App keeps asking choice for location services

[JBDow]

I recently updated my iPhone to ios13.  Since then  I get asked to change my choice for location services “only when app is open” to “always on”.  I select “no thanks”, the next time I open or switch to the Fitbit app, it asks me the same thing again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again...(You get the picture).  How do I get the app to remember my choice like it used to?

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[wargo1et]

I just purchased the Inspire HR about a month ago. I never got the popup and would open the fitbit to sync,otherwise the battery drains on my phone and fitbit. As of 2 days ago, I have to have the location to ALWAYS or I get the pop up every time. It is frustrating and a major flaw. I don't want my gps to track my exercises because that's not why I use a fitbit. I work out at home! I'm talking to chat about it now but glad to see others have been having this issue for awhile. Not sure why it is just now prompting me when I've had it a month. 

[Acrowell46]

I just tried this, didn solve the problem ☹️

[wargo1et]

Same with me. I was chatting with support on Twitter and was told to turn off my bluetooth. I said then it wont sync and they said 'well then you can turn it on when you want to sync'. I said 'no, how about you fix it and make it work like it just was. Mine just suddenly started doing this'. Fitbit said "we constantly strive to improve products and want your input'. Frustrated with them and their lack of improvements.

[wargo1et]

My fitbit had a firmware update the other day when I opened the app and also had an app update ....I turned my location off and it hasn't prompted me to turn it back on!

[KBWi11iams]

This started happening to me yesterday for NO REASON. I have had three fitbits, and I do not run. I don’t need to track my gps because I’m not moving. Back in November the moderator says this “always on” feature was required which is clearly false, as I have not had to us it at all. My location services are set to never and they need to stay that way. Fitbit, when are you going to fix this? You will absolutely lose customers over this, and this is coming from someone who has sung the praises over Apple Watch for years. Don’t tell me to restart my phone. Don’t tell me to update my app. Don’t tell me to select always and then deselect it. Don’t tell me to disconnect my bluetooth. Tell me that your engineers have fixed the problem (because this is a FITBIT problem, not a user error) and stopped trying to act like a babysitter to people who don’t want it. Period. 

[Mingarh]

Ok guys, same issue and tried everything we have been told. It continued. I was playing with it, clicked on profile pic, took me to account, go down to privacy, make location private (I had set as friends) and it stopped! Oh and I have the Charge 3!  

[Mingarh]

• Additional info. Did NOT completely work.  Still prompts me every now and then but not as often as it used to. 

[Stlouis1234]

My question is why Fitbit requires “Always On” to track using GPS instead of “When using app”? This feels intrusive. Apple popped up and told me Fitbit had checked my location 73 times in a week when I had not tracked outside exercise once. This feels like it is done to force us to allow Google to know even more than it does.

[SunsetRunner]

I have the Charge 4, and it has a terrible GPS. I thought I’d try to use the GPS assist from my app, but then I found if I have an active day it kills my phones battery. I disabled the location services in iOS settings and am greeted by the annoying banner each time I open the app. I seem to have resolved the issue as follows:

1) log out of app

2) delete app AND data

3) reinstall app

[fourthirty]

It is very intrusive @Stlouis1234 .  No other iOS application that I've used requires location access "always" to properly function while using the app.  It is obvious that location data is being collected by Fitbit.

[lokwali]

Has there been a fix identified here? This is crazy that this goes back over a year and I don’t see a Fitbit backed solution. 

[seventhirty999]

I have been a Fitbit customer/user for about 5 1/2 years.  Like others, I am annoyed by the constant popup every time I open the app and I am incensed by Google's transparent intrusion into my life.  For now, I have capitulated and changed Location Services to "Always", but also signed out of Google and turned on my VPN.  Soon, I will be looking for an Apple Watch and leave Fitbit to shrink in my rear view mirror.

[JBDow]

The short answer is no they have not fixed it. Early on the reported that the required it for their feature to work. In asked about what happen if I keep the location service of. They did not respond. Since then I have just learned the habit of expecting the message touching the “”Not Thanks” button. Given that there have bee several updates since I first started investigating the issue. So I assume Fit Bit does not see annoying their customers as a concern. I basically to cheap to just switch to Apple. But when my fit bit eventually versa stops working I definitely with be looking elsewhere.

John

[TennisScore]

Here is the ironic part of this.  If you DO set it to always on, then after a while you get a notification from the iOS that you have had your location services on for a while, would you like to turn it off?  Now we are all in a loop.  I would suggest to Fitbit to allow gps tracking when the app is running whether on top or running closed.  The major issue I (and so many others) have with the app tracking during non workout times is the fact that we are being tracked in our private lives.  I do not like that. I am sure no one at Fitbit that is over 45 years old would argue with me.  Please give this issue the attention that it deserves and fix it sooner rather than later.  I know Fitbit is very very slow to modify issues that don't affect function of the devices so I am sure this will not get fixed very soon.

Happy holidays to all.

[pattycolleen]

This is making me crazy. Enough to throw it away. 

[Stlouis1234]

Agreed. I won't be getting a new Fitbit when this one dies.

--
Michelle

[Irish57]

While exercising each time I check my phone it ask if I wish to use location! You are correct there seems no way to stop it! Very frustrating!

[Irish57]

What did you do to stop it please?

[Not_Like_Lee]

Jumping on this bandwagon. I've tried nearly everything that's been suggested here, but still have that pop up every time. For a product that likes to push mindfulness, they sure are causing a lot of stress.

There's no reason my app needs to know my location. I'm not out here running with my phone. If I want to know where I've been I'll start tracking on my Fitbit.

[Irish57]

Agree completely, I tire of saying no just so I can see complete data! Come
on Fitbit!