Please make the app sync without WiFi

[Bryan_MZ]

I know there is another post about this, but it is marked as 'Solved' based on the answer "That's just the way it works."

     Requiring Wifi to sync is less than ideal. We're paired to our mobile device already through Bluetooth. If we're using the mobile app, we don't necessarily care if the web-based dashboard is continually updated. Many people turn off WiFi on our mobile phone when we are out and about to save battery power. This design means we won't see any of our fitbit progress until we get home for the day and reconnect to WiFi.

     Ideally, the phone app would sync in real-time (or even on a user changeable time interval) over the Bluetooth connection, and it would update the online dashboard whenever Internet connectivity is restored.  

     Fitbit is a cool idea, let's help make it better through feedback.

Fitbit: Please consider this a feature change suggestion for the mobile app development cycle.

         - Paying customer

[SunsetRunner]

the sync is done by wifi or by phone connection (3G/4G)

nearly nothing is stored on the phone, all computations are done on the Fitbit servers, and the smartphone only displays results.

that's the way the app is designed

you purchased a connected device, and the meaning  is "you need to be connected"

[Bryan_MZ]

UPDATE: I failed to mention my cellular data is always on, which is why I couldn't understand why WiFi was required. I should already have Internet connectivity through the cellular network. The app would not sync though. Out of curiosity, I just turned on WiFi on my iPhone (but did not sign into a hotspot to connect to the Internet). I switched back to the fitbit app and it started syncing. I went back into settings and turned WiFi back off, and again went back to the fitbit app. It is now syncing with my fitbit Surge with my WiFi turned off. I'm sure it's using data, but that's fine with me. 

Again:

Cellular Data: On (normal for most people)

If the app is not syncing with the fitbit

1. Go to settings->WiFi, and turn on WiFi

2. Switch to fitbit app and see if it is syncing

3. Once it syncs, you can turn WiFi back off. 

4. For me, the app works as expected now. WiFi is OFF, cellular data is ON, and my fitbit syncs. 

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @Bryan_MZ, it's nice to see you around!

Fitbit trackers need an internet connection to sync as they update the information with our servers; the connection can be from WiFi or your cellular data. I appreciate the troubleshooting steps you tested and provided, I'm sure they will be very helpful for many members in the Community!

In case you need anything else, feel free to reply! 

[debbief]

This solution doesn't work, my cellular data is always on and is wifi, but if I'm not connected to wifi the fotbit won't sync.  This has only been since the updates that changed the app appearance (which is crappy btw)

[Bryan_MZ]

Something has to be blocking it from using cellular data. Here's something you can check. 

1. Go to Settings

2. Scroll all the way down to the 'access settings' for the fitbit app

3. Ensure Cellular Data is turned on (to allow the fitbit app to use your 3G or LTE connection)

If that's already on, and toggling the WiFi didn't help, I have no answers. Maybe there's a bug in the app that makes it prefer WiFi for some reason. 

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @debbief, and welcome to the Community, it's great to have you on board!

Have you tried @Bryan_MZ steps to check if the Fitbit app has cellular data enabled? If your app it's still not syncing, please feel free to reply so I can check this further. 

Happy stepping! 

[DrBlake]

I wish I knew this before I purchase the fitbit “Surge” for hiking.

Unfortunately I can not transfer the data without the internet. I feel it was a bit of a waste of time and money.

The main issues is when you are walking in the bush on a 7 day hike, with no internet connection it is a must to transfer the hiking information to a device through bluetooth only. So you can view the information on a device, I don't need maps I just need the data, hartrate, steps, etc..

Biggest improvement I see and is a must for me is to download the watch data to a device only using bluetooth, without wifi connection.

Can someone explain why an internet connection is required to transfer information via bluetooth to a device / (phone) and why do you need cloud servers to do this?

[AlejandraFitbit]

A warm welcome to the Community @DrBlake. I know it would be great to be able to sync the tracker without internet connection, but this is important since the internet will allow to transfer the data without an inconvenience. You can check the Sync Clock and Alarm using Bluetooth only - no need for Internet request, vote for it and leave your comment.

Catch you later. 

[debbief]

Why would I make that request? I'm not interested in a clock or alarm. I only want to know my step count without it syncing to the community. It only needs to sync to my device until I request otherwise.

Debbie

[debbief]

I only want it to sync to my device as I am only interested in step count.

Debbie

[SunsetRunner]

---

Can someone explain why an internet connection is required to transfer information via bluetooth to a device / (phone) and why do you need cloud servers to do this?

---

because it has be designed as.

a connected object needs to be connected.

[Bryan_MZ]

Debbie, it looks like syncing without a connection to the Internet was either overlooked during design, or the designers decided it wasn't needed. The Fitbit is a cloud connected device, so they assumed everyone who purchased one would always have an uninterrupted connection to the cloud. Guess we're not supposed to work out if we visit a developing country or our cellular data plan runs out. It would probably be an easy feature to add, but the prominent answer in this forum is "that's just how it's designed." Sort of synonymous to saying "Because I said so."

[debbief]

Ha! You're probably right!

Debbie

Sent from my iPhone

[Andrius77]

I'm a software developer and I find your app design really bad! How come that none of your software architects and BA's didn't think about some local storage in the app when there's no internet connection?? This is so stupid! I bought Charge HR couple months ago and I loved it and right now camping and hiking season is coming and I just found out that my fitbit will be useless in wilderness where's no internet connection!! Why the hell you don't say on the package that IT REQUIRES internet connection to SYNC???? For me, as a nature lover it's a very big dissapointment!! I was planning to buy Charge 2 for my whole family but they also love being active outdoors in the middle of nowhere for several days in a row.. So I'm going to return this useless thing...

Btw, it's not so hard to implement local temporary storage to store synced data in the phone until it gets internet connection and is able to sync with your servers..

[Petiot]

Could not agree more. App developer myself and the fitbit app is the result of lazy design and poor implementation. 

Same as the lack of support to export heart rate data by the way. 

Fitbit, you failed

[Mike_N]

I know you wrote this some time back, but I've just recently run into this problem myself (took my Alta HR camping and found I effectively had just a cheap digital watch on my wrist). 

I write code too, and agree 100% that the Fitbit design is just stupid. All the Fitbit data has to pass through the mobile device anyway on its way to their servers. The computations aren't difficult so the whole system would work fine without internet. 

You'd think that Fitbit people would be more than likely campers, bikers, hikers, backpackers, boaters, and travelers. Fitbit is near useless to all of them. Must be a lot of customers feeling ripped off. I know I do.

[Mike_N]

Absolutely agree. Lazy design. 

[debbief]

True! You'd think lol :-))

Debbie

Sent from my iPhone

[Pernie3]

I solved the problem of not being able to get it to work. I took the **ahem** thing off and threw it in a drawer for a couple of weeks until I got back to civilization. Now it works fine. I have no need to have a tracker that sends my info to the company I bought it from. Wish I could return it.