Get Phone not found before starting a run

[jjrobbins78]

I have a charge 3 & Apple iPhone 8 and I constantly get the issue "Phone not found" just before I go for a run, to fix I usually have to reboot both devices but if starting a race then no time for this.  The app can sync with phone no issue so the phone knows the watch.

I'm so fed up with Fitbit i'm looking at getting a Apple Watch but how many more people have this issue with Fitbit & any ideas if a permanent fix will be applied?

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @jjrobbins78. Welcome to the Community Forums. I'm sorry for the delay.

Thanks for sharing the message that you're getting before starting your run. I totally understand how you're feeling about not being able to get both devices connected for your exercises. Every feedback shared in the forums is never taken for granted as it helps us to improve our products and services. About your inquiry, as you may know your Charge 3 uses connected GPS to capture your data and there are some factors that may prevent this from happening. Since your post didn't mention, please make sure of the following requirements:

• Your Charge 3 and phone are within 30 feet during your run.
• The Background App Refresh is turned On for the Fitbit app. 
• The location services are set to "Always" within your privacy settings.
• You have a strong internet connection during your run.

If those conditions are met, let me suggest to remove your Charge 3 from the Bluetooth settings, reboot your phone, restart your tracker and sync with the Fitbit app. Then open the exercise app and start the run once it's connected to GPS.

I'll be around, let me know how everything goes.

[jjrobbins78]

Hi

The phone is always in hard before I start & run with it, the settings are as you mentioned, rebooting both devices works but again this issue is intermittent & annoying.

what I do not understand is it says “Phone not found” even thought it sync with the app.

id be interested if anyone still on here uses Apple Watch as colleague who I run with never has such issues as Fitbit hence going apple 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @jjrobbins78. I'm glad to see you here again. I'm sorry for the delay.

Thanks for sharing more details about this situation, as well for your efforts while trying the troubleshooting steps. Since your tracker is syncing correctly, could you please turn off Background App Refresh and the Location Services within your phone settings? Once that is done, try the following one more time:

1. Remove your Charge 3 and any other device from the Bluetooth settings.
2. Turn off other Bluetooth connections that aren't in use.
3. Force quit the Fitbit app and reboot your phone.
4. Turn back on the Background App Refresh and the Location Services.
5. Open the Fitbit app, tap on the exercise tile > stopwatch > Track.
6. Choose "Yes" when you're asked to allow GPS tracking.
7. Once that is done, set the location settings to "Always" for the Fitbit app, sync and try starting a run one more time.

Please keep me posted.