Fitbit won't sync if battery was low

[SunsetRunner]

I'm honestly really frustrated with this issue. If your fitbit battery gets low, it stops syncing to preserve battery--makes sense. But even after I charge it, it still doesn't sync. I haven't figured out the magic steps yet, but it pretty much refuses to sync unless I do some combination of shutting down the watch, restarting my phone, and having both plugged in at the same time (suuuper frustrating there's no help from online besides restarting both the fitbit and phone a couple times).

For these most recent two weeks I've stopped checking the app every day since I can just see my steps/calories etc. from the watch. The week after Thanksgiving I realized on Wednesday that my watch had stopped syncing Sunday (it had died Sunday and I had charged it Sunday night to full). Then today I found out my watch had stopped syncing 4 days ago even though it was nowhere near dead, I had gotten a low battery notification and charged the watch immediately to medium-full. 

#1: I'd prefer if my watch kept syncing even at critically low batteries to avoid this problem, I'll just charge it more often.

#2: After it's charged, it should start syncing again. I don't want the hassle of restarting both the device and my phone.

#3: If that's not feasible, at the very least provide a help article or steps to follow instead of me fiddling around until it magically works again.

[WendyB]

Is your dongle plugged into a USB port? If it is your Fitbit should sync every 15-20 minutes.

[YojanaFitbit]

Welcome to the Forums @SunsetRunner, and thank you for your participation @WendyB! Too bad that you're having those issues with your Surge. Please check this tips to improve the battery life on your Surge, take a look of this master post. I would like to know what type of device your're using to sync and if you already check if it is using the latest version (in case that is a phone or iPad). 

Also, how are you charging your tracker. Are you using the USB port option? 

Keep me posted, I'll be around. 

[SunsetRunner]

Hi Yojana!

Thanks for the response. I use a Nexus 5S (less than a year old) with the most up-to-date software and Fitbit app. Yesterday ago I tried restarting my watch with no effect. When I restarted my phone then it started syncing again. My theory is that when the fitbit watch is low battery, it sends a signal to the app to stop syncing. I need to figure out how to make sure apps are completely closed and not running in background. Even after I've charged my battery, in the app it still appears as "low battery" because the watch hasn't sent a signal saying it's back "online". Communication has been completely killed. This happens before the watch is completely dead, after I've gotten a "low battery" notification warning. Bluetooth is on and indicates Surge is paired.

I also noticed my battery draining SUPER fast yesterday and today. This is something new (as in, it wasn't a problem a month ago) and my super-low-evidence theory (I don't know how Fitbit works) is that I tried syncing app to watch and all the failed "scheduled syncs" kept trying and failing in the background. The following picture is from this afternoon: I had not used my phone from 9-11:30AM, and Fitbit was not open in the foreground. My battery drained from 100 to 62%. I was super shocked.

+

[SunsetRunner]

Oh, as for charging: I plug the port on the watch to a USB-A to AC adapter to wall port. I didn't realize a lot of people charge through their phone(?) I can't connect my fitbit to my phone because the Nexus 5S is only USB-C and I don't have a USB-A to USB-C dongle yet. The charging wire from Fitbit is Surge to USB-A only.

[YojanaFitbit]

Top of the morning @SunsetRunner! Thank you for all the information, that helps a lot to clarify some points. I've checked the compatibility of your phone with Fitbit, this Nexus is not in the official list of Supported Devices.

 That must be why is having issues connecting once in while, also it might be causing your phone to drain battery faster, when is constantly trying to connect. So, it's best to turn off the "All day sync" and use the option "Sync now" when you want to sync your tracker. 

Now, about how to charge it, it's best to charge your tracker only in USB port from your PC, if you're need to use the wall connector just make sure that you're using a UL-certified USB wall charger. Don't use a USB hub, phone connectors or battery pack to charge, and only use the charging cable that came with your tracker. 

 I'll be around in case that you need anything else!