Battery life on Fitbit smartwatches and fitness trackers has improved considerably down the years, but charge levels obviously aren't everlasting.
The Fitbit Versa will give you around four days before conking out, while newer Charge 3 and Inspire trackers can provide a week of uninterrupted tracking. No matter which Fitbit you have, when it eventually runs out of juice, you'll need to know how to charge it back up.
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As Fitbit devices have evolved, so have the methods of charging them. In fact, almost every device in the range enjoys a slightly means of replenishing the battery. So, below, we'll give you some general tips to get started, with more detailed instructions for each device in the current Fitbit lineup.
Fitbit not charging?
The best way to ensure reliable charging on a Fitbit is to make sure the charging pins on the tracker and the charger remain clean.
The important thing is to keep the pins untarnished, boasting the same bronze finish they arrived with. To achieve this, use a soft toothbrush with a little rubbing alcohol. Give the charging pins the same courtesy with a cotton swap, ensuring no pieces of swap remain in the pins.
Fitbit Charge 2 & Charge 3
To get started, know that the Fitbit Charge 2 and Charge 3 both ship with a bespoke charging clamp that must be affixed to either side of the device, ensuring the pins meet the port on the rear of the tracker.
One side of the clip has a hole, which makes room for the function button, so ensure they line up. The charger will click into place. Once the other end of the cable is attached to the power source, you’ll feel a vibration and the battery charging icon with the charge level will show up on the display. It takes 1-2 hours to fully replenish these models. You’ll know when it’s recharged when the battery icon is full.
Note: Fitbit 2 charging cables will not work with the Fitbit Charge 3.
Fitbit Versa and Versa Lite
The Fitbit Versa and Versa Lite features a similar cradle to the Blaze, but, like the older generation, it’s a bespoke solution. Thankfully, you don’t have to remove the watch face from its frame or even take off the strap here. The watch sits neat in the cradle (which doesn’t have to be opened first).
And once connected to a USB power source, the watch face will light up with the current battery percentage and the message ‘battery charging’. From flat, a full recharge can take up to 2 hours. If you wish to use the device while charging, tap the display twice.
Fitbit Ionic
The Fitbit Ionic has a magnetic charging solution akin to Apple’s old and dearly missed MagSafe chargers. You will need to plug the USB charging cable into a power source before lining up the pins on the charger with the pins on the watch. The magnetic force will see the charger click into place. When secure, the smartwatch will vibrate and you’ll see the battery icon and percentage on the screen. Recharging can take up to two hours, and tapping the display will show the current charge level.
Fitbit Inspire series and Ace 2
The Inspire, Inspire HR and Ace 2 all offer fairly similar charging methods. Here, it’s a case of holding the charging pins close to the rear surface of the tracker, in line with the three receiving ports on the rear of the device. The charging clicks into place magnetically. Once connected to the power source, charging will take two hours. When complete, press the button on the side of the device and you’ll see a smiling face.
Fitbit Ace and Alta series
The company's kids tracker, the Fitbit Ace, as well as the popular Alta line, boast a charging clip that ensures a solid connection to the devices while charging. You’ll need to squeeze the clamps and line up the charging pins with the port on the back of the tracker. And once you’ve released the clip, it’ll grip the sides of the tracker. You’ll know the connection has been made when the device vibrates and the battery icon appears on screen. It is full when the battery image on the screen is full.
Fitbit Blaze
Honestly, Fitbit must put as much energy into designing its charging solutions as it does trackers and smartwatches. The Fitbit Blaze smartwatch requires users to completely remove the watch face from the frame and place it inside it’s own little charging box. Push the button on the box to open it and place the detached tracker in with the Fitbit logo facing the front. Close the cradle, plug the other end of the USB cable into a power source and Bob’s your uncle. A full recharge takes 1-2 hours.
Fitbit Flex 2
To charge the Fitbit Flex 2, you’ll need to remove both ends band and place the body of the tracker in the bundled cradle. As always, you’ll need to plug the cradle into a USB power source first. Then line up the pins on the back of the charger with the pins on the cradle. Drop it in. You’ll know the device is charging via the LED lights on the display. In 1-2 hours the charging will be complete, you’ll know when all 5 LEDs are flashing.
How we test
By Chris Smith
Chris has more than decade of experience writing for the UK's foremost technology publications including TechRadar, T3 and more.
A freelance journalist based near Miami, Florida, Chris has written for Wareable since its inception in 2014. From reviews of the latest fitness devices, and in-depth features on bleeding-edge wearable devices, to future-gazing interviews with some of the industry's brightest minds, Chris covers the lot. He also writes about sport for The Guardian and is the author of many technology guide books, while also dabbling in film, music, beer, travel and political commentary.
When he's isn't smashing away at the keys of his MacBook, Chris can be found at his favourite craft breweries, dangling his rod in the warm waters of the Florida Keys, or exploring the Shropshire countryside.
You can follow his on Twitter but beware, it's mostly sporting and political hot takes, occasionally interspersed with tech-based tweets.