Fitness trackers from Fitbit are probably the best-selling smart wearables that are on the market. And even though you will see Fitbit Versa, Fitbit Versa lite, Fitbit sense, or Fitbit Charge 3 in most hands, each Fitbit device has one goal: to assist you in your fitness journey and keep you on track with your goals.
However, you cannot keep up with your goals if the charge is not on the optimal level, could you? Well, the Fitbit won’t charge problem is pretty typical among many Fitbit users.
So, if you are facing the issue, you are not the only one. And you should not worry if you cannot charge Fitbit correctly! There are solutions!
1. What Should You Do If Your Fitbit Does Not Charge Properly?
Like most electronic devices and other devices for tracking health, Fitbit devices have batteries. That is applicable whether you have a Fitbit Alta, Fitbit Versa, or any other device with the Fitbit logo.
And just like other devices with a battery, Fitbit devices might show battery issues over time. However, you should not worry one bit. One of these tricks can fix the Fitbit battery issue in no time at all:
2. Check the Charging Contacts
One of the most common issues that revolve around the Fitbit not charging properly is dirty charging contacts. Whether you have the Fitbit versa, Fitbit Alta, Fitbit Charge 3, or other models from Fitbit, there are charging contacts on the device. And getting these contacts dirty is pretty easy. You just have to wear the device!
Now, when the charging contacts are dirty, the charging pins on the cable will not be capable of making proper contact with them. Get yourself a clean toothbrush and clean the charging contact of your device. If too much grime and accumulated dust are on the charging contacts, use some rubbing alcohol.
You should also carry out the same cleaning process for the charging dock. Like the charging contact, the pins can get dirty. And that could eventually cause charging issues or hinder the device from fully charging.
3. The Charging Pins Are Not Aligned Properly
Imagine keeping your Fitbit connected to the charging cable overnight to find out its battery life is at 0 in the morning. Wouldn’t it be frustrating? Well, a misaligned charging port is one of the reasons why the device is not charging. In other words, the charging cable is not properly connected to your device.
Fixing this charging issue is pretty simple. Check the device’s screen before leaving the device plugged into the charging cable overnight. If the device does not show that the Fitbit is charging, you need to double-check the Fitbit.
Now, if you notice that the Fitbit is not sitting on the Fitbit charger properly, remove and reconnect it.
4. The Device Is Wet
You might not believe it; the Fitbit might have trouble charging if it is wet. Now, a Fitbit can get wet from the sweat of your hands. It can even get wet when you go for a swing for a few hours with the device in your hand.
So, when you notice that the Fitbit is wet, dry it thoroughly with a clean cloth and leave it out for several hours. Then, try connecting the charging cable to your Fitbit. If the battery is charging, a small icon should appear and state that the Fitbit is charging.
On that note, not all Fitbits are waterproof. Yes, they will resist the sweat but will not be capable of withstanding a splash or a dip. For that reason, before you go swimming with the device in your hand, ensure whether it is rated for the exercise. If it is not, you should not dip it into the pool.
5. Reset the Device
Even though a Fitbit is small, the device is still a computer. And like other devices that have a processor inside, restarting your Fitbit can solve many problems. That includes the charging issues as well.
With that being said, if the battery of your Fitbit still has some juice but will not get into the charging state, it might be a software glitch. And that is pretty common with any computer. As we have mentioned, if you simply restart your Fitbit, the glitch can go away.
That said, the process of restarting your Fitbit will vary from one device to another. But usually, when you press and hold the button on the side of the device, you can restart it.
The screen of the device will go blank for a few seconds, and a smile icon should appear afterward. That will indicate that the restart was successful.
After you restart the tracker device, check whether it gets into charging mode or not. Double-check to ensure that the charging cable is connected securely to the device. Without getting the devices plugged or connected securely, you cannot make them go into charging mode.
6. Charger Or Charging Cable Is Not Working
Sometimes, the USB port of your charging brick can give in. Likewise, the charging cable might have damage to it. Devices plugged into a nonfunctional charging brick, or damaged USB port will not get into the charge.
In other words, the battery will not charge if you are using a damaged charging USB port or charging cable, even after the restart. Fitbit recommends using a UL-certified wall charger to maintain proper battery life. So, if your device is not charging, get a new charger keeping that recommendation in mind.
Alongside that, Fitbit told many users to use the official charger cable. A different cable might cause issues with the battery.
That said, it does not mean that you should get a different charger or charging cable right away. Before doing that, check whether the device charges or not by plugging the charging cable into a different USB port. If it works after you plug it into a different USB port, it states that there is an issue with the previous power source.
On that note, you can also try and plug the device into a USB hub or power bank to ensure whether there was an issue with the power source. If you see that the new charger or power source is working properly, there was definitely a problem with the previous power source.
7. Leave the Device in Charging for 30 Minutes
Sometimes, the device might not turn on, or charge if you have not used it for a prolonged time. In this case, the charger or the charger cable might not be the issue. The battery inside is basically depleted, and you will need to plug it into the charger for at least 30 minutes to make the device come back to life.
Get the battery replaced if it does not work even after you leave it plugged into the charger for a while.
8. How Can You Extend the Battery Life of Fitbit?
The battery life of the Fitbit devices will vary. Why? Because the battery capacity of each device is not the same. That said, usually, these units will last anywhere between 4 days to 10 days.
This battery life will also depend on your use case. And if you turn all the features on, the device might not run that long.
That said, when it comes to extending the run time, you first need to ensure that your device is charged fully. Keep it plugged into the charger until the battery is full. Then, turn the features that are only essential for you. For example, you might not need the GPS when doing a certain exercise. Turn it off to extend the run time.
Likewise, you can also turn off the other features that remain on when you use the unit. Those will help to extend the run time and allow you to use the Fitbit without the need to charge it up after a day of use.
Furthermore, ensure that the device is on the latest software. Sometimes, users forget to upgrade the firmware of the device, or they do not want to upgrade the firmware for specific reasons. Well, most of the time, the firmware upgrades optimize the battery. So, upgrade the software as soon as you get the notification for it.
