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.

[sarah.jo]

Thanks, the exercise was starting automatically when I hit walk or run but selecting All did allow me in to turn GPS on. Will test it tomorrow or Saturday. 
Much appreciated, thanks 🙏 for your suggestions 😊

[BenSF]

Yesterday I decided to test the GPS since I didn't have time to test it out since I got it. Went outside under the clear sky and started a walk on the watch just to test the GPS connectivity. And guess what. It was not connecting. I tried it 5 time and nothing. Then I decided to factory reset it and try the. However, after a factory reset the watch started acting funny. Every time I tried to sync it with the phone, it restarted. I tried several more factory resets and it didn't fix the issue. Also, on the phone, the side tiles seemed to be in the position I ordered them before my first factory reset, while on the watch they were in the factory position. I tried to reorder them in the fatctory position on the phone as well hoping it might fix the syncing problem. No luck though.

So in the end I decided to return it and ask for a refund. This morning I gave the watch to DHL and it is on it's way back to Fitbit. I also went to the nearest store and I bought a new Galaxy Watch 5 Pro for $350. And with that I broke up with fitbit forever. They lost a customer (or several customers if you read the other comments) and we lost a good fitnes tracker manufacurer. It is a shame looking at how fitbit started their journey. But it is what it is...

[rbittman]

You’ve returned it…

Im still hoping for the GPS to function. I’ve tried starting it several times and get the red arrow every time. It never connects. 

[sarah.jo]

I've had two separate connections via Chat app and tried every suggestion and went walkbouts for 30 minutes, GPS did not connect with clear blue skys 😞 How do you arrange a refund or replacement?

[BenSF]

Depends where you bought it. If you bought it directly from Fitbit, you need to contact support.

[sarah.jo]

I bought directly from FItbit on pre-order in August!

[MarkMM]

@sarah.jo Ok, so chat with support, they'll set you up for a return. Only catch when you buy directly from Fitbit is, you pay for return shipping. 

[MarkMM]

Maybe it's different in the UK as far as returns. But chat support should resolve it in minutes?

[sarah.jo]

Thanks 🙏 

[MarkMM]

You're welcome and good luck!

[Whiten]

Hey, folks,

I wanted to let people know LZeeW’s post above helped me fix things.  The first time I used the Sense 2 I used the widget, and no GPS.  But the next walk I did not use the Widget.  I scrolled down to All, found Walk, and from there I could swipe up from the bottom and there were lots of options, including turning GPS on.  I turned it on, and since then, it defaults to GPS on even from the widget, and even when it smart-senses that I’m out for a walk.

And, FWIW, it connects to GPS much faster the the original Sense.  So before you get too upset with Fitbit and your new Sense 2, I suggested you carefully read the posts here, and you sit down and play with you new Sense 2, and make sure you have exhausted all swipes and menus and screens.

There are a host of new, but many times, subtle upgrades too that I notice and appreciate.

[sarah.jo]

I’ve tried this setting through all but I never get the first connection to GPS. It either tries to connect for a minute or so then says no gps signal and doesn’t start the exercise and can lock on that screen or it sits saying trying to connect and never does. Longest I’ve tried for is 30 minutes 😞

[rbittman]

I too turned GPS on under the Walk option in Exercises; that is now stable. However, whenever I've tried to get it to connect it hunts but never finds, and finally times out. I've tried near my home as well as in a very open, rural area, and gotten the same result. I've tried several things suggested by the Chat folks at Fitbit, including logging out of the app, turning BT on and off, restarting the device, etc. I was also asked to try holding my arm near my head during GPS searching, with the watch placed higher on my arm (not touching the wrist bone). I did all this and to no avail. I sure hope this resolves soon, because I actually like this device a lot and I want GPS to work.

[sarah.jo]

Thanks, I’ve tried everything including holding it above my head by the band only to no avail. 
I contacted Fitbit Support quoting the last support reference no. Was quickly told I’d already tried everything support could suggest and to return for a replacement. 
Hopefully 🙏 the replacement will work once connected and updated. 
Sarah 

[rbittman]

It took a few days of messing with it, but I finally got GPS to work. 
I read the Fitbit instructions again and realized I was not holding my arm in the right position to get that first, critical connection. You have to put the band one band section farther up on the wrist (by using next lower hole in band), so that it’s away from the wristbone. Then hold arm vertically (I’d been holding it horizontally) so band is near head. Be in an open area. 

it only took about a minute to connect and stayed connected my entire walk. I expect future use we I’ll be easier. 

[Sasofiser]

Gps data is missing in my activities too (running, hike, walk).

[sarah.jo]

Thanks 🙏 but I even tried holding it above my head by the strap alone so no interference from my body, even went and stood on a bridge over a river so nothing to interfere and held and held but no connection 😔

[Sasofiser]

I got it working now and it records gps. Had to go to apps and not widget screen.

[rbittman]

I may have misunderstood your post, but I think that, if you are starting GPS from the app, then it is using your phone's GPS, not the watch's GPS, right? My phone GPS always worked too. But, I wanted the watch onboard GPS to work, which is why I was persistent in trying *everything* to make that happen. Again, I apologize if I didn't understand what you said.

[sarah.jo]

No, you didn’t misunderstand, I left my iPhone at home and didn’t try to start GPS until I was in an open space. The Sense 2 is aware of where the satellite direction is as my partner showed me on their Charge 5 the direction of the arrow when connected but mine just wouldn’t connect. Pointed repeatedly to in the right direction but wouldn’t connect to the satellite. Never had any problem before with GPS, obviously an inherent fault with the latest watches.