Syncing data from a connected/synced fitbit sense without opening the app

[sachinsdesai]

We are developing an application that uses data from fitbit thru the fitbit API. After the users have authorized and granted access to our app, we are able to get data thru the API as specified. So far, so good. Given the kind of user base that we are targeting, it is difficult for us to expect them to open the fitbit app on their phone every so often. Is there some setting on the app or the phone with which we can arrange for the data from the watch to flow thru to our app (thru subscriptions) whenever there's an update? 

PS: I have already gone thru this thread but it doesn't answer the specific question that I have - https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Web-API-Development/API-to-find-out-when-the-user-last-synced-their-...

[Gordon-C · Accepted solution]

Hi @sachinsdesai ,

Unfortunately, there is not a way for you to collect data directly off any Fitbit device without opening the Fitbit mobile application.   However, here are some suggestions for you.

1. You can provide instructions to the users stating if they leave the Fitbit mobile application running on their mobile device, the data will automatically sync (every 15 minutes).
2. You can use the Get Device endpoint to find out when the user last synced their device.  If you haven't received data in a certain amount of time, you can send the user a notification, either text, email or through your application, asking them to sync their Fitbit with the mobile application.
3. Lastly using the Device SDK, you could build a clockface that your users would install.   I "think" you can send a notification directly onto the watch reminding the user to sync their device.   I would suggest you check out the Device SDK forum to see if this is possible.

Best,

Gordon

[sachinsdesai]

Thank you very much Gordon, This is super useful.

[MarcVRos]

Thank you for the answer. But there is something that I don't fully understand. I have a Fitbit device and have the Fitbit app installed on my phone. I open the Fitbit app maybe once a week (at the most!), but if I go to the Fitbit panel on the web (https://www.fitbit.com/), I can see the data almost in real time (maybe a 15-minute delay). So, per my understanding, it means that the Fitbit app on my phone is periodically collecting data from the device and then sending it to the Fitbit server, without user intervention. Isn't it? 

So, if I use the Fitbit API, I should be able to collect all the data without me having to open the Fitbit app daily. Am I wrong?

Thanks!

[Gondwana]

@MarcVRosThat's exactly right. The Fitbit app runs in the background and tries to sync devices with the web server every 15 minutes or so. Anything that gets data from the server (eg, via the Web API) should be able to see that data. If you kill the Fitbit app or block it from running in the background, those syncs won't happen.

[MarcVRos]

Thank you for your answer, Godwana.

Just to clarify myself, what GordonFitbit commented: "Unfortunately, there is not a way for you to collect data directly off any Fitbit device without opening the Fitbit mobile application", was only that the user must have the Fitbit app installed and configured on the device? The user doesn't have to open the app daily to let the data flow to the server. Am I right?

Thanks!

[Gordon-C]

Hi @MarcVRos 

You are correct the Fitbit mobile application needs to be installed and configured on the device.  You do not need to open the app daily, but it does need to be running on the mobile device in the background so there is an active connection between the mobile app and the device.