Fitbit Charge HRchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Numerous users report the device won't charge out of the box, shows stuck battery icons, flashing lights with no clear status, or simply won't turn on despite following charging steps.

@umairhassan1150

I tried, but when I plug in the charger, it shows the charging animation on my Fitbit HR. Then I press and hold the left button for 3 seconds and remove the cable, but the charging display turns off. Is this a battery issue? My watch is not turning on.launch

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December 3, 2025

@adriathomas5111

Mine wont display anything other than the battery icon and and then a battery icon with an explanation mark. The display will not come one, I've tried to reboot and reset, nothing works. The app says it's up to date on the firmware, however it will not pair via bluetooth to my phone, but the app says the battery is fully charged, so FRUSTRATINGlaunch

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March 14, 2021

@ashishjagani6330

MY FITIBIT NOT CHARGING ON OUT OF THE BOX. WHEN I CONNECT CABLE IT SHOWS 2 GREEN BLINK AND WHEN I PRESS LEFT BUTTON IT SHOWS FIT BIT SYMBOL AND THEN IT GOES AWAY. THEN SHOWS FULLBATTERY SYMBOL UNTILL CONNECTED TO CHARGER AND WHEN DISCONNECTED WONT TURN ON AND THEN NOTHING HAPPENS ON PRESSING BUTTONlaunch

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October 28, 2020

@SPG4lfe

I charged for 1 1/2 hours. The lights in the back are flashing green. I don’t know what that means? I ‘m assuming it means it’s fully charged. This things just will not resetlaunch

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August 21, 2020

Commenters say the heart rate monitor doesn't register accurately during cardio, is off compared to a chest strap, and one calls the accuracy claims false advertising, preferring a Polar strap instead.

@kilnkat

Many thanks - I only care about the accuracy of the HR reading and apparently its not so great.  Love that it tracks VO2 max information, but if the HR read isn't accurate I don't see how the rest of it is either.  A pity.  Will stick to the polar plus strap.launch

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January 20, 2017

@hughhem-lee519

false claims about the heart rate strap it's to uncomfortable it by give off accurate information then the build in so fitbit is making false advertisinglaunch

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April 8, 2016

@cherylconley3676

Fitbit HR SUCKS. It does not register your heart rate when doing cardio and it counts steps while you sleep. It does not always count the stairs and calorie burn does not always register. I rode the exercise bike for 5 minutes, the HR says --♥ and calories I burned were 1. Polar heart rate is more accurate.launch

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January 9, 2016

@callmemarc

Did you do anything to test how accurate the heart rate monitor is?  I have seen others compare it with a real chest strap HRM and it is off by quite a bit which makes it useless.launch

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February 20, 2015

Multiple users describe the screen going completely black or showing only an error code like 'V128', with resets and button presses failing to restore the display.

@samuelwest2551

Tried this and now the screen won't display anything at all - any ideas? Plugging it in and pressing/holding the button do nothing.launch

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July 17, 2021

@mehmetgulez

My Fitbit Charge HR screen is black. It is charging and reseting but the screen is not turning on. Green light is coming during the charging. Can you help me on this?launch

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May 25, 2020

@jasminlove6031

I changed the band on my Fitbit. Since then it won't come on anymore. When I attached it to my charger, the battery symbol lights up. It also shows V128 on the display at times. I tried to follow your steps, but as soon as I pull the charger out of the Fitbit, the display goes black. Do you have an idea of what to do?launch

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May 10, 2020

@giulianarencricca1342

Mine doesn't work i just have a v128 on the schreen. I can't connect It to the app anymore It doesn't find the device. Can you help me please?launch

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April 16, 2020

Users report the device failing to sync with phones, not being found by the app, or setup hanging indefinitely on the pairing code step, an issue also noted with the Charge 2 model.

@lissytownsendx

My charge HR seems to have broken Bluetooth? My iPhone or iPad won’t pick it up as a device? I followed your guide but still nothing 😢launch

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January 12, 2023

@sageisjesus2902

i recently bought a used fitbit charge hr and it is already turned on and i can’t seem to turn it off so i cannot turn it on to pair it, someone please helplaunch

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July 4, 2022

@pottypurplepodiatrist-warr7817

I get as far as entering the 4 digit number, get the message \"sorry set up is taking longer than usual\", then nothing happens :(launch

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October 29, 2019

@marcopoulo8929

I have bought a fitbit charge 2 three months ago. It works almost well, except for synchronization, which is often a nightmare. In fact it is a nightmare because the synchronization is made with the cloud and not with the phone. That's why some people can waste days and days to synchronize and have gone on false solution like reinstalling everything, etc. Unfortunately the tests always omit this problem, very painful, which does not manifest itself with the use. Has anyone tried samsung gear fit 2?launch

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December 25, 2017

Several users report the band coming apart from the screen after only three to four months of ownership, with one noting it happened to both their own unit and their daughter's, and another having it happen twice despite free replacements.

@71coolbreeze

really like the charge hr but not very happy with the quality have only had mine since september 2016 and todays date is 13 january 2017 and band is coming apart from screen. daughter bought one too and hers done the same thing so not really happy with this productlaunch

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January 14, 2017

@margaretvap5244

During my disappointing year-long experiment with the Fitbit Charge HR, I experienced failures of three separate units. The warranty on the unit was for one year. Let me point out that the environment to which these trackers were exposed was a relatively leisurely, non-abusive one. They were never dropped, submerged in water, or treated harshly. \n\nAfter only 3 months, the ORIGINAL unit began to physically split on the top next to the digital readout, with a crack on the side. Fitbit Support was contacted and a SECOND unit was sent to me. \n\nAlthough the SECOND unit was not physically damaged, this unit was not counting steps accurately and not showing a heart rate. It may have been a software issue with the unit. Therefore, another 3 months later, Fitbit Support was contacted, and a THIRD unit was sent. \n\nAfter 4 months, the THIRD unit began to split on the underside of the readout, revealing the battery. When Fitbit Support was contacted for the THIRD time, their response was that the one-year warranty on the ORIGINAL unit had expired and so declined to replace the THIRD faulty unit. They touted their \"excellent 100% quality product\" in their email declining to replace this THIRD failed unit (it's still support for the ORIGINAL unit!), and \"magnanimously\" offered me a 25% discount towards the purchase of a NEW Fitbit tracker. \n\nSeriously? You can't get the one I've already BOUGHT to work, and you want me to shill out MORE money? Why would I even consider spending MORE money on a product that has had three units fail in a year? How about getting me a product (that I've already paid for!) that doesn't fall apart and does what it's supposed to do? \n\nThat \"excellent 100% quality product\" statistic must not include MY experience, because MY experience was 0%. Which is just about the same as THEIR chance of getting any more of my money, with or without a discount.launch

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August 30, 2016

@mschocker7

I've had 2 FitBit Charge HR's and both times the band started to separate from the screen just after 3 months. FitBit replaced them both times free of charge. None the less I'm looking for a new tracker.launch

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March 28, 2016

Users note the device explicitly lacks water resistance, making it unsuitable for swimming or heavy rain, with one saying this makes it too limited for certain workouts and another waiting for a waterproof version before buying.

@tiburonroano

it looks nice and price is not bad but lack of water makes it too soft for some workouts in heavy rain or the poollaunch

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September 21, 2016

@Wildc4rd

Looks like only aesthetic upgrades to me. Yeah..I'll pass!!! Will wait until they make it waterproof.launch

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September 20, 2016

@Antony_Oscar

It's not recommended to wear it in the shower. Not just because of the water, but because the soap and shampoos might cause damage over time.launch

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March 2, 2016

Users report the tracker counting steps from arm movement alone even when not worn, and calorie burn readings that seem wrong or don't register consistently during exercise.

@TheLegend3FM

Hello, plz help me out here I bought this watch to encourage me while I’m doing my exercises and see how much I burn calories and after I read a lot of reviews recommended this one But now I’m really disappointed it doesn’t work right! It counts calories burned while I’m not wearing it and it’s a huge number something wrongI tried your way but nothing changeIt’s really expensive and I don’t want to use it as a normal watchWhat should I do?launch

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March 12, 2018

@jorgemarquez3753

I have a question! I just noticed that i counts as a steps every time that i just move my arm, is that normal?launch

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February 22, 2016

@cherylconley3676

Fitbit HR SUCKS. It does not register your heart rate when doing cardio and it counts steps while you sleep. It does not always count the stairs and calorie burn does not always register. I rode the exercise bike for 5 minutes, the HR says --♥ and calories I burned were 1. Polar heart rate is more accurate.launch

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January 9, 2016

Users describe frustrating experiences with Fitbit and retailer support after failures, including denied replacements once warranty expired and accusations of the company not honoring product quality claims.

@rogeliocasas3878

It is a product that does not work and the company deceives buyers, I buy one in the shop bestbuy, and after six months fail unexpectedly fitbit company and stole my money and I did not replenish the product does not buy this bracelet fails and does not help fitbitlaunch

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September 22, 2016

@fedssfunh

Pure Junk, extremely poor product! Had nothing but problems with app!!Best buy told me they would not give me another watch, so I had to deal with fitbit and they would not give me my money back, they did send a new watch and after 3 weeks it stopped working! Nothing but problems..pure junk!launch

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September 1, 2016

@margaretvap5244

During my disappointing year-long experiment with the Fitbit Charge HR, I experienced failures of three separate units. The warranty on the unit was for one year. Let me point out that the environment to which these trackers were exposed was a relatively leisurely, non-abusive one. They were never dropped, submerged in water, or treated harshly. \n\nAfter only 3 months, the ORIGINAL unit began to physically split on the top next to the digital readout, with a crack on the side. Fitbit Support was contacted and a SECOND unit was sent to me. \n\nAlthough the SECOND unit was not physically damaged, this unit was not counting steps accurately and not showing a heart rate. It may have been a software issue with the unit. Therefore, another 3 months later, Fitbit Support was contacted, and a THIRD unit was sent. \n\nAfter 4 months, the THIRD unit began to split on the underside of the readout, revealing the battery. When Fitbit Support was contacted for the THIRD time, their response was that the one-year warranty on the ORIGINAL unit had expired and so declined to replace the THIRD faulty unit. They touted their \"excellent 100% quality product\" in their email declining to replace this THIRD failed unit (it's still support for the ORIGINAL unit!), and \"magnanimously\" offered me a 25% discount towards the purchase of a NEW Fitbit tracker. \n\nSeriously? You can't get the one I've already BOUGHT to work, and you want me to shill out MORE money? Why would I even consider spending MORE money on a product that has had three units fail in a year? How about getting me a product (that I've already paid for!) that doesn't fall apart and does what it's supposed to do? \n\nThat \"excellent 100% quality product\" statistic must not include MY experience, because MY experience was 0%. Which is just about the same as THEIR chance of getting any more of my money, with or without a discount.launch

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August 30, 2016