High/Low heart rate notifications don't work on Sense

[Jtate187]

I have the threshold heart rate notifications turned on but I’m not getting any notifications. The past couple of night, while resting and watching TV, my heart rate shot up for some reason. It was above 140 bpm one night and the next night it was above 130bpm, and I did not receive a notification for HR above threshold while at rest. Is anyone else having this problem?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[KSJax]

This is got to be a Fitbit problem and I think they need to fix it. My daughter's charge three, my Versa light, and at least one or two friends of mine have all lost heart rate tracking since November 6 2020.

[LizzyFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hi @Jtate187, welcome to the Community Forums. @KSJax, it's good to see you around.

@Jtate187, thanks for bringing this to my attention. I'm sorry that the high/low heart rate notifications aren't working on your Sense and let me help you with this matter. Before anything else, let me explain that you'll receive these notifications if you've been sedentary for at least 10 minutes, if they are enabled in the Fitbit app and if your watch is regularly syncing. If those conditions apply to you, I'd recommend to try the following steps:

1. On the Fitbit app, tap your Profile picture > Sense > High & Low Heart Rate.
2. Turn off the High/Low Notifications and sync your watch.
3. Check if the Fitbit app is updated.
4. Restart your watch to refresh its settings.
5. Turn back on the High/Low Notifications. Don't forget to sync to apply the changes.

@KSJax, thanks for sharing your daughter's and friends experience with the heart tracking and I'm sorry for this inconvenience. Because you mentioned they have other Fitbit devices model, I'd recommend to share your comments to its dedicated board In the Help Forums so you and they can have more chances to receive help from the moderators and the Community. For more details about how the heart rate is being tracked, please check this help article.

Keep me posted.

[Kellyh9999]

I have the Versa 2 and it lost heart rate tracking last in the last few weeks as well.

[KSJax]

Thank you, @LizzyFitbit (and hello to @Kellyh9999 @Jtate187 ) you gave me the same advice that I have already followed by the time I posted. When I wrote that I had tried everything that was advised and been on help forum, I meant it. That's why I felt justified in bringing attention to this problem in several message threads.

Never did get the heart rate tracking feature to work for either my daughter Charge 3 or my Versa.  I did everything that was advised more than once.

I reluctantly decided to buy new trackers on Black Friday. I've been a customer since  2013 through all the issues with the armband irritation, temporary problems with upgrades etc but I am quite frustrated at this point.  I don't want to believe that heart rate tracking failures were engineered to push people to buy new devices but that is definitely in my mind. If things go badly this time I will change companies all together.  My daughter's Charge 3  seems to be working well for her. I finally got my Versa 2 after some difficulties with shipping (separate issue, also exasperating).

Now I have a Versa 2. I think I'm happy with it but after a really great first 48 hours, I'm starting to have technical glitches. We'll see how it goes. Sorry for such a long rant but you're the only person that responded to me after multiple attempts to contact Fitbit.

[SunsetRunner]

I have tried this solution so many times I’ve lost count, yet I’ve only received one High Heart Rate Notification to date after about a month of using my Sense. I can see in my Heart Rate data throughout the day that the threshold has been surpassed on a number of occasions throughout the day when I’ve been inactive for at least an hour, on a number of days.

What does it take for this feature to actually work?

[Tgoodner]

I have had multiple times where the low heart notification didn’t work. I tried the fix offered here and then I tested it with a custom setting that I knew my rate would go below as soon as I sat down. Not one notification, even after I laid down and my heart rate went even lower. I was most definitely inactive for 10+ minutes below the threshold!  This needs to be fixed or no longer advertised, to some this is an important feature. 

[SunsetRunner]

Agreed.

Too bad Fitbit doesn’t also seem to agree - it has been months with no corrective updates or follow-up response on this issue in the thread. Against my better judgement I decided to give Fitbit a second chance and get the Sense in the first place - so glad that hasn’t turned out to be a mistake...🙄

[ajrs0087]

I am also having the exact same technical issue as many others have posted about in the online forum. I also followed the advice of the Fitbit support who wrote a post in the forum with instructions on necessary steps to take in order to get this app and its' setting configured to actually work as should, but unfortunately, this did not correct the problem of the fact that there is a setting in these devices (in my case my Fitbit Sense) and every time I go to the app and click on the app settings, the top of the app page states in red font "Syncing Settings...," but it continually states this and no changes are ever made and this feature or setting or app that is supposed to be giving me notifications about my low and high heart rate measurements, but does not seem to work as it is supposed to be and it is very frustrating that this is a known issue and then Fitbit support staff give instructions to correct the problem, but then the instructions provided are faulty and did nothing to correct the technical issue concerning the configuring of this feature/app/setting that is supposed to be functioning but doesn't even work at all. I am let down and disappointed by the troubleshooting steps posted by Fitbit officials in this online forum and their advice did not even solve the problem whatsoever and the issue remains problematic and non-functioning as advertised. 

[Taote]

Lizzy as with the others posting here the prescribed fix doesn't work for me.   I purchased this watch (sense) FOR THIS FRATURE.  I would add that the 10 minutes of sedentary is a problem for me.   I have autonomic dysfunction and have recently had SCAD with MI and very much need to know when my heart rate is low or high.  

I was semi-reclined and having some yogurt just now, looked down and my heart rate was 113.  At rest.  I need to have the alarm tell me when I'm over 100 (preferably 90 but that isn't an option).  And in the middle of the night if it drops below 50, I need the alarm as well.  And the 10 minute sedentary doesn't make any sense.  I'd like the alarm immediately every time thresholds are breached MBA 

[SunsetRunner]

10 months later of having this device, I still have the same problem.

They never fixed it.

I never ever get any warnings about the high/low heart rate and the threshold has been set from day one.

Every time I would think that I missed the warning signal. At least I know that's not the case. 

[Tanya_]

Has there been discussion of high/low heart rate notifications being available during activity as well? 

[Tanya_]

This feature has never worked on my Sense (I’ve had it since November 2021). I gave up on it long ago. That said, I did intend to use the Sense for this feature as well - my heart rate spikes and I need to monitor it. Unfortunate that the issue has never been resolved. 

[Kithera]

I have been dealing with fitbit support for this same issue.  They then just abruptly closed the ticket.  The feature isn't working and I've done everything they requested.  My last post annoyed a moderator so they took it down. But fitbit support told me to go check on the forum.  I'm here on the forum and everyone else is saying the same thing.  Has anyone had any luck? Has anyone had these alerts work?  I have had heart rate spikes WHILE SLEEPING and no the do not alert at night is not turned on.  I've had them while sitting at my desk. I'm seriously annoyed. 

[Kithera]

I have been dealing with fitbit support for this same issue.  They then just abruptly closed the ticket.  The feature isn't working and I've done everything they requested.  My last post annoyed a moderator so they took it down. But fitbit support told me to go check on the forum.  I'm here on the forum and everyone else is saying the same thing.  Has anyone had any luck? Has anyone had these alerts work?  I have had heart rate spikes WHILE SLEEPING and no the do not alert at night is not turned on.  I've had them while sitting at my desk. I'm seriously annoyed. 

[Kithera]

me too. and I laugh when I see that this thread is "answered" as a status when the answer appears to be that it doesn't work, they know it, but they won't tell the truth about it. 

[Hgraham1987]

Did you ever get it to work I'm having the same issue you are and it's so frustrating when you have done the research to fund different fixes and what Fitbit says? Well, have you tried this and your like yes or done everything possible to get this function to work properly and can't. This feature is why I brought this watch.

[Kithera]

I haven't got it to work. And then they closed the ticket. This is EXACTLY the reason I spent the money for this watch. i needed to see heart rate spikes when I'm not exercising or moving around. I've followed every instruction given, they even replaced my new sense with an even newer one. It still doesn't work. My guess is that it doesn't work for anyone and they just don't want to say that. I'm so very very very frustrated.  I've been a fitbit fan forever. I had a blaze and have faithfully upgraded whenever possible.  If you find a solution I would love to have this feature work. 

[Hgraham1987]

I will let u know how it turns out. Thanks