Use the Fitbit app for iOS or the Fitbit app for Android on one of over 120 compatible mobile devices to receive incoming phone call notifications and text messages on your Surge. This article explains how to set up and manage those notifications and also provides tips to consider if notifications are missing.

SETTING UP CALL AND TEXT NOTIFICATIONS

Follow these steps to start receiving notifications on your Surge. Android users should note that Surge only displays SMS text messages, not Google Messages.

1. Make sure that your mobile device is compatible with our notifications feature by visiting http://www.fitbit.com/devices. A handful of Android devices require only OS 4.3+ for syncing but need OS 5.0+ for notifications.
2. On your Surge, swipe to Settings and make sure Notifications is set to On. 
3. On your mobile device, make sure Bluetooth is enabled.
4. (iOS only) Make sure your mobile device permits phone call notifications:
   1. Go to Settings > Notifications > Phone.
   2. Make sure Show Notifications is on.
   3. Make sure Show in Notification Center is set to 5 or 10.
5. (iOS only) Make sure your mobile device permits text message notifications:
   1. Go to Settings > Notifications > Messages.
   2. Makes sure Allow Notifications is on.
   3. Make sure Show in Notification Center is set to 5 or 10.
6. Put your Surge within 20 feet of your mobile device for the rest of the setup process. Note that you'll only receive notifications on your Surge when your mobile device is within this radius.
7. Open the Fitbit app on your mobile device and tap the Surge tile at the top of your mobile dashboard.
8. Toggle the Call Notifications slider to the "On" position and follow the onscreen instructions to connect your mobile device with your tracker.
9. To verify that set up was successful, look at the list of Bluetooth-connected devices on your mobile device. "Surge" should appear.

MANAGING CALL AND TEXT NOTIFICATIONS

When you receive a call or text, Surge vibrates and a banner appears at the top of the screen for 7 seconds, after which a relevant icon in the upper right corner of the screen remains. If the caller or sender is in the contacts list on your mobile device, the banner shows that person's name. Otherwise, the phone number of the caller or sender appears.

When a notification arrives, swipe down to view it. If your text message is longer than 160 characters (or 32 characters in the subject), swipe downward again to see the rest of the message. 

If you miss a notification and want to see it later, press the Action button next to the notifications icon. If you have multiple notifications, swipe left and right to see them all. Your Surge stores a maximum of 20 notifications and the oldest ones are deleted as others arrive.

Press the Action button or the Home button to exit the notifications screen.

DETERMINING WHY NOTIFICATIONS ARE MISSING

If you set up notifications but they're not showing up on your Surge, first make sure that your tracker was close enough to your mobile device when the notifications were missed (about 20 feet). Next, consider whether you miss the occasional notification or whether you're missing all your notifications. If it's the former, syncing is likely the culprit. Surge will not receive notifications if it is syncing to your mobile device when the call or text is received. Lastly, Android users should be aware that Surge receives texts sent over SMS, not Google Messages. If notifications are in fact not working properly, please see My tracker isn't receiving call or text notifications from my iOS device or My tracker isn't receiving call or text notifications from my Android device.