How to disable "Location access & Bluetooth sharing" pop up?

[Jimbolta]

Every time I open the app a message about “Location Access and Bluetooth Sharing” appears. I have no interest in allowing this so how can I stop it asking every single bloody time?

TIA

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[BoredWaiting]

So far so good- you are my hero!

[Rich_Laue]

From what I have read, iOS has now implemented the same security patch that Android applied back in version 6. 

Turning location services off will limit your tracker to background syncing. 

Of course turning location services on is like going out of the house with your key. 

The key does not mean that you have to unlock the door, it simply gives you the ability, when you want to, to unlock the door. 

Basically, having a key simply unlocks the functions that users want. 

[Fanie26]

This is pure harassment. I dont want to have this option and I totally hate this popup. Wont buy fitbit again. So cringe!!!!! I hate this popup.

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[Rich_Laue]

@Fanie26 I don't understand in what way is it harrasment by fitbit. 

Fitbit is simply reminding the user that to do what the user has requested, the operating system of the phone now requires this. 

This is a requirement of changes, to protect your security, by the operating system. I don't understand why it took iOS so many years to close the open door that allows someone to remotely break into your phone during a low energy Bluetooth search. 

Android closed this security leak 4 versions ago. IOS recently did the same. 

Even when I add a smart light, the Operating System on the I phone, for the users protection, requires location service to be enabled. 

[BoredWaiting]

Hi Rich,

For the benefit of others with the same problem, I just want to note you appear to have the wrong end of the stick - Fitbit is very much not simply reminding the user that to do what the user has requested. I do not want Fitbit to track my GPS, I have never wanted this nor asked it to do so. The operating system does not require this unless I were to use features of fitbit which require GPS tracking, which I do not.

I am perfectly happy that the features which require GPS tracking will not work without it - I have an iphone to check the weather (or I can look out of the window). I do not object to receiving a note that x, y or Z feature will not work but expect that I can dismiss that note and be on my way. Fitbit have actively chosen to repeat the message for what appears to be obvious reasons. This is not an iphone security issue - it may be an os update that requires this for features to be enabled, it is Fitbit who have actively chosen to insist that gps is enabled whether or not you want to use those 'features' by hoping that enough people will give in. This is unacceptable behaviour.

With regard to your door key analogy, it is nothing like leaving the house with your key. It is like leaving your house and leaving your key with the local known burglar/misuser of keys for safe keeping, with no benefit to you of doing so, and hoping they change all their previous practices and elect not to  misuse it.

I can access what I need just fine and don't need to enable gps tracking just in case I change my mind and suddenly want to use a feature I don't want to use - if I did change my mind, I'd turn it on at that point and 'leave my key' appropriately. Right now, I'd rather keep hold of it.

The fact that fitbit apply this approach, at best, shows a complete disdain for customers, at worst, is somewhat sinister.

Copied from above, this worked for me:

Delete app.

Reinstall, but be careful to tap 'do not allow notifications from Fitbit'.

No permission for notifications means no annoying pop up. It also means no to other notifications, but tbh, Fitbit wasn't sending me the notifications I wanted anyway (e.g. no bedtime reminder)

It is so worth it not to get that pop up every time the app is opened.

[dburgessmdi]

Rich, you are being a shill for the app. You are a valuable community member, but pretending that Fitbit is not responsible for this annoying popup is just foolish. I (and I'm sure many others) have many apps on my phone that track my location and give me the option to keep location tracking on all the time (Waze, Alltrails, my supermarket app), and all of them gave me the "always on" option once, and warned of the "dire" usability consequences of not having it on, but only once. Only Fitbit harasses me with popups every single time I turn to the app. It's stupid and annoying.

Further evidence that this is not an IOS requirement: when I turned the GPS to "always on," the next day the iOS generated a popup to remind me it was still on and ask if I wanted to turn it off or set it to "only when using the app." 

[Rich_Laue]

The only time fitbit tracks your location is when You set GPS to be turned on during the recording of a walk, run, or hike. 

At no other time does fitbit enquire your location. 

If you are interested in Bluetooth Beacons their is plenty of info on the vulnerability of a low energy bluetooth search. 

@dburgessmdi I think your OS is giving unclear messages. The user can not turn on OS? the user can only grant permission for an app to check for location. The user also may choose what level of location service to use. 

For android we can choose 

Only cell phone and WiFi hotspots, only GPS, or all 3. 

[dburgessmdi]

I'm not worried about the iOS giving me unclear information. I want to know and control when an app has the ability to use any kind of location services on my phone, and there is just no reason for location services to be enabled when I'm not using the app. And none of the very similar functionality apps I use do the same incessant popup harassment when I have them set to "while using."

[Rich_Laue]

Basically, if your phone is turned on, the Fitbit app is running in the background all the time. 

Of course one can go into the phone settings and stop the fitbit app, but then weather, phone calls, notifications, some apps on the tracker, and some of the features on selected clock faces will not work 

[Silversnake1326]

I too have been having the same issue, very annoying issue I might add, of constantly having this pop-up message insisting that I turn on tracking. I have continuously said no thanks but it still pops up. I do not use any other running app or GPS program. I have chosen the option to use location when using the app but this message persists.  Fitbit I think needs to do a better job at taking the “no thanks” as that and stop pushing the function.  

[GillianMS]

I'm also wanting to turn this annoying message off. I have the app on my iPad! I don't carry it around with me. It's not a phone, so why should it track me? Fitbit needs to be able to distinguish between iPhones and iPads. It can't be that difficult, surely! I open the app once a day at breakfast time. That's it.

[GingerGarland]

Hi guys! this just worked for me on my charge 4:

1) on the phone do the location settings to never as others have said.

this alone didn't stop the notifications for me but i believe you still need to do it anyway.

2) on the actual fitbit not the app, go to exercise and swipe up and turn gps off there.

I started getting these infuriating popups yesterday. I hadn't updated anything and I already had location on my phone set to off in both places so the only other option was on the device itself. Triggered when i tried to log a walk from the watch for the first time yesterday no doubt.

Don't know how doing this affects logging exercise - i prefer to input exercise manually anyway. I know the gps isnt supposed to drain your battery but i charged my fitbit 2 days ago and it's down to 43% already and it's not even two weeks old yet, while prior to that walk a charge lasted almost a week.

This fix worked for me. Hope it helps someone else

[StuckInTraffic]

The Apple app has recently developed a fault where it
does not remember your choice to not allow Location Access & Bluetooth Sharing.
Apple advise this is an app bug.

[Rich_Laue]

Apple also requires location to be active for a BTLE scan. So if the app is open, then location is needed for your tracker to sync. Android fixed this security issue in version 6., 2-4 years ago. 

[CPotato]

OMG! Stop the Bluetooth (set to always) warning EVERY TIME I open the app!! Fitbit does not need to know my exact location 24 hours a day and your persistence is becoming very annoying! I will share my location when I choose to. Stop bugging me about my decision!!

[mhowie22]

The solution as provided by @Blueseas works. It's a shame Fitbit requires its customers to perform such a workaround in order to overcome their heavy-handedness.

[LizzyFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hi everyone, and thanks for participating in the Community Forums.

I appreciate the time taken in sharing your feedback, as well as your efforts while working on this matter. I'm sorry for this inconvenience and in case you continue seeing this prompts on the Fitbit app, I'd recommend reviewing this thread so you can receive more updates about this situation.

I'm going to close this thread from further comments. However, if you have a different question, I'd encourage you to start a new thread in the Help Forums so you can receive help from the Community. You can also check our Help Site where you'll find information about our products and features, as well as troubleshooting steps.

See you around.