Can't figure out how the Sense button should work

[flroots]

Just received my Sense. The button confuses me. I read you're supposed to press it, but that does nothing. The only way I've managed to activate button is by placing my fingernail into slot and sliding it back and forth until I detect the vibration. Can someone explain how button is supposed to be activated? It such a nuisance having to locate it with fingernail.

[SteveH]

It does take some getting used to!

It's not a normal button in that it does not move. I have found that it works more often than not if I cover the whole "button" with my thumb and press the lower half of the frame.

[klausadrift]

@flroots Try pressing with the edge of your thumb rather than the tip. That seems to have worked for some users.

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there @flroots and @klausadrift, thanks for stopping by. I'm sorry to hear you're having a hard time using the Sense's button, I understand where your concern is coming from. Thanks for the details provided in your post and for trying to find the best way of use it. 

As @SteveH's suggested, try placing both forefinger and thumb each side of face and pressing gently, also make sure to cover the entire button with your finger. For more information, see: How do I navigate my Fitbit device? 

Let me know if you need further help. 

[marksurry]

I find the easiest way for me to press the button is put my thumb on the opposite side of the device, finger on the button and squeeze rather than press.  You can reverse this method if it feels more comfortable, thumb on the button, finger opposite.  Thing to remember, squeeze, not push.

[flroots]

Thanks for the replies, but nothing seems to help. It's very difficult for me to activate the button without placing fingernail into slot. Is my Sense defective?

[WehuttyWanker]

The "button" is a very poorly conceived device device. I supposed it was made this way to avoid a moveable button that might "leak" and allow water around it but in the process, it becomes very hard to use, Maybe, just maybe it could become more usable via a firmware fix ( like about a hundred other Sense issues).

[flroots]

You can say that again. Why can't they come up with a single or multiple tap to face to optionally replace button? That would just be a firmware change. 

[marksurry]

It's not a physical button so pushing your fingernail into the slot should make it more problematic.  I believe it relies on the flesh of your finger/thumb covering the entire indentation and pressing, like a capacitive touch screen.  The indentation is purely a marker of where to press.  I must be the only human who likes this button and has no issues at all.

[flroots]

In my case, placing my finger nail into slot is about 90% effective. Trying to place finger over slot and pressing is < 10%. Go figure!

[sockatume]

I have the same issue. Surprisingly, the button *doesn't* seem to work like a capacitive touch screen. I've been able to activate it with a plastic pen lid, through my shirt etc. So it is responding to pressure, not touch. (Which might explain why a fingernail is so much better - the force is on a smaller area, so there's more pressure.)

For what it's worth, on my "button" it's the top half of the groove that responds. The bottom half (below the plastic spacer on the ECG reader) doesn't respond to pressure at all.

[marksurry]

Oh yeah.  I just dug my fingernail in the button and it worked.  I swear I read somewhere it was a capacitive type.

[Heist]

My personal experience is that it's very intuitive. Takes a bit getting used too but I like it 

[Micsb]

It is the same here, top half of the groove and a light press works each time. I went from being certain it was faulty and not being able to startup the watch after shutdown to find it easy to use.

They either updated sonething in the bacground or i figured out how to operate, only pressing the top half.

[alexgb]

Exact same on my sense - the top half of indentation works like a charm.

[Guy_]

It seems the button is best reached with the soft part of the thumb [opposite side of the nail] and pressing underneath the watch [ as the button is not on the side but slightly underneath] works best, almost like sliding your thumb underneath the watch whilst holding a finger on the other side.

Works every time for me and especially useful when using Google Assistant.