The Fitbit Charge 3 is possibly among the best fitness trackers around, but it is not without issues. And, the latest problem that many are complaining about is the device not working properly or the screen going blank/black.
Fitbit Charge 3 blank screen issue – what’s happening?
Users affected by the Fitbit Charge 3 blank screen issue have taken to social media platforms and Fitbit forums to complain about the issue. The issue appears to be quite widespread as one of the threads on the Fitbit forum carries hundreds of comments and thousands of views.
Affected users claim that the screen suddenly freezes or goes black/blank even though the device remains active – vibrates for notifications, vibrates when buttons are pushed, or even synchs with the app. Even though the device remains active, users can’t see anything.
@FitbitSupport my new Charge 3 seems to be frozen. The screen won’t change at all, even when I connect the charger to it. Is there a way to reset it?
— Elly Kinnaird (@ellythebarber) January 20, 2019
For some, the Fitbit Charge 3 blank screen issue is resolved after the device is put on charge. Additionally, a Fitbit forum moderator has provided one workaround that has worked for several users. As per the moderator, a simple reboot could help users fix the Fitbit Charge 3 blank screen issue.
“If you are seeing a blank screen but Charge 3 is vibrating, or the screen only turns on when on the charger, please restart your Charge 3,” the moderator says.
Rebooting the device is also a recommended solution for other issues with the device, like when the device is not syncing, or is unresponsive to buttons and taps or is not giving accurate stats. A reboot only restarts the device and does not delete any data.
To reboot, first put the device on charging, and then press and hold the button on the left of the screen for about 8 seconds. The device is ready for use when you see a smiley icon and the tracker vibrates.
Another workaround to fix the black screen issue is to change the clock face in the Fitbit app. If changing the clock face works, then users can revert back to the original face. If the Fitbit Charge 3 blank screen issue persists, then moderators ask users to “please let us know.”
These workarounds have worked for some, but some are still facing the issue. Those still facing the issue are advised to contact the support team, and wait for an update. As of now, there have been no comments from the company even though the forum moderators have been actively monitoring the issue.
Other issues with Fitbit Charge 3
The Fitbit Charge 3 blank screen issue is not the only problem that owners have faced lately. A couple of weeks back, a report from PiukiaWeb highlighted how the company cheated Charge 3 owners by not giving the Screen Timeout feature, even though it was promoted during the launch of the device.
The Screen Timeout feature, as the name suggests, allows users to change the duration the screen remains on.
“I purchased my charge 3 after seeing it would have a Screen Time out Option. I really, really want/need that option. It was the reason I chose the Charge……… Please Fitbit, give us the option that was originally in the manual to change the screen time out,” one user said.
It must be noted that even the FitBit forum moderator confirmed that the manual for the Charge 3 did include information on the Screen Timeout feature. However, the moderator also confirmed that the manual will be updated to reflect the change related to this feature.
Users, as can be expected, were disappointed after hearing this.
Fitbit Charge 3 owners have lately been complaining of one more feature – few watch faces. The Charge 3 reportedly comes with only 5 watch faces. There is one thread on the company’s forum where many users have complained of few watch faces for the Charge 3, and thus, are asking the company to add more of these.
Users are requesting the company to at least add the faces from the Charge 2.
For now, there is no information if Fitbit has any plans to add more watch faces. But, it would be good if it does, considering how the users are feeling cheated after the Screen Timeout incident.
Fitbit announced the Charge 3 fitness tracker in August last year, and it was made available for purchase in October. The Core version costs $149.95, while the NFC-equipped Special Edition model, which supports Fitbit Pay, is priced at $169.95.
