Sense won't receive text notifications

[KmumG]

I have an iPhone 6plus. The sense will show phone calls but not text notifications. I’ve chatted with an agent, we’ve “forgotten” the device and repaired 3-4 times. Still nothing. Any ideas? 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[Rich_Laue]

Hi @KmumG have you gone through the setup? 

Remover that if notifications do not show up on the phones lock screen, they will not show up on the tracker. 

[KmumG]

Thanks for the reply, we’ve tried everything. Last resort will be upgrading the iPhone. Triple checked all the settings, pairing and notifications. Messaging is the only thing not working. 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @KmumG. Welcome to the Community Forums. @Rich_Laue, thanks for stopping by to share your help.

@KmumG, thanks for taking the time to troubleshooting your Sense. I'm sorry that you're not receiving text notifications and let me help you with this matter. Even though you mentioned to have checked all the settings, could you please verify the following:

1. Check if the Fitbit app is updated.
2. Go to your phone's settings and tap on Notifications.
3. Scroll down and tap on Messages.
4. Add a check mark for Notifications Center under Alerts.
5. Set Show Previews to Always or When Unlocked.

Once that is done, force quit the Fitbit app, reboot your phone, sync your watch and try receiving a text message on your phone to see if your watch receives the notifications.

[KmumG]

Thank you for trying to help but now even more frustrated. I updated the app to version 3.35. Syncing took a long time and at one point said it couldn’t sync. I went to the app and “removed this sense.” Set it back up, re-pair process etc. Got the the on-wrist calls section, start setup, get a message “Couldn’t enable.” I still don't gets texts and now I don’t get calls anymore. I never had all these problem with my Apple Watch. What gives?

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[Figgysmauls]

I had the same issues i have a 12pro max.... her suggestion fixed my text issues. 

[Rich_Laue]

That is true @KmumG when the same company makes the watch, the phone, writes the firmware for both and writes the app that interfaces the two devices, I hope apple will be able to make it work. 

Fitbit, on the other hand is making a device that should communicate with three different operating systems on there different platforms. To add more problems, the Android OS is written by one company that does not make the hardware. 

See here for sync issues. 

Her for notification setup. Preview must be enabled and if the notification doesn't pop up on the lock screen, or wont be sent to the tracker. 

Go here to setup calls. 

@Figgysmauls with not knowing what your issue is. I suggest the same links. If your tracker is not setup to your Fitbit account, let's look here for setup instructions

 And troubleshooting. 

If issues still exist, we need to get details and any error messages. 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @KmumG and @Rich_Laue, it's good to see you around the forums. @Figgysmauls, welcome on board.

@KmumG, thanks for sharing more details about this issue and for the steps tried on your own. I'm sorry that the notifications are still not working correctly on your Sense. If you've not done so, please give a try to the steps posted by @Rich_Laue and let us know how it goes. Make sure to set the notifications first before activating the on-wrist calls feature.

@Figgysmauls, thanks for joining this thread and sharing that the suggestions posted above worked on your Sense. I hope you continue enjoying the experience with your watch!

Keep me posted.

[KmumG]

FYI, after 2 firmware updates, making sure the app is always up to date, and doing all the recommendations, the notifications for messages still do not appear on my Sense from my iPhone 6 Plus. On wrist calls work, notification from the app work but not messages. Still disappointed 😞 

[Rich_Laue]

Is preview enabled for messages @KmumG?

Do you get any other type of notifications, like email or Facebook (if set for)? 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @KmumG, it's good to see you here. @Rich_Laue, thanks for your great help.

@KmumG, thanks for your efforts and for confirming that the on-wrist calls are working. About the text notifications, even though you've tried all the recommendations please make sure the Show Previews is set to Always or When Unlocked for the messages app on your iPhone 6 Plus. This will allow your messages to go through your Sense. 

Keep me and @Rich_Laue posted.

[KmumG]

I just checked settings > notifications > phone .... The “Notification Center” wasn’t switched on. I get the messages now 👏

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @KmumG. I hope you're doing well.

That's great news! I'm glad your your Sense is receiving your text notifications and thanks for double checking the notifications settings. By the way, let me invite you to visit the Health & Wellness board where you can share your experiences, meet people and create new topics.

Have a wonderful day!

[SunsetRunner]

Did not work for me for texts and cannot get the sense controls to stay connected to my iPhone. 

[LizzyFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hi @SunsetRunner, it's nice to have you on board.

Thanks for joining this thread. Before anything else, let me explain that the Sense controls will connect as soon as you take on-wrist phone calls with your watch, so it's expected to see it disconnected for the rest of the time. That being said, is your issue with your watch not receiving your iPhone notifications? Have you verified the notifications settings on the Fitbit app and your phone?

Please go to your phone's settings, tap Notifications and make sure the Show Previews is set to Always or When Unlocked for Fitbit, Phone, Messages, Calendar and any other preferred app. Also, check if there is a check mark below Notifications Center > Alerts.

[KimCanada]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm having the same issue. I can get phone calls on my Sense, but no other notifications. I have an iPhone 12 Pro Max. I've read through all the suggestions and have done everything suggested, even a few other suggestions that I've read elsewhere. Any ideas??

[Acps87]

OK so I had this same exact issue for months after buying my fitbit sense, my iPhone 11 would show every other notification from my phone except text messages. I spent a few hours and think I figured why this happens to some of us. Most people, including myself will turn off message previews so that when your phone is locked, your conversation isn't able to be read until you unlock the phone again, to prevent anyone from snooping if you happen to walk away from your phone. I'm gonna pretend I might know a lil bit about how an iPhone works, and say that when you turn that preview off your text message is encrypted on your phone until you unlock it with passcode/face ID, so the fitbit app cannot read the message to push notify to your fitbit. 

Here is the 2 settings that I found fixed it:

https://imgur.com/gallery/ZvkTLBV 

Is under Notifications settings at the top

And

https://imgur.com/gallery/WqPQ9TG

I had mine set to never show, and changing it back to Always (Default) under Notifications>Messages

While this fixxed my fitbit sense now getting text messages, I really dislike the fact that my iPhone has to show the text messages on my lockscreen now to get this working. I would settle for my fitbit getting the text notification but not the preview of the message and then having to unlock my iPhone to read it so that any message I get stays private. The most convenient option would definitely be if it could discretely push the message previews to my watch but not the lockscreen, but may not be possible depending on how secure iPhones store text messages. 

Hope this helps!

[KimCanada]

That did help! I'm now getting notifications sent to my phone, but unfortunately like you, I like having things discreet and not pop up on my locked screen. So if you ever find a way to make this happen, I'll be forever grateful lol.  Thanks for your help!!

[LizzyFitbit]

@KimCanada Welcome to the Community Forums. @Acps87 It's good to see you around the forums a

Thanks for every step tried on your own and I'm glad your watches are receiving text notifications. Let me explain that with the introduction of iOS 13, the required settings to receive notifications changed. I understand where you're coming from about having your messages displayed while your phone is locked and please know your feedback will be taken into consideration to work on our products, as well as improve your experience with them.

@Acps87 Thanks for your great suggestions and the screenshots provided. I'm sure your post will help other members experiencing similar issues.

[Mitch0182]

Tried it all, still not working.