Open Fitbit To Keep Data Synchronized Notification

[KateFitbit]

Fitbit Update 5/22/2019:

Hey all,

Today we've released the latest Fitbit for iOS app version 2.94. In this new app version, we've temporarily disabled this notification "Open Fitbit to keep your data synchronized." We will continue to assess all the user feedback and work to improve this experience.

Please update the Fitbit app if you haven't yet. I'm now closing this thread from further comments. Thanks again for all your feedback! 

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Fitbit Update 5/13/2019:

Hi Everyone- Based on customer feedback, we are working on an update to the notification and hope to have further information to share soon. We appreciate your patience and thank you for your feedback.

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Fitbit Update 4/18/2019: 

I've merged a few threads together. Receiving the notification "Open Fitbit to keep your data synchronized" after closing out of the Fitbit app is expected behavior. The Fitbit app needs to run in the background in order to enable features like all-day sync and notifications. If you are double tapping the home button, or swiping up into multi-tasking, and then swiping to close the app, you should see this message.

I appreciate your feedback and have passed it on to the team. I hear that you are unhappy with this notification. Our team is aware, but may not be able to provide a fix in the immediate future.

We'll continue to monitor the situation, and keep our team informed of the impact to you and other customers. We understand that this isn't the resolution you're hoping for, but rest assured we're always working to improve our products. We're sorry for any trouble. 

[Bearing]

When is it gonna be fixed? There are two things i use fitbit for, tracking my workouts AND getting my notifications like phonecalls and messages... and nothing is getting synced.. 

[Andersdotter]

Adding my voice to the chorus of displeased Fitbit users. I have had a Fitbit since 2015 and I have never been so annoyed with the app interface. I understand that the app cannot remain 100% synced unless I leave the app open all day, but I also know that between the app and the bluetooth it will drain my battery. I manually sync a few times a day, but I am never going to leave the app open in the background. Please, dear God, stop with the popups telling me I have to keep it open. 

I love my Fitbit, but am seriously considering an Apple Watch. Please push an update that gets rid of this notification ASAP. It really is that easy, so stop acting like all of these displeased users are asking you to reinvent the entire app. 

[RRBeavis]

Since the update if I don’t leave the app open all the time my Fitbit Flex 2 doesn’t sync properly on the app where I put in on first thing this morning before going out as I charged it last night and just open the app for the first time today and even though I had 4 lights on the device it had now erased all of my steps for the day 

[Sallyen]

I thought the idea of background refresh was that you don’t need the app open?

[Rzs]

This is a pushy and annoying notification to get more than once! This is a horrible and needs to be removed before you lose a customer base! 

[pocketpenguin]

Please allow this to be turned off! I do not use all day sync, and as a long time iPhone user, I know that closing an app means it’s not running in the background - that’s precisely why I close apps. This feature seems like Fitbit just trying to get people to run the app constantly, and it’s very annoying.

[sully1311]

Please rollback this update. It is SO annoying!!!

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Bearing, @Andersdotter, @RRBeavis, @Sallyen, @Rzs, @pocketpenguin and @sully1311. Welcome on board. It's nice to hear from you @Stanfd and @BahamasGirl365.

Thanks a million for taking the time to share your feedback about your experience with this update. I understand your position about this and be sure that your comments haven't gone unnoticed. Once we have more details, I'll make sure to update you in this thread.

@Stanfd and @BahamasGirl365, thanks for your efforts in trying the suggestions posted by @ben_ftb.

@RRBeavis, since you mentioned that your steps were erased after syncing, if you've not done so, I'd suggest to try restarting your device and rebooting your phone.

Let me know if you need anything else.

[RRBeavis]

I did reset my phone and even uninstalled the app and reinstalled it but the only way my flex 2 works now is with the app left open in the background which drains the battery

Sent from my iPhone

[ksalaets]

Kate, this just started happening with the recent update.  It is unnecessary and, as others have noted, extremely annoying and intrusive.  I appreciate that you all want access to our data real time, but whether to keep any app open indefinitely is a battery resource issue and our choice.  We don't need fitbit or any other company reminding us to do anything.  You recently switched on this "feature."  It is not rocket science to switch it off. 

[KlimentToshkov]

Hi Kate

I have to force shutdown the app, because it drains battery. Even with background app refresh and all day sync both disabled, plus all notifications to Charge disabled, it still runs in background between 20 and 60 minutes per hour.

[Naterie]

I also find this message annoying & redundant. It can sync the next time I open the app- I’m not leaving it open all day on my phone. Is there any way to turn off the notification?

[rwohlner]

I disabled Fitbit notifications in my iphone's setting and turned off all day sync as well. Solved the problem for me, I still receive device notifications when I get a text or a call on my cell which is all I really care about. Also still get low battery notifications by email. I've forwarded many of the notifications in this thread by email to fitbit senior managers, no response. Clearly fitbit is a company that could care less about what their users think. I will continue to use my Alta until it dies, but will switch to another brand after that. I will never spend another dollar with fitbit. 

[lcynicl]

Fact is, as with other annoyances by Fitbit, they will pay lip service to listening while doing nothing to fix it.  They have deemed it necessary so it will stay.  Customers will fix it by purchasing other trackers

[Schuckmama]

I’ve tried making adjustments in my phone settings and am hopeful that will help. If I can’t work around this really shady attempt to invade my privacy beyond what I already allow because I like your services, I’m finally out. I appreciate that you guys take the time to respond here, but this isn’t a glitch or problem with your app, it is a business decision. I can’t be the only one who has used a Fitbit instead of going for an Apple Watch or Garmin, but if this isn’t fixed ASAP this is the reason you’ll lose my business. 

[aviD]

This notification is extremely annoying and unnecessary. I need to be able to disable it or I’ll stop being a Fitbit customer. 

[emster356]

I somehow just got this update last weekend. It's seriously enough to make me stop using my Fitbit. I have the right to close any app on my phone and shouldn't be told otherwise when I decide to close it. I don't even have all day sync on and it still happens! Also if this started weeks ago, how has the not been a fix yet? Open up the code, delete that bit, and push out a new update. You're going to be losing customers.

[emster356]

New issue: I posted this comment and has no idea my photo would show. My photo is set to private. I just checked all settings on both web and app. Im not able to delete the picture, just to take a new one which I just did of nothing to maintain my privacy. Hasn't updated on my post yet but hopefully will soon. What's the point of privacy settings if they don't mean anything?

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @RRBeavis, @ksalaets, @lcynicl and @Schuckmama, it's nice to see you around. Welcome on board @KlimentToshkov, @Naterie, @aviD and @emster356. I'm sorry for my delayed response 

@RRBeavis, thanks for your efforts in trying those steps. Just to confirm, have you tried restarting your Flex 2? Also, please go to the Fitbit app > Flex 2 device and make sure the "All-day sync" option is enabled.

@KlimentToshkov, thanks for sharing a screenshot about the battery usage, and the impact it has had.  @ksalaets, @Naterie, @lcynicl, @Schuckmama, @aviD and @emster356, also thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about this situation. Each of your comments are really important to us, and we'll continue working on this situation to improve our products and services.

@emster356, regarding your inquiry, your post was shared correctly without showing your profile picture (see picture below). Although the profile picture is set to private, it's expected that you'll still able to see your picture, but rest assured that nobody else will see it; unless the settings are changed.

See you around.

[Naterie]

So no fix yet. It’s pretty annoying! I find myself avoiding syncing it with my phone, and checking things on the actual Fitbit, but that doesn’t give me as much detail. Also, not to stir the pot, but I can see @emster356’s photo on her posts. It’s not a photo of nothing, it has a dog in it. Just so you know.