Not syncing with Strava, can't export TCX

[Blondie1536]

My interval workout this afternoon didn't automatically sync to Strava even though it tracked GPS no problem. Now when I try and export the TCX file manually to upload it to Strava myself, I get the error message 'The activity TCX file could not be downloaded. We are looking into the issue'.

If I try to export the activity from my phone's Fitbit app, it downloads but gives an error on Strava, 'Unrecognized file type', which makes me think the activity file is corrupt completely.

I don't get either error message on previous runs/interval workouts, just the one I did today.

Any ideas?

[SilviaFitbit]

@Blondie1536 It's nice to see you on the Community. Sorry for the delayed reply. 

Thanks for the details mentioned and for trying to export the TCX file. 

It's pretty weird that you're receiving this error message only with the run that was tracked that day. I would like you to log out from your Dashboard and clear cookies and cache. After this, please log back in and try downloading the TCX file. 

If you keep experiencing the same, please attach a screenshot to your next reply showing the error message you're receiving. 

Keep me posted! I'll be around if you have any additional questions. 

[evillama]

Getting this error too (although I've never been able to sync GPS-enabled Interval workouts with Strava). I just tried it again today to see if it was fixed.

Here's the screenshot of the TCX error:

Is this "supposed" to work now between Fitbit and Strava?

[Blondie1536]

Thanks for your reply. I tried clearing cache and cookies in Chrome (I assume you meant in my browser) and that has not helped. I don't think it is a browser issue but an issue with the workout itself because exporting the file from my phone gives an error on Strava, 'Unrecognized file type'. It seems the data of the workout itself is somehow corrupt.

I am also having the same issue with my interval workout from today. 

This issue is making me want to avoid tracking intervals with Fitbit altogether and just tracking it as a run while using another app to track intervals.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.

[evillama]

Good thread to follow here: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Ionic/Interval-Training-Upload-to-Strava/m-p/4180545#M126015

[Blondie1536]

I also realised earlier that I had managed to manually upload backlogged Interval workouts from Fitbit to Strava when I first signed up to Strava a few weeks ago. Then, I was using a Charge 2. I now use a Charge 3, and I now cannot manually transfer Intervals from Fitbit to Strava. It seems somewhere along the way between models, the Charge has lost the capability to export TCX files from Interval workouts. Is Fitbit planning on fixing that anytime soon?

[Blondie1536]

I've also noticed for both the problematic Interval workouts mentioned, my Fitbit has decided to add a separate 'Run' workout with exactly the same details. It is double tracking my workouts and I have no idea why. This has never been an issue until I've started using the Charge 3. Any thoughts on why it's doing that or how to stop it?

[rbowler]

I've run into this problem too. Did my first interval workout this morning (on my Fitbit Ionic, with GPS activated) and I can view the GPS data fine in the FitBit App and on the website, but it didn't auto-sync to strava, nor can I export the tcx manually from the website (same error message as Blondie1536 is getting).

Any chance this will be fixed? Not auto-syncing is minor inconvenience, but not being able to download it from the site basically makes the interval workout function useless.

[annawellburn]

@SilviaFitbit I am also having the same issue as the rest of the people in this thread.

Looking at the thread, and comments on the Community, this appears to have been a problem for over a year now.

Is there any indication of a date of resolution for this problem?

Anna

[SilviaFitbit]

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delayed reply. 

Thanks a lot for the screenshots shared. I appreciate the detailed information provided. 

There are some activities that will give you GPS data but this isn't intentional. For any non-GPS activity that you try to download a TCX file, you'll receive this message. It will work only for activities with the GPS feature. 

I'll be around if you have any additional questions. 

[Blondie1536]

@SilviaFitbit I appreciate your response, but it does not make sense. How can the Interval Workout GPS data be ‘unintentional’ when you actually have to enable phone GPS for it? It’s clearly intentional.

And it doesn’t change the fact that I have previously been able to export TCX files from Interval Workouts I completed with the Charge 2. It is only with the Charge 3 that I cannot export these files.

Sorry but the ‘unintentional’ explanation does not make sense and just reinforces the fact that Fitbit’s approach (or lack thereof) to dealing with this issue is not good enough. Especially considering how long it has clearly been present just by looking through the forums.

Sort it out, Fitbit.

[annawellburn]

Thanks for a response Sylvia

This was a GPS tracked activity i receive route information on the Fitbit app but it doesn’t transfer to Strava.

Can you please have this issue looked into in terms of the tcx. file not working for GPS tracker activities asap.

Thanks
Anna

[annawellburn]

@Blondie1536 Just a quick one on the double logging of your workouts- purely because i was baffled by it yesterday and then realised what it was!

Basically, i use the Versa Lite and on my app in the Exercise it has Auto Recognise activities, so when i’m doing an interval workout for my run it recognises that i’m running and creates an activity. 

I thought then, why isn’t it syncing with Strava still if it’s logged as a run when all other normal runs have done it, the auto recognise function doesn’t turn on GPS…

You can turn it off in the Exercise section of the app on your profile ☺️

[Blondie1536]

@annawellburn thanks for the tip, not sure if that was the problem though since it hasn’t done it again since I posted!

P.S. I think it’s probably a waste of time asking them to look more closely at the TCX problem (even though that’s presumably what they’re meant to be doing based on ‘we are looking into the issue’). This problem has been reported numerous times on these forums, some going back months or years, and nothing has been done thus far. I wouldn’t hold your breath for them fixing it anytime soon 🙃

[annawellburn]

@SilviaFitbit in addition to my previous message, it’s quite irritating that issues very similar to ours have been raised for what seems like over a year judging by the communities forum. 

It is disappointing that despite all of these queries that this aspect isn’t fully functioning, still. 

This really should be fixed by now, please get this looked into. 

Thanks

Anna

[annawellburn]

It’s one of those things where I would have probably tried to find an alternative if i was aware prior to purchasing. 

I’ve only just started running and getting some proper exercise done during this lockdown situation. So, if I’ve gone on a good run and feel like I might see some improvement but then can’t compare it to any other runs i’ve done on Strava - it’s frustrating to say the least!!

[Blondie1536]

For me it’s disappointing because I got my Charge 2 in December 2016 and looooooved it for over three years. I never had any issues with it apart from not being able to set certain distance or time goals at the beginning of a run. That was it.

My mum offered me her Charge 3 a couple of months ago and I took it because I just assumed it would be an upgrade in every way. If I’d known this issue would be present, I would have seriously reconsidered taking it.

I tend to stick with brands once I have them, but this issue is annoying enough that I might think twice about having my next upgrade be a Fitbit. The issue itself is bad enough, but Fitbit’s apparent unwillingness to fix it has also put me off the brand. Which is a shame, really, when I imagine they could fix it if they wanted (or cared) to.

(a tip for Strava, for my last interval workout I screenshotted my run map and my lap times, put them into one image and uploaded it to Strava myself. If Fitbit won’t give me a Strava map, I’ll just make one myself!)

[annawellburn]

I’ve thought there exact same, brand lose their shining reputation a lot faster than they gain it!!

Also in regard to the Strava workaround- I've done the exact same thing ahhaa! 

[musicjoeyoung]

I have the exact same issue as the initial post at the top. Run, Walk, & Bike with GPS post to Strava just fine. (I've only tried those 3 GPS enabled activities plus the following):

Interval Workout, however, does not at all. I even tried the whole "revoke Strava permission" and "re-authorize" steps--it still doesn't work. That's not a solution.

When trying to export Interval Workout Workout from Fitbit to a .tcx file, I can only do so from my iPhone. On the website, I get the same error others have mentioned: The activity TCX file could not be downloaded. We are looking into the issue..

THEN when I go to try and upload the .tcx file exported from my phone, that I then send to my computer to upload on the website, I receive the Unrecognized file type message.

So, not all GPS exercise activities are recognized as something to be shared onto Strava. Please please please fix this!