Sense won't charge

[Sam0ny]

I've had my sense for less than a year and I LOVE IT. I went swimming, which I have done with it before, and I realize later in the day it wasn't Turing on. I was mostly floating around in the Gulf. I went home to charge it and the screen remained blank, but the device got SUPER HOT. I cleaned the pin holes and where the wrist band clicks in but it's still not charging and getting hot. 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Guitarbilly]

This is unacceptable and FitBit should be fixing this issue and providing replacements!

[hathawm]

FYI, I tossed my 13 month old Sense in the trash and decided not to roll the dice with Fitbit again by using the 35% discount offer. I had a Fitbit Surge for 5 years and it worked flawlessly until the battery got to the point where it needed to be charged every 10 hours or so. The Sense really didn't offer much more in terms of functionality and, obviously, lacks in either quality control or design.

For the past three months I haven't had a smartwatch at all and, you know, I really haven't missed it. I know when I'm getting exercise and when I'm not, when my heart rate is moderate or high, and I can check my notifications and texts on my phone...thank you very much. The things I originally bought the Sense for don't really work the way I'd hoped (heart arrhythmia detection in particular) or weren't accurate (sleep monitoring, SpO2, even heart rate itself) so I think the device gave me a false sense (no pun intended) that I was tracking my health. I really wasn't. At best it was a nudge to stay active and keep a record of my previous activities. Now I just log that information in a spreadsheet which does the same thing and doesn't cost me $300 every year in new hardware.

Everyone's situation is different but, given the sketchy reliability of the Fitbit devices, it might be worth considering how much benefit you're getting, if any, from this kind of device.

[HoopShots12]

Thanks for the information. I agree with you. 

I have not worn mine for two weeks. I missed it for the first three days but not as much anymore. 

i just hope FITBIT can help me get my SENSE charged again after two wills of turning into a BLANK SCREEN.

my pins are clean and have been constantly cleaned. Pins are of working order. 

please help.

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I’ve had my watch for less a year.

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Purchased mine in December last year. I reported non-charging issue in May to clean pins. I did and it worked.

Two weeks ago - it failed to charge once more, I cleaned it again but yet it is no longer charging and went dark on me. I have not used it since. FITBIT please help.

[RAU]

This very disappointing. I got in the shower and saw that I had my watch on. I immediately took if and laid it on a table.  The next morning the watch would not turn on. It was little or no water. I was also 45 days out of warranty and all customer service could do was me offered me 35 % off on a new watch. I will not be buying another Fitbit this is my fourth one. It appears to be a bad product.

[IrateCanadia]

My Fitbit stopped charging plugged in to wall or pc. Does not charge.  Cleaned back of it, nothing changed plugged into different pc.  All it does is light up 0% but not very long. 

[IrateCanadia]

My bad I own a sense and it stopped charging

[CM73]

Hi i wonder what the resolution was for you. My sense is only 14 months old and it needed charging. I was going out so popped it on to charge for a short while which normally works, but no charge, so I left it on charge while I went out. On returning, it was still not charged and was ridiculously hot. 
i left it to cool and again this morning it’s not charging and started straight away to get uber hot.

 I’ve been a Fitbit user for years but after spending so much on this device and seeing the forum threads, I’m concerned they are not as robust as they used to be. I almost burned my hand picking the sense up. 
I’ve tried cleaning and other solutions but I think this has had it. 
Caroline

[Guy_]

Hi @CM73 - unfortunately the watch is faulty. If it's under warranty [in some countries 2 years] it can be replaced.

If not, you will need a new watch and can consider other brands. If you stay with Fitbit, a Sense may be more preferable to the Sense2 which loses some features. Check the forums first.

In any case make a note of the names of any clocks or apps you have installed and like, to make it easier to reinstall them.

[IrateCanadia]

I contacted fitbit. Needed new charger tturned out.

[RAU]

This product is a dud. I had the same issue. I spent a lot money for the
product and it only worked a few months. I did not get a resolution and the
company took a hands off approach. I have purchased many Fitbit also. But
this will be my
last one. It's not worth the trouble and the expense.

[robinbarth]

I bought and new charger on Amazon and it worked! But I honestly haven’t
used it in months now because I got a free Apple Watch when I got a new
phone after Christmas. I was so disappointed with my Fitbit and had used
those for years, didn’t seem that the company was helpful either. Good luck
to you.

[srox07]

Hello! I am having this same issue. It randomly powers on, struggles to charge and when it does it gets so hot I would easily burn my arm if I put it on... it's useless.  It was purchased less than two years ago and I didn't connect it until well after that when my previous watch died.  I've been with fitbit for a long time and would hate to switch, but the time is getting shorter between needing to buy something new.   

Can someone from fitbit email me and help with fixing the situation?  

Thank you!

[TigerMark]

My charging lead is very temperamental. Think the product is not so good !

Seems like service also if you return is as bad.

I'm really disappointed overall

Many people same issues and seems like started responses that don't fix anything 

Grrrrrr

[Guy_]

Hi @srox07  - if your watch gets/got hot when charging stop immediately, as it is dangerous. The watch clearly has a severe internal fault which can't be fixed.

[Guy_]

Hi @TigerMark  - did you read through the responses in this topic, you may find the solution.

[willjoe]

The USB port or outlet is faulty. Try a different USB port or a UL-certified wall charger. The device isn't connected securely to the charging cable, or you're using a charging cable that came with a difference device or from another retailer.

Regards,

Will

[Guy_]

@willjoe- who is your post intended for? Please indicate the recipient so they get the benefit of your help and it doesn't mislead others.

[Helenabetsy]

Exact same thing happened me just yesterday after 2 years of the sense now it never tracked my 02 and I think the metrics of heart rv was always off to but I wasn't bothered about these features. Tbh I think if I wasn't home thos device may have set the house on fire it got so so hot its obviously a faulty watch. Did the chat thing out of concern hadn't seen this thread said they Will send a new one however 2 emails later with thr stuff they requested pictures etc no response at all. Had a fitbit hr for years and another fitbit before that never any issues even got the kids ones but very disappointed with this product. Hopefully they will reach out soon and do the right thing 35% off of no benefit when they cost so much 

[Cbushman1]

Having this problem now too went swimming and now it's toast and then I took it off and dropped it on a tile floor the day after and cracked the face too

[Guy_]

Hi @Cbushman1 - I'm guessing it is outside warranty so couldn't be replaced due to the water damage?

The cracked screen is unfortunate but isn't relevant because the watch would not work properly anyway.

Before replacing do some research as newer Fitbit models don't have all the features of the Sense but other brands with good battery life do.