Fitbit Charge 4 is one of the most advanced fitness tracker bands sold on Amazon. Like other smart devices, the Charge 4 device also has its shortcomings.
This article will address some common problems with the Fitbit Charge 4 device, and you’ll also find out how to fix them.
Let’s get started.
Common Problems With Fitbit Charge 4
1. Fitbit Not Syncing
This problem usually occurs when your tracker disconnects from the smartphone, tablet, or computer it was initially connected to. As a result, you stopped receiving notifications from your phone.
If you find you’re unable to connect to your Charge 4, try the following fix.
- First, ensure the Fitbit app is installed on your phone. Also, confirm that your Bluetooth is turned on and that you’re trying to connect Fitbit to only one Bluetooth-enabled phone or tablet.
- Turn Bluetooth off and on again.
From your smartphone, head to Settings and select Bluetooth. Toggle the Bluetooth button off and on and check if the problem goes away. Also, ensure your location feature is on.
- Force manual sync. At times, you may need to tweak the Fitbit app to initiate synchronization.
To do this, tap the member card icon on your phone, tap the device name, then tap Sync Now.
- Force quit the Fitbit app on your phone; long-press the Fitbit app icon on your home screen and release it when you feel a vibration. Tap the ‘i’ icon that pops up and tap Force stop.
- Try removing and re-adding your Fitbit device to your Fitbit account. To do this, open the Fitbit app > tap account photo > select Fitbit Charge 4 > tap the trash icon in the top-right corner > select unpair.
Then try pairing your Fitbit device with your Fitbit account again.
- Disable Wi-Fi. Your Wi-Fi connection may be the reason why your Charge 4 isn’t synchronizing with your phone. Disable your wireless fidelity setting and sync the devices again.
- Ensure your ‘Always connected’/’All day sync’ feature is enabled.
To check, open the Fitbit app, select account > Fitbit Charge 4, and scroll down to get the ‘Always connected’ and ‘All day sync’ option to put it on.
- Update the Fitbit app and retry synchronization.
- Restart your mobile device. This will help refresh the device’s operating system and will likely fix all your connection issues.
- If your device still doesn’t sync, the only option is to uninstall and reinstall the Fitbit app.
2. Fitbit Charge 4 Not Receiving Notifications From Android Device
If your Charge 4 device isn’t displaying notifications or delays notification, here is what to do.
- First, ensure your android or iOS device is compatible with Fitbit. Read about Fitbit’s device compatibility here.
- Ensure you have enabled the notification option in the Fitbit app; open the app on your smartphone and select notifications. You will see the on/off option.
- Next, remove Fitbit Charge 4 from Bluetooth settings and turn off nearby Bluetooth connections.
- Go to phone’s settings > Apps > Fitbit > Storage > and clear cache. Put off the DND and Sleep Mode.
- Go back to the home screen, tap Force Stop, and reboot your phone.
- Make sure the DND and Sleep Mode are still off, restart your Fitbit Charge 4.
- Open the Fitbit app, tap your profile picture, and set the notifications again. This should solve the problem.
- If all else fails, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Fitbit app.
Side Note:
Your Fitbit Charge 4 and mobile device won’t connect if they are too far apart from each other; your notifications may also be delayed. So, ensure you’re within 20 feet of your mobile device.
Also, make sure you don’t have another Bluetooth device connected to your smartphone, and this may cause interference that prevents notifications from appearing on your Fitbit tracker.
3. Fitbit Not Charging
If your Fitbit tracker has suddenly stopped charging, use the following fixes;
- Clean the charging contact at the back of the device.
If the pins on the device or charging cable are dirty, your device may not charge properly. To clean the charging contacts, use a dry toothbrush with rubbing alcohol, then dry with a cloth or tissue before charging.
- Confirm that you removed the plastic protective cover from the back of the device.
- Try a different USB port or a UL-certified wall charger; your USB port or outlet could be faulty. Also, ensure your device isn’t wet.
- Check or change the charging cable. Use only cables that come with your device, as some cables aren’t compatible with specific devices.
- For an “insufficient power source” error message, remove other devices plugged into your power source, or plug your device into another source.
- If you haven’t used your Fitbit Charge 4 for several months or got depleted entirely to 0%, leave it plugged into the charging cable for at least 30 minutes and check again.
4. Unable To Use ECG App On Fitbit Sense ECG Reading Issues
Many users have complained about Fitbit Sense’s electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. Even though this has less to do with the user, you could try out the following fix.
- Remove the Sense from the Bluetooth settings.
- Force stop the Fitbit app.
- Restart your Fitbit Charge 4.
- Open the Fitbit app and pull down on the screen to force manual Sync.
- Tap your profile picture > Sense > Apps > ECG and ensure the permissions are allowed.
- On your Sense, open the ECG App and try retaking a reading.
If this doesn’t work out, contact Fitbit for a replacement.
5. Fitbit’s Silent Alarm Stopped Working
This could occur if your DND mode is on.
Likely fix:
- First, make sure you have a silent alarm set on your Fitbit device.
To confirm this, open the Fitbit app, choose your account photo, select Fitbit Charge 4, then select Silent Alarm.
- Check your DND and sleep mode settings in your Fitbit Charge 4. Turn it off.
- Test the vibration motor. To do this, press the side button on your Charge 4; your tracker should vibrate.
- Turn on Exercise alerts to enable you to receive notifications about your workout in the Exercise app (on your tracker).
Launch the Settings app on your Charge 4, go to Do not disturb, enable exercise alerts.
6. Fitbit Charge 4 Isn’t Updating Properly
Likely fix:
- Restart your tracker.
- Try downloading the Update again. If this doesn’t work, try restarting your mobile device.
- If your tracker is synced with a Fitbit app, disenable the Bluetooth connection. To do this, open Bluetooth in your mobile device, locate your Fitbit device, select Forget.
- Next, temporarily remove your tracker from your Fitbit account.
Open your Fitbit app, go to Settings > Fitbit Charge 4 > Remove this device.
- Now add your tracker back to your Fitbit account as if you’re setting it up for the first time. Open the app again, Go to the Account section > Set Up a Device, then follow the instructions.
Once your device is re-connected, tap Update.
7. Problems With A Dim Screen And Quick View
If your Charge 4 often goes dim or gives a faint light, the problem may be from your Fitbit app’s Settings menu.
To fix this:
- Deactivate Sleep Mode by pressing the side button for a few seconds.
- Scroll down to ‘Sleep.’
- Tap toggle on or off.
But if your device doesn’t light when you turn a wrist, it means the ‘Screen Wake’ is probably turned off. Follow the instructions above to turn it on.
For the Quick View feature to work, you must wear your Fitbit device on the wrist you have selected on your Fitbit app. To correct this problem,
- Open the Fitbit app, go to profile photo > Fitbit Charge 4, and make sure the Quick View toggle is turned on.
- You’ll also see options to change your wrist placement. Confirm that you’re wearing your Fitbit on the correct wrist.
8. Band Break
The only fix available is to utilize the company’s warranty policy that allows you to return your Fitbit device for a damage fix within 30 days of the purchase date (if you ordered it directly from Fitbit.com).
You could also purchase another band from Amazon.
How To Restart Fitbit Charge 4
To restart your Charge 4 device, press and hold the button on your tracker for 8 seconds. Afterward, release the button. When the tracker vibrates and you see a smile icon, the tracker has restarted.
Conclusion
Despite the problems with Charge 4, the device still stands out in the world of sports and fitness. With the solutions provided in this article, your device should function properly again.