Fitbit App draining Surge's battery

[J_Sumner]

Could we PLEASE roll back to the old app?! The new app SUCKS! my phone, my laptop, my surge.... I am sick of waiting.... every other day I have to charge my Surge..... held a charge for 5-7 days before last app update (restart, turn auto sync off, bluetooth off, gps off, holds charge for only 28-30 hours)...Also since the app update my surge won't sync 90% of the time takes 10 or more tries restarting bluetooth and the watch HAS to be CLOSE.... before it synced when I came into the house I didn't have to try. notifications from my phone no longer work period! Let us not forget how FEW phones are ACTUALLY compatible for Notifications (caller ID, SMS)   Isn't this feature WHY we paid over $250 for a (ugly plastic) watch that isn't even waterproof? as for my phone and laptop... NEVER had battery issues before your new app. How do YOU plan to fix this? 

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[TwoBit]

Which phone?

If it's an Android phone try clearing it from your recent apps list then reboot your phone. I noticed that updates to the Fitbit app can leave it in an unstable state unless you kill the processes and start again.

Edit: Maybe clear all the recent apps not just the Fitbit app.

[WendyB]

First off your battery draining has nothing to do with the app. How old is your surge?

Please clean the contacts
http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/My-tracker-s-battery-isn-t-charging/?q=not+chargi...

Then Do a Restart
http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1186/?q=restart&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1

Also See this thread for charging best practices. If you are not charging it correctly you could be damaging the battery
https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge/Fitbit-charge-battery-problems/m-p/1323307#M53291

http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1799

If that does not help contact support
http://help.fitbit.com/?cu=1

[shipo]

I'm thinking along the same lines as Wendy, my wife and I have had three different Surges hooked to four different phones (two iPhones and two Androids), and have never seen an issue with battery life.  Heck, my current phone, a Moto Z Play, goes three to four days between charges with the Fitbit app running 24x7.

[J_Sumner]

My Phone?! WT actual F? I rant about my Smartwatch not holding a charge
after FitBit's newest programming SNAFU and you blame it on MY phone?!? That
truly shows some corporate level blame passing... Not to mention you
OBVIOUSLY didn't bother to read my post. Take your diplomatic blame passing
and shove it in sideways! The BS app ruined MY ludicrously priced
smartwatch. NOT MY PHONE, NOT MY COMPUTER, I uninstalled Fitbit's APP because
my watch (which worked perfectly until the app update) will not hold a
charge long enough to get through one of MY days. GET IT?!? $250.00 for a
"smart watch" that was worth it until programming ruined it.
That being said, FitBit broke it, FitBit fix it!! Offer to replace the battery in
my unit to see if that alleviates it hmm? No I know that won't happen....
Not that it would work without fixing the bugs in the app first...

[J_Sumner]

I have googled, read, restarted, cleared, tried fresh install, etc. etc. I didn't rant to whine for solutions, I ranted because my fitbit went from holding a charge for 4 days on the worst weeks to 7 days on the best, to less than 18 hours now. The battery life decline started THE DAY I installed the new app. I have tried EVERYTHING. That being said, Do not jump on MY thread or ANYONE'S for that matter with the notion in your head that YOU know it all... YOU simply do not. If that statement upsets your delicate sensibilities, then it simply MUST be about YOU. Have a wonderful weekend.  

[TwoBit]

@J_Sumner, to the best of my knowledge @shipo and @WendyB do not work for or represent Fitbit. They are Fitbit users like you and me. They may be right or they may be wrong but they are just trying to help.

[WendyB]

Why Thank you @TwoBit

Will she get the help she needs? I doubt it very much.

[JZs]

I have found the same thing happening to my Surge.

Rubber backing is pulling away from the strap,battery requires charging after two workouts and it wont sync to my phone.I have tried switching off,refreshing,reinstalling ect so I'm interested to see what the problem is.

I wouldn't be so concerned if it cost less however the watch did cost $299 so having the unit decline so quickly within 12 months is worrying.

Good luck with your efforts.

[J_Sumner]

 @JZs, Thank you for chiming in.  With luck & hope we will find solutions here.... 

I come across crass and tactless, but I am beyond frustrated.

 I appreciate the eagerness of those attempting to help. However, when offering a solution (be it recycled copy/paste drivel or substance) and it does NOT work... accept it.  Walk away, keep looking, or remain silent.  If your mentality is " If my solution doesn't work, then it must be User Error. "  I invite you to find another discussion to continue inflating your self worth...

Those of you experiencing

charging/battery (rapid decline or started in relation the newest App Update)

Pairing/sync  (multiple tries, have to re-install multiple times due to refusal, nothing works)

Please do chime in.  

[J_Sumner]

Thanks for changing MY thread title..... Edited for Clarification purposes?!  It was perfectly clear... FitBit, your new app has been weighed, measured, and been found woefully lacking. It made syncing unpredictable, drains battery life of any device it associates with, and isn't user friendly. Fitbit you have new beginners everyday, this is NOT the way to entice them. The app should be easily  tailored to the individual users need. In it's current state the app is overwhelming, confusing, and decides you should set to auto sync right out of the box.... Auto sync is a drain on the battery, and certainly isn't necessary. Please PLEASE give people like myself a choice. I would rather go back to the old app. Why not offer both? I am sure people would thank you for allowing them to choose instead of forcing it.  

[WendyB]

Duplicate

[J_Sumner]

Look @WendyB,  I didn't ask YOU for anything...I surely don't want YOUR help... We get it. you are an abrasive know it all who simply has to have the last word. YOU are being rude, Yes dear. Jumping on MY thread and making snarky quips is RUDE. You are a grown woman, stop pretending to be the mean girl from high school. As for me being rude... I managed to keep my snark to MY discussion thread.... That being said do yourself a favor GTFO my thread.  Bye @WendyB (Felicia)

[SunsetRunner]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one having this issue. My Fitbit has started needing to be charged every day while it used to last for several days. This issue started around the time that the app on my iPhone was last updated. 

[J_Sumner]

Thank you for chiming in @SunsetRunner.  I don't know if you have explored the settings, the app automatically defaults to auto sync.  While, with the old app auto-sync wasn't an issue. Range was fantastic! with the new app I have to be within a 1ft of the device running the app, and it still takes MULTIPLE tries. The constant searching and sync attempts drains everything associated with the app. I haven't had any luck so far but you may. The solution that helped the most people with this issue, while it worked for a day or two for me, was to uninstall app, restart devices, reinstall app, try again.  This is a tedious process, especially when (like myself) you have to reinstall EVERY time you attempt to use it.... Please do try it if you haven't... Having an Iphone vs Android.. it may be a solution for you. The other top solution is restarting your FitBit device before charge, and after charging is complete. What has gotten my device from 18 hrs back to 3 days (which is still bad) was uninstalling the app when it isn't in use. I can't use the app at all on my phone (NO other apps running) FitBit app makes my phone freeze which in turn jacks up my Surge. I can't utilize my FitBit fully anymore.... 😞  All I want is the old app back... is that so hard? @SunsetRunner if you try this or have tried please share how it has or has not helped.  Happy Tuesday 🙂

[tkoerner]

My surge is about 9 weeks old. The 08/10/2017 update started off with syncing issues and know my battery drains down to next to nothing in less than 24 hours. I have tried everything. I have deleted and resynced. I have shutdown bluetooth and restarted. I have done hard reboots of my Iphone6. I have done everything I know how to do as I am a three time loser with the fitbit surge.

[Redmoonstar]

This may help I don't know as I moved on from my surge to a different brand. Let your surge go flat, totally flat then put it on to charge, then do a restart. Uninstall the fitbit app from your phone, restart your phone then reinstall fitbit app,, remove surge from your phone before turning it on after being flat, once It's charged re pair to your phone. I hope this works for you and sorry if it doesn't. If your surge is less than a year old contact support as its still under warranty.