How to resolve the Major issues causing short battery life.

[Guy_]

Functions and features added with updates [perhaps automatically], or manually chosen options, are possibly causing short battery life on a Sense or Versa 3.

Verify each of the functions you currently have enabled and eliminate the ones you don't need.

Some of the main battery drainers, which vary depending on Firmware level and Fitbit App level, are:

• GPS
• Snore Detection
• SpO2 tracker app [can be uninstalled  see the Versa 3 or Sense Fitbit App Gallery tile]
• SpO2 Clock faces
• Readiness report
• Clock faces with Internet connections [such as Weather]
• Clock faces with animation and lots of activity
• Possibly heart / Afib notifications

and possibly in the watch Settings,

• Status indicators
• Always On Display
• high brightness
• long display timeout
• absence of a Sleep schedule
• some music functions
• etc.

and Syncing / Bluetooth issues

• Watch constantly trying/failing to sync
• Fitbit app constantly trying/failing to sync
• Multiple devices syncing with the watch

The syncing issue is best confirmed by temporarily disabling the phone's Bluetooth and restarting the watch via Shutdown and restarting the phone, then monitoring the change.

If the phone shuts down Bluetooth or the Fitbit App [to save battery] so they are not running in background, this may be a cause of syncing issues.

Also review Can I extend my Fitbit device's battery life? 

[Abylorna]

Thanks! I’ll go through and try and turn some of these things off to see if it helps.

[Lasoeurvolante]

---

@Lasoeurvolante wrote:

Thank you @eezeepee 

I will test it today ,I charged fully and turned off the snore and noise and kept SPO2 and see if it helps 🤞🏼

---

Update 

Turning off the snore and noise feature was a game changer for me for battery life !

As easy eezeepee mentioned I woke up to only 7 % battery loss so at 93 % which is great and more normal ..

Thank You for all the tips ,more than happy with my Fitbit Sense now 😉

[eezeepee]

@Lasoeurvolante Now that's more like it. Glad it's working well for you. Snore and noise a nice feature to try out but if not needed, might as well turn it off

[Smstext]

Can't find how to turn snore feature off my I've pressed the Fitbit logo, scrolled to sleep, gone into sleep and pressed the settings cog and nothing there for snore, confused as I've now been through every menu setting. I'm using versa 3 and Android phone.

[Guy_]

Hi @Smstext  - you only have that option to use Snore detection if you have got premium. 

[Smstext]

Solved it by uninstalling and reinstalling app

[Blessingtoyou]

Hi Smstext, Go to the Fitbit app, tap the Sleep tile > the gear icon at the upper right corner > Detect Snoring.

 

 

 

[TangoAlpha]

I have been part of the Fitbit community and using Fitbit devices for my physical fitness needs since 2013/2014, starting with the most basic device. Over time I upgraded to the Surge, then to the Versa, then to the Sense device as improvements and capabilities were added to the device to meet my fitness needs and wellness lifestyle. I am a disabled military veteran and recently joined the VA Fitbit Premium & Health Coaching program.

I am an extremely dissatisfied Fitbit device owner, customer and community member because I have had two Fitbit Sense devices which have had epic battery failures since January 2021! Both Fitbit Sense devices stopped charging within 9 months of use. I am extremely disappointed by the quality of this product considering that the Fitbit Sense cost over $319.00. I'm also frustrated that Fitbit places the blame for the issue largely on the device users by pointing out that the options users choose affects the battery life and expects users to limit the functionality and capability of the device by disabling or limiting those functions and capabilities on the device.  What is the point of providing these functions and capability on the device if the battery can't support them?

I purchased my first Fitbit Sense from AAFES/Shop my Exchange on 31 January 2021, received it on 07 February 2021 and began using it on 08 February 2021, it failed on/about 05 September 2021. I contacted Fitbit Support who provided a Replacement Offer [#42473560: Fitbit phone inquiry : Sense not working properly] in late September/early October 2021. I received the replacement FitBit Sense on/about 03 October 2021 and the device failed over this past weekend with a total shutdown on Monday, 04 April 2022.

I had the same problem with both devices; within 3 months of use the device battery life drained away faster and faster and would not fully charge (100%) in spite of being on the charger overnight for 6-8 hours. I see from the Fitbit Sense Community Forum that many other customers are having the same issue -- battery losing power,  malfunctioning battery charging and inadequate battery capacity. I reached out again to Fitbit [Your Fitbit Chat Inquiry - #44895134] and since neither device is covered by the warranty, the best support they can offer me is a 35% discount on a new device. Really? That’s the best Fitbit can do? Not good enough — especially since neither Fitbit Sense has lasted for longer than 9 months. Which is 3 months less than the 12 months/one year warranty.

Moderator edit: all-caps

[elainesharrison]

My sense is about 1.5 years old. Nothing has changed since I bought it. Used to hold a charge for 6-7 days. The past 2 months 3 days now 1.5 days. Any suggestions? When I contact support they give me stupid suggestions. 

[Clove6060]

Couple things come to mind.

1.) Are you using the watch more frequently or new features?

2.) I’ve noticed when I update the app, sometimes some features I previously turned off are back on.

check all your settings again. Make sure snore report and readiness report are not initiated.
3.) You’re battery may be degrading and your only solution is to turn off everything you do not use.

I dim the face, turned off or removed tile for snore report, readiness score, stress mgt, menstrual, mindfulness, Blood Glucose. 

Good Luck

[elainesharrison]

Nothing has changed, I believe I need a new battery but no one at fit bit support will help me to replace it. Any suggestions?

[Guy_]

Hi @elainesharrison - lots of things change with updates, so please check again like @Clove6060 has mentioned.

There are no repairs or battery replacements offered by Fitbit after warranty. In general batteries degrade gradually over a longer time. So every indication is something changed, not necessarily done by you.

[Emz471]

Hi, thanks for the advice. I had this versa 3 for almost 3 years and 3days ago I forgot it on charger for 36hrs I guessed. And when I checked still 0%bat and I charged it again for 2hrs says it 100% but it last only 2hrs and drain or low batt again.

[elainesharrison]

No battery replacement for a product is a big fat fail for a product. I’ll never buy another Fitbit product for myself or anyone. 

[Rubitooz]

The only thing I have on is a static watch face that comes on when I touch it and I track my exercise when I do it and that’s it. I don’t use any of the other features !  But surely this is a watch made for all those features anyway, otherwise why are they there