Blaze connected GPS dropping after updating to iOS 11.0.2

[Scramblers]

I’ve had problems with my Blaze since the OS 11.0.2 update but it seems selective. It maintains a Bluetooth connection for most functions but constantly drops out when trying to use the GPS on my iPhone 6, displaying the message “Check Fitbit app”. The only way I can remedy this is by deleting the Blaze from the phone app and the phone then going through the setup procedure again.

Moderator Edit: Clarified Subject.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @Scramblers, I hope you're doing well, it's nice to see you around. 

I understand your concern about the connected GPS on your Fitbit Blaze. At this moment I would like to suggest you the following:

• Restart your Blaze by pressing and holding the Back and Select buttons (left and bottom right) until you see the Fitbit logo on the screen.
• Update the Fitbit app, we have just released a new version (2.41.1)
• Go to your phone Settings > Privacy > Location > Fitbit and check that Always is selected.

I hope this can be helpful, give it a try and keep me posted in case you need anything else. 

[Scramblers]

Hi,

I followed your instructions, restarted my Blaze and updated the Fitbit App to 2.41.1 (723) then checked my location setting ensuring that ‘Always’ was still selected.

Unfortunately it made no difference. On my Blaze I selected Exercise > Walk > Connecting to phone then the message ‘Check Fitbit app’ was displayed. I repeated the your instructions several times but each time the result was the same.

I’ve only had the watch since 29th September, do you think it maybe faulty?

Scramblers

Sent from my iPad

[a_shaggygoat]

My charge 2 that I have had for months worked flawlessly until the updating to OS11. I share your pain. I have tried all the aforementioned steps multiple times as well. Fix it now please!

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @Scramblers, I hope you're doing well, thanks for taking the time to reply. Have a warm welcome to the Fitbit Community @a_shaggygoat. 

At this moment I will forward the information you have provided to our team so they can take a better look at this situation. Once I have more information to share with you about this issue I'll make sure to update the thread accordingly. 

Thanks for your patience and understanding, if there's anything else I can do for you, please feel free to reply. 

[Scramblers]

I think I have found a method that works, at least I have successfully used the GPS today on several occasions when going for a walk (at my age I don’t run).

On my iPhone 6 phone:-

1. Fitbit app > Account > Blaze > Remove This Blaze > Close the app

2. Delete the Fitbit app

3. Setting > Bluetooth > Blaze > Forget This Device

4. Re-install the Fitbit app and follow the Blaze setup process.

5. Setting > Privacy > Location Services > Fitbit > Always

I will update this thread if it continues to be successful or if it fails again.

Kind regards

Scramblers

Sent from my iPad

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @Scramblers, thanks for taking the time to reply and provide the steps you've taken in order to resolve this issue, I'm sure they will be helpful for other members in the Community. 

Please keep me updated in case you're still experiencing the same issue. Additionally, if there's anything else I can do for you, please don't hesitate to reply. 

[Hermione7]

Also having this problem... my Blaze does notifications and everything else as normal, just not connected gps since the iPhone update. Very annoying.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @Hermione7, thanks for joining the conversation, it's a pleasure for me to welcome you to the Fitbit Community. 

Which model of iPhone are you currently using? Which OS version is your phone running? Have you tried the steps above provided by @Scramblers? If so, please try the following:

1. Restart your Blaze by pressing and holding the Back and Select buttons (left and bottom right) until you see the Fitbit logo on the screen. 
2. Go to your phone Settings > Fitbit  and make sure Location is set to Always. 
3. Turn off WiFi before starting a GPS activity. Go to Settings > WiFi and turn it off from here as if you turn it off when you swipe up on your screen, the WiFi will automatically turn on again in a few minutes. 

I hope this can be helpful, give it a try and keep me posted in case you need anything else. 

[Scramblers]

As I promised in my post of 11th November here is the update to this thread.

The fix worked fine until 2 days ago and then the problem returned, the Blaze would sync with all functions except when trying to use my iPhone’s GPS. I tried restarting the watch with the WiFi on my phone turned off but it still won’t sync.

The problem has returned and needs to be resolved by Fitbit.

Sent from my iPad

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @Scramblers, I hope you're doing well, thanks for keeping me updated. 

Please keep in mind that all GPS devices, whether your phone or your tracker connected to your phone, require a direct path to these satellites in order to receive their radio transmissions. If the signal is being blocked—either because you're underground, near many tall buildings, or as a result of atmospheric effects—GPS will not work.

If you haven't already done so, please check the following three GPS-related settings on your iOS device: 

1. Make sure your device can track your activity when you're out of wi-fi range. To do so, tap Settings > Cellular and make sure Cellular Data is enabled
2. Make sure the app can track GPS when your device is locked. To do so, tap Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure it's enabled 
3. Make sure your device is able to identify your location. To do so, tap Settings > Privacy > Location Services and make sure it's set to Always. 

4. When starting a GPS activity, please try to use cellular data instead of WiFi and turn WiFi off from your phone Settings and not from the Control Center, as this will only disconnect you from the current WiFi network and will not turn it off.

I hope this can be helpful, if after checking this you're still getting GPS issues, please feel free to reply, I'll be happy to continue helping you. 

[Crusader]

I think everyone is having the same issues, I have been through two Fitbit Blazes doing the same thing. The issue started with iOS 11, there is something wrong with the Connected GPS function to the Fitbit App to the iPhone iOS. 

[Hermione7]

The problem was fixed very briefly after updating to iOS 11.0.3 but now it’s even worse and I can’t get my blaze to sync to either my iPhone SE or my iPad Air at all despite the Bluetooth saying “connected” in settings. I have tried all the standard fixes and played around with it so it must be a software issue.

[Crusader]

Did you fully shut down the Fitbit app and restart it? If not give that a try, it seems to fix it for some but obviously is not a perm fix for the issue

[Scramblers]

I updated to IOS 11.0.3 and worked fine for a while then the Blaze failed to connect to iPhone‘s GPS and on trying to reset the Blaze I received the “com.fitbit.HTTP.error 0” message. So I resorted to my usual fix of deleting my Blaze from the Fitbit app, then deleting the Fitbit app from my iPhone and finally deleting the Blaze from my iPhone’s Bluetooth. It didn’t work this time and it’s the first time this method has failed!!!!!! I tried again and it failed.

All the functions on my Blaze work on my iPhone 6 but the GPS sync, it must be a software issue.

Scramblers

Sent from my iPad

[Crusader]

yes I agree, it is an issue between the Fitbit app and iOS 11 

This morning I was able to get GPS tracking to work but shutting off WIFI and fullying shutting down my Fitbit app and then restarting it when ready to start tracking, my GPS picked up and worked 

[c11ffb]

Same problem on Charge HR2