Sync question

[tnt_daddy]

From what I can tell, the fitbit only sync my stats when I open the app on my phone. Is that accurate or is there an interval for syncing?

[MrMarv]

@tnt_daddy - 

Here is my take on syncing and a couple observations about some other intervals.

First the syncing:

The app will sync immediately after your opening it.

You can force a sync by dragging drown on the screen similar to the method used by many mail apps to check for new mail.

You can force a sync by going to your device in the account page, scrolling down and pressing on "Sync Now".

You can turn on "All-Day Sync" on the device page (just above the "Sync Now" button) and your device will sync approximately every 15 minutes.

Now some other observations:

You will probably notice a slight delay in the progress bar when the sync begins, as well as a delay at about the mid-point. I believe that the first is when a formal  connection is established with the device for a full download of data to the app (above the normal routine updating of steps and such). The second appears to be when the app performs the connect to the Fitbit servers where your data is really stored in detail.

I have noticed that it appears that some things in the app only update at five minute intervals - the ones I have definitely seen updating that timeline are active minutes and auto-recognized activities, such as a ten-minute or more walk. If you are thinking that a walk is taking too long to show up as an activity, at the first opportunity after 5, 10, 15, 20, etc minutes after the hour force a sync. Example: you end a 20 minute walk at 9:40 and some odd seconds, try a sync. I don't think the exercise will show. But if you force a sync right after 9:45 the exercise will show up.

I hope my answer about syncing helps you and that my other observations didn't bore you.

Good luck.

[tnt_daddy]

from I have found if I close the app on my phone then my stats dont sync and require me to open the app.

[MrMarv]

@tnt_daddy - 

That is correct - UNLESS, as I stated in my other post, you turn on All-day Sync, in which case you will be able to verify on the web dashboard that it will sync approximately every 15 minutes.

{break for a test}

I just verified it, leaving my phone in my pocket for over 15 minutes while I did some other tasks. My web dashboard shows "Last Sync: 1 min ago". The phone is still in my pocket.

[tnt_daddy]

all day sync is enabled and the data only syncs when the app is open.  

If I have steps increment and open the dashboard nothing updates unless I open the app on my phone at which time the phone app updates and then the dashboard updates.

Shouldn't the step auto sync and update the dashboard without me opening the app on my phone?

[MrMarv]

@tnt_daddy - 

Yes - that is exactly what I have been saying all along, and what works for me.

I am going to recommend two things. If the first doesn't work, then try the second, although even if the first works, the second shouldn't hurt. But if you do them both without testing to see if the first thing worked you won't know what actually solved the issue, if it does get solved.

First attempt a forced quit of the application on the phone.

1. Bring the app up.
2. Then double-click the home button. You will now see all of the currently running apps.
3. Swipe up on the Fitbit app until it disappears from the screen.
4. Click the home button to return to your normal screen.
5. Restart the app which will force a sync.
6. Go to the web dashboard. Note the time of the last sync and see if the steps, miles, calories, etc match
7. Close the app normally by pressing on the home button.
8. Put the phone in your pocket if you have one and walk around for more that 15 minutes, but less than 25 minutes (just to be safe).
9. Go to the web dashboard. Note the time of the last sync.
10. If the time of the last sync is more than 15 minutes then the force quit of the app didn't work
11. If the time of the last sync is less than 15 minutes then the force quit worked and the all day sync works.

If the above doesn't work I suggest you reset your device?

Not knowing what device you have, I can only state the way the Alta HR is reset.

1. Plug the device into it's charging cable and plug it into a USB port. Make sure the battery icon goes from a solid white interior to a cross-hatched interior.
2. Press on the button on the USB connector three times within four seconds with a definite pause between pauses. The Fitbit logo should appear for a short time. Sometimes the restart will go deeper to a point that it's firmware version and other information will be displayed. Don't worry about that, it has happened to me and everything is ok
3. Perform the reset three times before taking the device off the charger. I don't know why, but many posters, including Fitbit employees recommend the three times "rule".
4. Then repeat steps 5 through 11 as appropriate to test the results of the reset.

If neither of those two methods work, I'm out of ideas. As I mentioned in post number 4, all day sync works for me and to make sure it still worked I tested it before clicking on the "Post" button.

Good luck.