Sense Screen just fell off

[Anadri]

Was watching TV earlier with the wife, went to check a notification on the watch and the screen just.. Popped off. I didn't even touch it. I haven't been rough on it, I haven't dropped it, I haven't knocked it on anything, so I don't know why the screen would just come off like that. Has anyone else had this issue? (Got the watch in September 2020)

[down_and_out]

Is there a benefit for going with the black over the clear Permatex?

My original thoughts were to use a small clamp or elastic bands with a piece of tongue depressor or a flat shim from the wood pile between the screen and the clap to generate a more consistent pressure across the screen, using a piece slightly smaller than the screen surface to allow excess sealant a clean exit. 

Arthritic fingers hurt just thinking of holding anything for 2 hours.😁

[ShelleyBoull]

my warranty was up in May so they only offered a discount on a new purchase 😞 

[JMUC]

It fell off 2 months or so after the warranty ended? Well if that doesn't sound familiar >.>

[HyTeK]

Unsure on the clear version. From all the replies I’ve seen and heard, and personal experience so far; the black, and that specific brand and type, has worked without fail. (Providing it cures correctly.)

[BonMel]

My Sense screen has separated from the watch body again after being repaired at a local shop.  My wife notice that the screen was lifting on her Sense also.  I ordered some  B-7000 which is a clear adhesive, not as rubbery, used to attach the glass on some smartphones.  I opened my wife's Sense and noticed what appeared to be a black one piece sticky gasket.  Removal was easy enough with a final cleaning of mating surfaces with a Q-tip and a bit of alcohol.  B-7000 has a small metal needle like pin nozzle and controlled application was straightforward.  I used wide rubber bands to clamp the display to the body and let cure for 24 hours.  Her Sense is doing fine now after a few weeks.  Will see how long term works out.

The same procedure was used on my Sense but the outcome isn't as good.  I heard a quiet snap sound as I was moving the screen.  Not sure if a ribbon cable came off or what but the display isn't working after assembly and the watch is discharging pretty fast.  I've tried getting the screen back off without success so far even sitting the Sense outside in +100° F heat for a couple of days hoping the B-7000 would loosen. So the B-7000 is holding firm.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BZBFVR1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

I did the repairs using my wife's table mounted magnifier.  Could have done it without magnification but using the bigger view was helpful.

I'll keep messing with it but not going to spend another farthing on anything sold by Fitbit.  My first experience with Fitbit customer service several years ago was topnotch but something has changed over the years with that company.  Everyone can decide to buy whatever products they wish but if I was asked my opinion of Fitbit today, based on my experience with both the Sense and Versa, I would strongly council to avoid Fitbit products.

Fitbit just isn't all that!  There are better choices available.

[down_and_out]

 Could be the board but if just the cable harness popping out it might be salvageable.  Good luck.

I handed down my Fitbit charge to my wife when I first got my Sense and her older one went to our grandson.  He destroyed his fairly quickly😊

But my wife's Fitbit Charge that I passed on to her on the other hand continues to function and perform well after many years.  This led me to consider the Charge 5 and as it is heavily discounted this month the risk may be reasonable (have a lot of Fitbit data collected over the years I would like to continue forward with).   

My hesitation is the change to the charge cable. The way it attaches to the back of the charge with magnets and pins is very similar to the Sense and after having gone through numerous cables for the Sense and the issues with faulty charging - just an experience I don't wish to endure again. So I debate.  Loose a consistency in how the data is collected and reflected and start over with a more reliable tracker or, suffer with a different Fitbit model.

I will try and fix the Sense and if that works I might consider gifting it to someone I am not overly fond of 😂

[BonMel]

There are 2 ribbon cables that can be removed but to do so requires having a tiny torx driver to remove metal clamping like pieces then sliding the connectors apart.  Work for nimble fingers.  I thought of removing the cables but decided not to, perhaps an error on my part but a Sense with the screen already off is pretty much worthless so I took my chances.  

Bottom line, B-7000 looks to me to be an acceptable adhesive, is inexpensive, and only takes a tiny amount so if used get a very small tube.  Mak sure it has the needle like dispensing nozzle.  That will help with preventing over application of the adhesive.

[calvinlove1]

This happened to me, options are:

Contact Fitbit, if its within warranty they will repair and send back or send you a new one and toss the old one in the ocean with the rest of the ewaste. 

or

Fix the watch yourself in 10 mins for less than $14.00 CAD:

- Buy B-7000 screen adhesive off amazon for $14.00CAD.

- Gently move the screen out of the way and remove the old adhesive with a small screw driver or tweezers.

- Clean the surface wear the adhesive was with isopropyl alcohol.

- Apply B-7000 to the edge where the screen sits and gently push the screen down tenderly. Put a very thin line of glue you don't need much. 

- Inevitably, the glue will be squeezed up through the crack between the screen and the rest of the watch. Be ready with a cloth/rag dipped in isopropyl alcohol and wipe it away. 

- To make the sure the screen stays down while the glue cures, tape it down with scotch tape. 

[HyTeK]

Refer to this: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Sense/Sense-Screen-just-fell-off/m-p/5111481/highlight/true#M47501

Don't use metal to scrape off the old adhesive and silicon seal. Metal scratches and is also conductive. You wouldn't want to accidently slip, touching the electronics on the inside and shorting something out and breaking it more. Or scratching the plastic frame or even chipping the glass. Use wood instead: toothpick and cotton swabs are recommended.

Also, do not clean up the glue with isopropyl while it's curing. The isopropyl alcohol will mix in with the glue while it's trying to cure (under the screen), and the seal will weaken and fail again.

Last note: if you are going to use tape, use something stronger than scotch. You will want to use something that is stronger (as you need a couple pounds of consistent force), you will want to wrap it a few times to ensure it doesn't come undone, and you also do not want tape that stretches. Recommend using an adjustable micro c-clamp with rubber ends (can pick one up for a couple bucks.)

[HuntGod]

I reattached the screen, but something went wrong with the ribbon cable
because it Bible on her registers touches. It's moot I'm done with Fitbit
and Withings seems to do what I need .

[BonMel]

The point is that the screens shouldn't be coming off. There is clearly a
quality issue with this Fitbit product that needs addressing.

[HyTeK]

Preaching to the choir there.

However, once someone already spends that 300, the warranty is up in 1 year and the seal failures tend to happen right around that 1 year mark. Not a lot of people can or want to dish out another 300+ for a smart watch (even if going to a different brand). Thus, the detailed write up for those need it, and want a long-term solution to the money already spent.

Everyone gets it for sure; this is a defect. Whether it's a defect in the glue being used, or a defect in engineering and integration where they are flat out using the wrong type of glue: it is a defect. Which then retail and the legal team decided on the perfect amount of time for warranty: 1 year, which is just enough time to make consumers feel good at first, but just short enough to get around that pesky defect issue.
Or maybe the device was designed and engineered perfectly from the start; planned obsolescence, and that 1 year warranty starts to make more sense. 🤔🤕

[C.Jo]

This exact thing happened to me. I don't even get mine wet. This thing is junk. It's already had a problem not turning on, which after a month, I figured it out. The week after I've had it for a year, it's just turned to junk! 

Were you able to get yours fixed? If I need to buy another one, it won't be Fitbit. This was way too much money to only last a year.

[JMUC]

Nah. They gave me a discount in a full price new one that made it equal to a regular sale price and emailed me a corporate copy/paste about how they're sorry and whatever. I think some of the people posting here about gluing theirs have had success. I noticed after reviewing my data that a couple of weeks before it popped off it was saying I was going up like 70+ floors per week. I wasn't going up any floors. I know hills count but most of where I walk is flat. 

I did replace it and got the two year warranty.. the only thing now is probably less than a month after replacing it the sense 2 came out. The one thing I hate about the sense 1 is the button on the side. Years I've been wearing this thing and still can't get it to work half the time. The sense 2 apparently fixes that, but I can't blame them for my crappy timing of repurchasing the 1, lol. 

[JMUC]

Oh and the new one counts floors correctly with just a couple per week. 

[HuntGod]

I put a cover on it to keep the face from flopping around, the touch screen
no longer works but it still tracks my data so I am using it this way for
now. I will never buy another Fitbit product. I am waiting for Black
Friday and then will buy something else. I like the look and feature of
the Withings.

[MoniqueMc]

I loved the Fitbits I've had in the past. After spending this much on this
device, this happens to the original and replacement, I refused to invest
in anymore of this brand because the company doesn't seem to have any
concern of their defective products, but will give a small discount.

[Klwaller]

No and will NEVER buy fitbit again!Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, an AT&T 5G smartphone

[PMKennedy]

I've just had it happen to my second replacement.  So 3 watches in 2 years.with this problem

I just saw that they announced the sense 2.  I hope they have addressed this issue, but I no longer have any trust in this company or their products.  Just ordered an apple watch. I'm done.

[Klwaller]

I was Fitbit for life until I realized that my watches were only lasting 1yr.  Too expensive for that short time....Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, an AT&T 5G smartphone