Sense 2 turns on only when plugged to charger

[Kareem_M]

Hi Fitbit support team,

Need your help here. My Fitbit sense is starting only when i plugged into charged and turn of when i removed the charge cable. I went through few articles and did reset, updated and performed few trouble shooting steps, but still didn't help. It was good before, not sure what is happening all of sudden. 

Google/Fitbit support, Please help here, i have invested 1 months salary to buy this. Kindly please help.

Thank you

Kareem

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Guy_]

Thanks @LoriSky for the additional information.

In your Quick Settings what is shown immediately you put it on charge and it has started, 100%, 0% or an increasing charge as it is charging? And dies it get hot when charging?

What lead up to this happening ?

It obviously can't be used off charge, and as yet no known resolution, so not much use to you.

It doesn't seem to be a firmware issue in your case, as the factory reset and new version has the same problem which indicates more a watch fault which can be replaced if still under warranty.

[LoriSky]

Initially the battery is typically in the 80's. This time it was 82%. I checked it a minute later and it was 100%. No, it never gets hot.

Events leading up to this, the display would last less than a day and eventually degraded to a few hours a day and now to immediately disappearing after being removed from the original charger.  This was over a period of 2-3 weeks.  No physical or water damage occurred. I purchased it on December 22, 2022. Not sure how long the warranty is good for however I do still have the receipt. 

[SandhyaIndia]

@LizzyFitbit  Fitbit team I am facing the same issue with sense 2. Tried every option given in the community, but the Fitbit won't work when taken out of charge. For the amount spent, we expect the Fitbit to work longer than just a year and feel cheated.

[j-gray]

Came here to say the same. I've had my Sense 2 for just over two years and now it's getting flaky. It will randomly go dark and become unresponsive until I put it back on the charger. Then it will light up like normal, but the battery percentage is off. App will show 50% right after sync, watch shows 90%. Detach and reattach charger and watch shows 40%. Resync via the app and now both are 40%. It's as if the watch all of a sudden thinks the battery is dead. It typically won't power on unless/until it's on the charger. Once it's on the charger, it usually behaves for a day or two before repeating the same behavior.

App is up to date and I've done watch reboots, hard resets and finally a factory reset. It's a bit better after the factory reset but still flaky and unreliable. It's never been in the water, not even the shower. Never dropped and generally well cared for. A two-year lifespan is pretty disappointing given the price paid.

[Cousinsteph]

It is May 2025, my Fitbit Sense 2 just stated doing this after the most recent firmware update. I have un-installed and reinstalled the Fitbit app, I have done a hard reset, I have restarted my phone. 

My Fitbit now tells me to install the app on my phone, it is installed. 

When I do a hard reset all I see is the fitbit symbol flashing blue and black, then I big red X

So frustrating 

[GinaMD123]

I’m having the exact same issues. It’s very hard to get help.
I haven’t had my sense 2 for very long, as I had to upgrade from my last Fitbit. I’m beginning to think I might have to invest in a different brand. 

[aln70]

I am having the same issue. The watch is less than 18 months old. We have been a Fitbit family having several over the years, but it looks like we won't be anymore. 

[ChristinaC31]

I’ve given up on it too. Nothing is working. 

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It’s crazy how so many of us have all the same problems but nothing is working to get it sorted. I’ve been with Fitbit for that long too. Definitely feel let down by them.

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Nothing has worked still the same problem as everyone else. 

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Moderator edit - merged messages

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi everyone, and welcome to our new members.

Thanks for letting me know about your Sense 2 and the steps that you've tried so far. I'm sorry that you've gone through this experience. Every feedback shared by our members is appreciated as it helps us to improve our devices, and yours isn't the exception.

For the ones who haven't done so, I'd recommend exhausting the troubleshooting steps described in this help article. If the issue persists, you can always get in touch with our Support team so they can evaluate your options. You can find their contact details here.

[Guy_]

Given the number of Sense 2 and Versa 4 users with this same  problem, it may possibly be a problem with the latest firmware.

Just in case it has an influence, has anyone tried turning off Status Indicators (which was introduced ) in watch Display Settings and restarting the watch while on charge?

[freddie11111234]

Hi everyone,

Following my recent interaction with Fitbit Support, I wanted to share my experience regarding their limited one-year warranty and support process.

If your product is still within the one-year warranty period, Fitbit will assist you and may offer a replacement if it's eligible. However, if your device is out of warranty, their support is extremely limited. They simply advise purchasing a new device — no repair options, no discount offers, and no other form of assistance.

Considering the high cost of these smartwatches, it's disappointing to know that once the limited one-year warranty expires, there’s essentially no support available. It feels like the only option left is to discard the device and buy a new one, which isn’t ideal from a customer experience or sustainability perspective.

This has been my personal experience, and I hope Fitbit considers improving their post-warranty support in the future.

reply for more of the text

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi there, @Guy_ and @freddie11111234.

Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback regarding the Sense 2. I understand where you're coming from and I apologize for the experience you have had. Our team is constantly working to improve our devices, and the input we receive from our members is a big part of the process.

If you need more assistance with your existing case, please reply back to our Support team. This will allow them to review your details and provide you with more information.