Is there a workaround for installing third-party apps on the Fitbit Versa 4

Unofficial Sideload Approach

1. Enable Developer Bridge:
- Open the Fitbit app on your phone and access the Developer Menu.
- Toggle on Developer Bridge and wait for the "Waiting for Studio" status.
- On the Versa 4, connect the device to a charger, go to Settings, and navigate to Developer bridge. Toggle USB debugging on.

2. Set Environment Flags:
- Enable the `FITBIT_QA_COMMANDS` environment flag to make the device discoverable via USB. This can be done using the command `export FITBIT_QA_COMMANDS=1`.
- Optionally, you can enable `FITBIT_DEVBRIDGE_DUMP` to capture developer bridge protocol messages for debugging purposes with `export FITBIT_DEVBRIDGE_DUMP=1`.

3. Build and Install the App:
- Use an unofficial SDK or a repository like cmengler's Fitbit Versa 4 App to build your app.
- Follow the instructions in the repository to build and sideload the app onto your Versa 4.

Important Considerations

- Risk: These methods are unofficial and may void your warranty or cause instability on your device. Use them at your own risk.
- Functionality: The degree of functionality available through sideloaded apps may vary, and not all features might work as expected.
- Legal and Regulatory Changes: Google and Fitbit are making changes to app availability, especially in the EU, which might impact future support for third-party apps[3][4].

Community Efforts

Some users and developers are exploring ways to create and share sideloadable apps for the Versa 4, but these efforts are not officially supported by Fitbit or Google[2][5]. The community's success in developing functional apps through these methods is still evolving.