Wondering why Fitbit Sense won’t connect to Bluetooth? We’ve got you covered!
Fitbit Sense requires a constant and reliable Bluetooth connection to a mobile device in order to operate properly.
When the wireless connection is disbanded by any means, many tracking and syncing issues will occur with the watch as a result. Let’s learn why that happens…
If Fitbit Sense is not connecting to the mobile phone’s Bluetooth, reboot the watch and complete the initial pairing again.
If that didn’t help, re-activate the Bluetooth feature on the mobile phone and proceed by inspecting and troubleshooting the Fitbit application.
Let’s next unwrap some of the essentials!
Why does Fitbit Sense Won’t Connect to Bluetooth?
The reason why the Fitbit watch refuses to connect or is unable to maintain stable Bluetooth is due to many factors combined.
This is why the first step should be to uncover them in a list:
- Failed Fitbit Sense initial pairing.
- Bluetooth feature mobile issue.
- Very low Fitbit Sense watch battery.
- An issue with the Fitbit application.
- A mobile network settings issue.
- A software-related issue with the watch.
These are the potential possibilities so let’s jump straight into the solution guide below!
7 Ways to Fix When Fitbit Sense Not Connecting to Bluetooth?
Tip: Try all of the steps described above in chronological order!
1. Complete the Initial Pairing Again
During the “initial” pairing of the Fitbit Sense, the user is prompted to connect the watch to a mobile device and configure the necessary settings.
Completing the initial pairing again means setting up the Sense watch for the first time with your mobile device.
- Completing the initial pairing again doesn’t factory reset the Sense watch!
Here’s how to undergo the initial setup on Fitbit Sense again:
- Launch the Fitbit application on the mobile device.
- Press on your profile picture and navigate to “Set Up Device”.
- Select “Sense” and then press on the “Replace Device” button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the initial setup.
Alert: The profile of Fitbit will be re-added, meaning that all app settings will be erased.
2. Re-Activate the Phone’s Bluetooth!
If the Sense watch managed to connect once, there should be an existing Bluetooth connection in the settings of the mobile device that belongs to the Sense watch.
Toggling the Bluetooth feature on your phone OFF and then ON helps with general connectivity issues.
- How to Reboot Bluetooth On Android?
Access the settings app of the Android, go to “Wireless Connection” and find the “Bluetooth” setting’s activation button. Then, simply deactivate it and wait for 30 seconds before enabling it.
- How to Reboot Bluetooth On iOS?
Access the settings, go to the “Bluetooth” tab, and press the activation slider once to deactivate the feature. Wait for 30 seconds and re-enable the Bluetooth on your Apple device to continue.
Note: All other Bluetooth devices connected to the mobile device will unpair as a result.
3. Charge the Fitbit Sense Watch
It is possible that this problem is caused by a low-battery problem with the Fitbit watch.
We recommend connecting the Fitbit device with the charger until its battery hits 100% and then attempting to establish a Bluetooth connection with the mobile device.
We recommend this solution, because sometimes when the battery is very low, the so-know “battery throttle” occurs, which disables essential features.
So to avoid any low-battery issues with the Fitbit Sense, we strongly recommend charging the battery sufficiently.
Note: It takes about an hour and a half for the Fitbit Sense to fully charge!
4. Reduce the Number of Connections!
If you have too many Bluetooth devices already connected to the mobile device, the Fitbit Sense won’t connect to Bluetooth of any device.
If you have another smartwatch connected to the mobile device, the Fitbit Sense will be unable to establish a connection at all.
- Access the Bluetooth settings of the mobile device and unpair all devices!
Once the number of connected devices to the mobile device is 0, attempt to connect with the Fitbit Sense through the mobile platform.
In case the Bluetooth setup fails, test whether the watch can be paid with Bluetooth to another device such as a smartphone or a tablet.
Note: Avoid connecting other devices to the phone’s Bluetooth until the end of the guide!
5. Reinstall the Fitbit Application
Since the Fitbit app is what connects the Sense watch with your mobile device, a potential issue with the platform could be causing the Bluetooth connection problem.
This method will guide you through the steps to reinstall the Fitbit app on the connecting mobile device.
Follow these instructions to reinstall the Fitbit app:
- Access the Settings of the mobile device that has the Fitbit app.
- Go to the “Applications” section or scroll down if you’re on iOS.
- Locate the Fitbit app from the list and press it to enter the settings.
- From the app settings, choose the “Uninstall” option to remove it.
- Wait for the Fitbit app to be uninstalled from your mobile device.
- Access the App Store or Google Play and search for “Fitbit”.
- Press “Search” and download the first application that appears.
- Launch the platform, sign in, and re-add the Fitbit Sense watch.
Note: You have to complete the initial setup within the Fitbit application after the reinstallation!
6. Reset Mobile Device Network Settings
If the issue is on the mobile device’s end, resetting the network settings should help with any issues.
The network settings are a combination of the device’s Cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth data options, so resetting them will also erase the data for Wi-Fi and potentially cellular.
- All remembered Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections will be erased!
How to Reset Network Options On Android?
- From Settings, go to “System”.
- Navigate to “Advanced” > “Reset Options”.
- Press on “Reset Network Settings”.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
How to Reset Network Options On iOS?
- Launch the Settings app and go to “General”.
- Scroll down and press “Transfer or Reset [Device]”.
- Press “Reset” and then select “Reset Network Settings”.
- Wait for your iPhone/iPad to complete the reset.
Note: When the network settings on your mobile are reset, test whether the Fitbit Sense will now be able to connect via Bluetooth.
7. Factory Reset the Fitbit Sense Watch
If the issue is with the Fitbit Sense device, the best way to approach the problem is with a factory reset.
Same as on mobile, the factory reset on your Fitbit Sense erases all content and settings on the watch, including the Bluetooth configuration, that could be causing the issue.
Follow these instructions to complete a factory reset on the Fitbit Sense:
- Press on the Settings (cog) icon from the home screen.
- Navigate to the “About Sense” tab within the settings.
- Go to “Factory Reset” and follow the next instructions.
- Wait until your Fitbit Sense watch is completing the reset.
Alert: Do not interact with the watch while the reset is still not completed to avoid cancellation!
Fitbit Sense Won’t Stay Connected to Bluetooth?
If you’ve done everything that we’ve suggested above, the Sense watch should now connect with Bluetooth.
If a follow-up problem prevents the watch from maintaining the connection with your mobile device, this is another matter that we’ll discuss, thus how to troubleshoot…
Why Does Fitbit Sense Watch Disconnect?
- You’re moving out of Bluetooth’s range.
- There’s a Bluetooth issue with the phone.
- The Bluetooth connection is interfered with.
How to Troubleshoot Fitbit Sense Bluetooth?
- Keep the mobile device and Sense watch close together.
- Regularly charge the watch (it disconnects on 0% battery).
- Don’t stay in areas that could cause wireless interference.
- Reconnect the device through the mobile’s Bluetooth settings.
If the status of “Fitbit” in the mobile Bluetooth connections list changes to “Not Connected”, the Bluetooth has unpaired.
If the status adjusts to “Connected” once in Fitbit’s range, it means that the watch has connected automatically.
Conclusion?
- Keep the watch and Bluetooth device as close as possible while connected!
Need More Help?
Don’t hesitate to contact Fitbit at (877) 623–4997 to receive professional support in response to your problem.
Also, don’t forget to share what you’ve attempted in this guide to save your time!
Quick Recap:
Whenever the Fitbit Sense won’t connect to Bluetooth, reboot the watch first and make sure it is charged to maximum battery.
If the watch still won’t pair via Bluetooth, reset the network settings on the mobile device and conduct a factory reset on the Fitbit Sense.
Read Next: My Fitbit Sense Won’t Sync? – Complete Fix Guide
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.