Fitbit Sense won't charge

[Razorgirl88]

So I see some other people have posted on this problem.  I ordered my Fitbit Sense on January 7, 2021, directly from Fitbit.  There were some shipping issues and I finally got it at the end of January.  Since receiving it, I have had intermittent charging issues.  Sometimes this is resolved by cleaning the connections, other times I've had to resolve it by resetting the Sense by holding down the button for 10 seconds until the Fitbit symbol shows on the face of the watch.  On a few occasions I just had to keep trying plugging it in to different sockets on my computer.  However, this time it flashed "0%" the first time I plugged it in but then never charged.  It won't reset using the button, nor will it work after cleaning the contacts or plugging it into different sockets.  I haven't even owned this 4 months yet and I'm really frustrated with this problem. I keep my software up to date and don't know what else to do.

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[CraigHansen]

Charging the Sense is a total **ahem**show, and I'm saying that with no exaggerating whatsoever. I've been through four sets of charging contacts, two purchased from Fitbit, as well as others purchased from third parties on Amazon. In all cases, they fail from having one of the four pins, each time, for me, the pin on the lower left (when the watch is facing up), failing to stick out far enough to make contact with the watch.

In addition, it seems to me that the contacts on the watch themselves are totally messed up. When I look at them under magnification, they appear to be only an annular ring of metal, not a continuous disc of a contact. If they're made this way, Fitbit has a serious manufacturing problem. If they are corroding, Fitbit is making a serious design error in the choice of material. It is impossible to charge the Sense without carefully fiddling with the watch until the contact is made, and then it's difficult to put it down without stopping the charging from continuing.

If the watch runs completely out of battery, it ends up in a very difficult position, because there is absolutely no feedback that the watch is even being charged. Once the battery begins charging, the display doesn't give any indication that charging is continuing without touching the device, as the display goes blank and only by swiping can you see what the charge state is. Even then, it's only by looking at the tiny detail of the battery icon, that has a dot in the center if it's charging, and is partially filled battery if it's not, with no change in color or anything dramatic enough to easily tell.

I really can't imagine that Fitbit could make charging a Sense any more frustrating. It seems that every design decision has been made to make it nearly impossible.

[Bubbabighatt]

I totally agree with you. When I replace my fitbit, I'm going to go with
another brand. Btw, I learned the fitbit battery is non replaceable by the
consumer. But there is an outfit that will replace it for you at an est
cost of $160.!! So when my battery dies, I'll be replacing the watch.

[BKD32]

The amazing thing is the charger probably costs the company maybe three dollars and probably not that much. So they’d rather lose a customer with whom they’d make a whole lot more money on future watch sales then send out a free replacement charger.

Sent from my iPad

[Bodhisagan]

My second unit failed to charge and I was afraid it was the watch again.
Turns out this time it really was the charger. The first one wouldn’t work
with any charger and was clearly broken. I’m thinking the failure with the
first one was related to the broken chargers with the pin that sank in.
That caused a short or the like and broke the watch. Now I look out for it
and treat the watch and charger gingerly and look for the pin to fail.
Fingers crossed. Clearly bad design though….--

Moderator Edit: Personal info removed

[All3kat]

Agree, the designers need to know this existing problem.
Thankfully Fitbit replaced my charger also.

[Ronald01]

Are the pins on your charger sunken?  If so there is no easy repair. Call the chat line and they may offer a replacement charger as they did in my case.  Being sent from Hong Kong to New Zealand.

[All3kat]

They did send me a new charger.

[SunsetRunner]

Discouraging to read about this ongoing problem.  My Sense, purchased 6 weeks ago, stopped working and won't charge.  I am now doing the warranty dance.  A product like this shouldn't fail so quickly.

[All3kat]

I agree.
There needs to be a better way to charge like the Verse, which sits on a
charger base.

[CraigHansen]

The Versa 3 model now uses the same charger pins as the Sense, equally stupidly designed. You can buy 3rd party chargers that have a stand, but as they use the same charger pins, they'll be just as bad.

[CrlTomkinson]

CraigHansen, that's just great! So, they didn't learn ANYTHING with the failed charger design for the Sense. They're going to end up losing a lot of customers if they don't stop using a "charger" that doesn't charge anything! I did buy a different charger that's a stand, and I seem to have a little better luck with that. But it's incredibly stupid that I had to buy a different charger from Amazon because Fitbit includes a charger that isn't usable. And you still have to clean the charging port on the back of the watch very carefully (with a damp cloth) before you can use the charging stand, or you get the same results as using the charger supplied by Fitbit. I've tried so many different things to get this stupid thing to charge! I'm definitely not buying another product from Fitbit as long as they're going to continue providing a charger that doesn't do what it's supposed to do. I'll just buy a different watch from one of the many other companies who have gotten into the fitness watch craze. Heck, even Amazon is in on it now, complete with a fitness app to track your progress, just like Fitbit!

[loko123]

Same problem here

[eezeepee]

@loko123 Welcome to the Fitbit community.

A couple common issues is the charger is either physically damaged (pins are stuck down or missing) or the connection isn't good. The second one is an easy fix. I just wipe the pins (clean way is with an alcohol wipe, dirty way is saliva on a finger) and it get it fast charging.

Top pic wasn't wiped. Bottom pic was. You can see the difference in the Watts and the Amps

This is a pic of my charger pins which are all clean and up.

[Cybra]

Same here. I bought new charger two times now and same thing happened to both of them. I am starting to get really annoyed, spending to much money on their poor quality charger! 

[Cybra]

Totally agree! The advise above about wiggling the pong worked on one of my three chargers, but not on the two other ones where i cant even get hold of the pong. For me it is always the bottom left pong that does this. 

[Cybra]

When i try to get in contact with the support i only get askef if i want to connect with them through twitter, but i dont have twitter so i cant get in contact with them 🤔

[Auntclaud]

I have the same problem I purchased mine from Amazon on April 6, 2021 tried everything and it was replaced twice so that is three Senses in one year unacceptable! Now I need another one! Just got off messaging with customer service saying I will receive an email from customer service. They know there is a problem I will never buy another Fitbit a horrible product! 

In my experience there is not a fix! My Fitbit was purchased April 6, 2021 and they have sent my two new ones and now the third one doesn’t charge I am sure the warranty ran out. I feel they know there are problems yet continue to sell or send defective products. Sounds like so Senses don’t work it is such a shame! 

[jskeebs75]

I have been a fitbit customer since the original fitbit that clipped to a belt. The sense charger is the most idiotic thing I have ever seen. I have had nothing but issues with it charging since I bought it. About ready to switch to a different brand.

[Raz10]

I’m with you, this is the last fitbit I’ll ever own, it’s too bad they
didn’t address this properly.

[Maris5562]

I am having the same issue and I've only had my Sense a couple of months! I am sending it back, waiting for them to receive it, then I am supposedly getting a new one in 7-10 business days after that! I am very disappointed and can't believe the bad product and bad service! I got the Sense because my Ionic was recalled!!! Wow, maybe I chose the wrong smartwatch company.....