Sense 2 starts exercise without waiting for GPS

[SpiritMommaLeah]

I go on a daily night walk with my husband. And with my Fitbit Sense it showed the GPS of where we were walking. I would hit walk and l would get a play button to set up GPS. With Sense 2 it just starts the walk. I figured it just skipped over the having to manually the GPS set feature but then while going through my workouts today I realized that it wasn't logging in any location. Does anyone know why? 

Could it be they're waiting till Google maps comes on? I like that feature and I'm a little upset it disappeared. The newer features are great but I don't want to loose all of this. I KNOW they already have the pixel watch coming out with integrated fitbit. I don't personally think they're going to try to get everyone to switch from their fitbits over to that. 

Anyways. Anyone know how to fix this? Or know why its happening? Does anyone else HAVE this happening? 

Thanks. 

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity.

[LZeeW]

@SpiritMommaLeah   I don't have a Sense 2, so I reviewed the manual.  When you choose Walk, there is that tiny "^" at the bottom of the screen to go to the settings.  This is just like your Sense (and my Versa 3).  Is GPS turned on in those settings?  It's odd that it would be off, because the default setting is on for every Fitbit I've owned.

[Whiten]

I just took my first walk with the Sense 2, and after I got done, it did not log my location in the Fitbit iPhone app.  My GPS settings say that GPS is on. 

I had a first generation Sense before this, and, for example, it would tell me that the GPS was connecting and / or when it was lost.  Nothing like this is the Sense 2 while I walked.

I can't find any other settings to turn on the GPS.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[mds2751]

I too got my new Fitbit Sense 2 and went for a hike this morning. GPS is definitely on but it could not connect to GPS. I came home and tried doing a “walk" with GPS and it could not connect either.  I have reset the watch, re synched it and still cannot get a connection.

Has anyone been able to get onboard GPS to work on the Sense 2?

[SpiritMommaLeah]

I did all that too. I thought I had it fixed when I toggled it to on, as it was turned off. But it keeps going red (which we know means not connected). I kind of wish I didn't give my fitbit sense to my husband now. I miss a lot of the features from that one. 

[SpiritMommaLeah]

It does show either a white arrow at the upper left hand side of the screen when it's working, and then it turns red when it's not working/connected. Idk why it's not working. 

Actually it was turned off. I did turn it on. But it's still not connecting. 

[mds2751]

It has not been able to connect at all.  I was on the phone with customer support and both the rep and I could not get it to work.  He asked me to try again tomorrow and if it still doesn’t work, then he said they would replace it. I don’t want to go through the hassle of returning it until I know others have gotten it to work or I just received a defective watch. 

[diko59]

I discovered that when walking, GPS is not used? If you select running or cycling, GPS will be used.

[BenSF]

For some odd reason, GPS for walking is disabled by default. You can enable it by scrolling up on the workout screen for walking before starting to record. They might have disabled it because walks tend to be longer and will drain the battery more.

[diko59]

The walking workout starts so fast that the settings cannot be adjusted.

[BenSF]

If you use the widget, it starts the workout automatically. Instead, go
to the workouts app by pressing the side button from the main screen,
and then tap on Walk. This way the workout doesn't start automatically
and you can adjust the settings by swiping up.

[diko59]

Thanks for the clear explanation and solution.

[BenSF]

You're welcome. Another thing I just discovered is that you can stop the workout from automatically starting by pressing the side button during the 3 seconds timeframe that it takes to start.

[mds2751]

I tried it with both Run and Bike and it still does not work based on your comment. So at this point it does not work with any of the activities- hike, walk, run or bike. 😖

[BenSF]

In that case it might be a defective unit.

[mds2751]

That is what customer service and I determined. Now I have to decide if I want to go through the hassle of doing an exchange, or just return it and keep using my Charge 3 until it dies. 

[Macon]

This has been my same experience with my brand new Versa 4.  Very frustrating.  I'm not sure whether this is a firmware (software) problem they can fix with an update push or I've just got a bad watch but so far I haven't had anyone post on the thread I created over in Versa 4 channel say theirs has worked. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'll keep following this thread. If you get a replacement unit and it works please let us know on this thread.

[mds2751]

I ended up returning it because of frustration not only with the onboard GPS not working but it also did not record my heart rate correctly during yesterday’s workout. Normally with that type of workout I would be 50% in Peak and 50% in Cardio. It recorded me not having a heart rate above 88 which is totally absurd. So with that, I returned it.  I am back to wearing my Charge 3 for the time being until I decide what to purchase. 

[sarah.jo]

How did you turn it on? I have an iPhone and I can’t see GPS setting on the watch or phone ?

[Macon]

You have to turn it on per exercise.  When you pull up the activity you want to use with GPS, there should be a "Settings" option (you have to scroll to see it), and you can turn on GPS in there.  Hope yours works.