Versa 4 GPS has NEVER successfully connected... Has anyone had success?

[Macon]

I upgraded from a Versa 1 to a 4 and was excited about finally having on-board GPS.  I read the manuals and have turned it on properly for the Walking activity.  

I walk at least twice a day and have attempted to record multiple walks with the watch in GPS tracking mode totaling more than 2 hours of walking over the last couple of days (though my phone is also with me the whole time).  My phone shows a solid GPS lock every time, but the watch's on-board GPS ALWAYS fails to connect.  I haven't had a single successful GPS connection with the watch since I got it.  The weather has been clear, I'm not in any kind of area that has trouble connecting to GPS (I have multiple devices including phone, drone, and a Garmin cycling computer that all easily connect here).  

I've read through the manuals, rebooted the watch, and done other troubleshooting steps to no avail.  Do I just have a dud or are others experiencing similar problems?

[mjv5460]

I can confirm that this watch needs some kind of training/break in period.

First couple of times I tried to use the GPS while walking, I had difficulties. This morning I went for a bike ride and it took 2-3 minutes to connect, but once it did it worked perfectly. After that I went for a walk in my neighborhood and did some errands, set my watch to walk mode and the GPS connected instantly.

[JamJarJan]

I am so disappointed with Verda 4, I received it as promised BUT every 3-4 days it disconnects and I had to reset it. Taking a ridiculous amount of time.

I think I am going to send it back.☹️

[Heartadarkness]

Bought a Versa 4 to replace failed Sense which got GPS everywhere I wanted. The Versa 4 would show red arrow and not find a satellite. Tried all troubleshooting. Bought a second Versa 4 from different store. Same thing… no GPS connection. Will call Fitbit today but looks like I’ll be returning both. 

[ALL77]

I'm having exactly the same issue as you - although it has worked over the 6 weeks since I got it but since last weekend GPS just doesn't work on it anymore for absolutely no reason. Nothing has changed, just will not find GPS no matter what I do or try. It just decided it wasn't doing it anymore. Tried factory reset, made no difference. So annoying! 

[Heartadarkness]

I made that call to Fitbit surprised to find they’re staffed 24/7. So at 2am Utah time after troubleshooting, the tech told me to send Versa 4 back to them. Instead I returned it to BestBuy and bought a Sense which connected to GPS after a minute at same location of previous unsuccessful Versa 4 attempts. My small sample size of 2 Versa 4s indicates the Versa 4 GPS has inherent problems getting a GPS signal.

One difference is the Versa 4 allows deselection of GPS for some exercises. Maybe their software is tangled. 

My first attempt at GPS tracking w Sense was wildly inaccurate compared to many years previous experience w Fitbit mapped routes w such high resolution as to show me crossing from one side of a street to the other. I hope it improves. 

[E_Chamberlin]

I am having the same issue - My Versa 4 will not connect to GPS ....at all. I have contacted support and they've walked me through a couple of options - 1) Select an exercise - Walk, Run, or Bike (exercises that use GPS) then scroll up...but the issue then becomes the exercise STARTS! You can't access the settings once it starts. I can briefly see the settings start but then then screen flashes to the exercise tracker. I don't think there's a way around this.

2) The other option was to go to the main settings on the versa and select "GPS"....but there was no option to do that! ??

If anyone has any luck, I'd love to hear it.

[ALL77]

That's strange that the watch starts the exercise before you have a chance
to scroll up. Mine does that OK (one of the only things it does do...!).
But no, agree there isn't any GPS option on the settings.

I'm in touch with support, I've reset the watch twice now, all the settings
are fine but no joy at all. And when it fails to connect and tells me it
hasn't, the screen then just freezes on 'exercise' for a while and can't
even turn it on, without the GPS.

Seems to many people having issues with it, such a shame as it's brilliant,
but that's a big loss not having GPS as I'm sure I'm not on my own to want
to track exercise, and link it to Strava.

[E_Chamberlin]

Ok I’ve been able to activate GPS but had to act quickly. LATER, I was able to select exercise and see setting options before the tracker started. But it was only once. Now I’m having a Fahrenheit Celsius issue on the weather app. Siiiigh.