there is too much info. 

[Lovelivewell]

I'm a new Charge 3 user and having such a short display reading is extremely inconvenient.  Please update the Fitbit device so I can read the device longer than 4 seconds.

[AlexandraFitbit]

Hello @JaneEG! Thanks for sharing this suggestion, I moved it to this similar post so you can add your vote to it. Please keep sharing your ideas with us!

[LifterLady4]

Totally agree! Extending screen timeout is a "must have." Got Charge 3 as Xmas gift, too, and would not have requested this model if I'd known about the lack of this feature. It's poor product design to HAVE a timer feature & not be able to use it due to short screen timeout. 

Please add this in a software upgrade ASAP!

[option]

Welp... Just sent mine back. no more 3 second time out nonsense! Good luck people!!

[LemsAngel]

I agree. The timeout is WAY to short. There are features that are impossible to use with a 3 second timeout... Like stopwatch, reading notifications. It need a longer time out. And the quicker the better. It's really frustrating to have to keep tapping it on especially since I have to tap mine multiple times to get it light up. 

[mx490]

Listen, it’s been 3 months that I’ve had my charge 3. Well just a few days short of 3 months. I’ve contacted Fitbit, I’ve commented on here like Fitbit moderator Kate told me to do. There has been NO update other than new clock faces. I, like thousands of others, can’t deal with this short screen timeout. But it’s obvious that Fitbit doesn’t give a *+%# about their customers. I’m sure there are a lot of returns taking place due to people receiving them as gifts and not being able to use them. But our voices go unheard. Thanks a lot Fitbit. Guess I’ll go back to wearing a regular watch or no watch at all. Wish I had my money back but I DID have faith in the company providing an update so I gave you a chance. BIG MISTAKE. 

[Osotoh]

there is another feature request for increased duration of display with over 600 votes and still no response from Fitbit. Moderators, and more importantly design management, please read, utilize and respond to your loyal customers.

[GunGuy]

I purchased the Charge 3 as a Christmas present to myself.  I've had the Surge (strap broke after the warranty period).  Then purchased the Blaze followed by the Apple watch series 3 with Cellular and GPS.  I liked what I read about the Charge 3 and bought it on sale HOWEVER,  if I would have known the screen display time could not be changed I would not have purchased it.  When I'm exercising and walking I constantly check my my activity (Heart rate, etc).  I barely have enough time to check the stats before the screen goes bye-bye.  FITBIT, how about doing a firmware/software update to fix this situation??? Being an old IT guy I see no reason that this cannot be accomplished with a little effort.

[Merlin01]

I agree. It is useless as a heart rate monitor if the screen does not stay on longer. I feel I have wasted my money.

[SunsetRunner]

Yea this is the one thing that really bugs me. I understand that it will impact battery but that should always be the end users decision. You could have it set as default as it is now but add the option of always on, which will display the screen dimmed but brighten up when we turn our wrist. Also the watch faces available are strange. The only thing I care about is time, steps and heart rate. You have “Analog Stat” and “Analog Date” which essentially are the same thing, same with “Mod Clock” and “Mod Clock Date”. Both of the faces one of them should show steps and heart rate not the date on both the stats version does that. 

[SunsetRunner]

Forgot to mention that please add some of the faces SunsetRunner has suggested they are something I am really interested in using.

[TinaTB]

I’m a nurse. Love my Charge3 but sadly cannot wear it to work because the clock does not stay viewable for at least 10 seconds. I’ve tried setting the timer but that’s too many steps in a job where seconds matter. So I’ll go back to my Times Ironman - continuous clock face with seconds and it has a timer....and very inexpensive. Ironic, since my employer encourages Fitbit for improving health but we can’t use it at work where we spend 12 hours per shift!

[Mario-10]

Having such a short timeout on the display significantly reduces the functionality of the watch, not even sure why the would at a stopwatch or timer when it cannot be actively monitored? Active monitoring or heart rate during exercise allows user to ensure they are working in their appropriate fitness zones. Please update software to allow user to define the timeout of the display.

[Sammie1966]

Every day fit bit charge users respond to the screen timeout feature ! People are saying they are going to return there charge 3 or are asking for an update ! The screen time out option was promised in the user manual !! Fit bit asks people to respond here but they never answer to anybody ! Not even a “ we are working on it “ or “ where looking in to it “ . Nothing !! Why dont you answer and gif us an update on the situation ? At least let us know if this is going to change in the near future or not !! Realy bad costumer service !!

[GunGuy]

I totally agree with the post's regarding this subject. Another reason I purchased the Charge 3 was one of the magazines that reviewed it said the Charge 3 was the best fitness watch of 2018.  I'd love to talk with the reviewer, Grrr.  As I said earlier,  FitBit could make the needed change.  Hey FitBit,  DO YOU GET IT?????  Make the change!  Does anyone from FitBit read these comments?  Why don't they respond to the community?

[UserSD]

Interestingly, I posted a comment on Twitter and within 1hr Fitbit support team replied that I should post my comment on this forum. Also, I talked to the online support and same thing, comments must be posted on this forum. At the end of the day, they do not care about the users and they will not tell us if they are listening and working on the problem. 

[Timmyee]

They want us to post on here so the public won’t see it.

Moderator edit: removed personal info

[chris279]

Just watched a Netflix documentary on NASA's Cassini probe. If engineers could remotely troubleshoot issues with a spacecraft that was 20 years old and a billion miles away, FitBit can surely add a few more seconds to the screen timeout of its fitness tracker. Adding my disdain regarding this inconvenience to that of the masses.

[GunGuy]

Perhaps it needs to be out there for the public to see.  They just might get their act in gear and fix this issue.  These complaints have been around for many months and FitBit is not even responding to the community with any positive answers like a fix is in the works or an update will soon be released.  They don't give us any hope.  They should be responding to each and every person who complains on this site regarding this issue.