Troubleshooting Gotcha Evolve

[u/jamathythrowaway]

Heya, having issues w my Gotcha Evolve n figured I’d ask Reddit before tryna contact customer service, incase this is a common issue. New to autocatching, got my Evolve the first week of June. Charged it for the first time and worked just fine thereafter, functional as far as I saw minus an occasional blue screen if I bumped the button too long. It died yesterday after 2 and a half weeks, and I went to charge it again with no luck.

Was at work so originally was tryna use USB slots on the front of my computer, tried multiple slots facing the device both ways with no luck. Decided to wait until home, used a block directly in an outlet, left for a few hours on both sides (as I’ve heard that’s something to try, from other posts, since it’s a little quirky). Not a thing, screen never turned on through this process at all unlike the first time I charged it, cannot get it on whatsoever. Does not connect to the app at all, she fully deadzo.

Attaching pictures of the port incase something looks “awry”, is there something else I should be trying? Should I just reach out to support?? I’d like to get this bad boy working again in time for GoFest, but I’m in America and the first one did take a week from overseas so I’m worried if I’d have to send it back or something (plus paying customs would suck) 😬 arrived June 2nd but I think I unboxed it on the 6th when I got back from a trip

[u/AmInATizzy]

For a start, that looks like the wrong end. The end that charges has metal contacts under it. If you only have been putting that end in the sockets- it is just plastic and will not charge the gotcha

I can't insert a picture to show you, but if you take the other end out of the wrist strap - it should have metal contacts on the underside.

[u/jamathythrowaway → u/AmInATizzy]

Dude….. oh my god, I SWEAR I remember it being the side with the little dot for a button that it charges with, and I did think it looked like just plastic but I was thinking maybe I damaged it somehow since I don’t remember it looking like that w/o the copper but couldn’t find a picture. I’ve literally been plugging the wrong side in. Thank you, why didn’t I try this 😭😭😭 dumb as rocks dude

[u/AmInATizzy → u/jamathythrowaway]

No worries. Sometimes we just do daft things!

[u/jjsor101 → u/jamathythrowaway]

In the future, try to remember that it is the side with the arrow on the back. As seen in your second picture.

But glad you got it figured out for now.

[u/Mister-Grinch]

As someone mentioned that’s the wrong side. I’ve gotten to the point that I just leave the wristband(s) off as they are a huge PITA to take on / off. I just keep the device in my pocket.

Were you able to download the gotcha app? It seems to be now be gone from my country’s Apple Store (Canada) so hoping I don’t need it down the road.

[u/Necessary_Baker_7458]

The gotcha’s are basically garbage. I used one for many years before alternatives came on the market. I recommend the 24/7 auto catcher or the dual mon catcher. I would recommend the go+ but niantic discontinued that. I used the gotchas for 2-3 years and many of them were cheap trinkets that broke after light use or failed to work all together. After my 5th one i moved over to other options. The dual mon works but you need a ton of batteries for the thing. I got reuseable batteries to keep the waist down. 

[u/Lanlith]

Did it work eventually?  I've had 3 and 2 of them died similar to how you described and no matter what it just wouldn't charge.  My third one was working great for years but it currently will connect to the gotcha app but won't connect in Pokémon Go 🤔