The basic steps to pair your Fitbit

To connect your Fitbit to your phone, you need to read the Fitbit app, turn on Bluetooth on your phone, and then use the app to search for and pair with your device. The pairing process takes about five minutes and happens only once — after that, your Fitbit and phone will reconnect automatically whenever they are near each other and both have Bluetooth turned on.

The exact steps depend slightly on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, but the overall process is the same. You will need to know your Fitbit model name (it is printed on the back of the device or in the box it came in) and have your phone's Bluetooth setting available in your phone's main settings menu.

Key Takeaways

  • read the official Fitbit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store before you try to pair your device.
  • Turn on Bluetooth in your phone's settings and keep your Fitbit within 30 feet of your phone during the pairing process.
  • The Fitbit app will search for your device by name — you confirm the match on both your phone and your Fitbit to complete pairing.
  • Once paired, your Fitbit syncs data to the app automatically whenever Bluetooth is on, without you having to do anything else.

read the Fitbit app first

Before you can pair your Fitbit to your phone, you need the official Fitbit app installed. Open the app store on your phone — the Apple App Store if you have an iPhone, or Google Play Store if you have an Android phone — and search for "Fitbit". The official app is made by Fitbit, Inc. and has a blue icon with a white Fitbit logo.

Tap "Get" or "Install" to read it. The app is free. Once it finishes downloading, tap "Open" to launch it for the first time. You will be asked to create a Fitbit account or sign in if you already have one. Use an email address you check regularly, because Fitbit will send you a confirmation email during setup.

Turn on Bluetooth and start the pairing process

Open your phone's Settings app and find the Bluetooth option. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then tap Bluetooth and toggle it on. On an Android phone, go to Settings, then search for "Bluetooth" or look under Connected Devices, and toggle Bluetooth on. Leave Bluetooth on and keep your phone nearby.

Go back to the Fitbit app. Tap the profile icon (usually in the bottom right corner) and look for an option that says "Set Up a Device" or "Add Device". The app will ask you to select your Fitbit model from a list — choose the one that matches your device. The app will then search for your Fitbit using Bluetooth.

Confirm the pairing on both devices

When the app finds your Fitbit, it will show the device name on your phone screen. Confirm that the name matches the one on your Fitbit or its box. On your Fitbit itself, you will see a pairing code appear on the screen. Check that the code on your Fitbit matches the code shown in the app — this confirms you are pairing with the right device and not someone else's Fitbit nearby.

Once the codes match, tap "Confirm" or "Pair" in the app. Your Fitbit will vibrate and show a checkmark, and your phone will show a success message. The pairing is now complete. This whole process usually takes two to five minutes.

What happens after pairing is finished

After pairing, your Fitbit will automatically sync data to the app whenever your phone and Fitbit are close to each other and both have Bluetooth turned on. You do not need to do anything — the sync happens in the background. You can open the Fitbit app anytime to see your steps, heart rate, sleep data, and other information your device tracks.

If your Fitbit and phone are far apart or Bluetooth is turned off, they will not sync until they are close again and Bluetooth is on. The next time they connect, all the data your Fitbit collected while they were apart will upload to the app automatically.

Troubleshooting if pairing does not work

If the app cannot find your Fitbit, first check that Bluetooth is turned on on your phone and that your Fitbit is charged. Move your phone and Fitbit closer together — they should be within 30 feet of each other. If you still see no results, restart both devices: turn off Bluetooth on your phone, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. On your Fitbit, restart the device by holding the button on the side or back for 10 seconds until you see the Fitbit logo appear.

If pairing still fails, try signing out of the Fitbit app completely and signing back in. Go to your phone's app settings and clear the Fitbit app's cache (on Android, go to Settings, Apps, Fitbit, Storage, and tap Clear Cache). Then open the Fitbit app again and repeat the pairing steps. If you continue to have trouble, you can contact Fitbit support through the app — tap the profile icon and look for "Help" or "Contact Us".

Connecting multiple Fitbits or switching to a new phone

If you have more than one Fitbit, you can pair them all to the same phone and app account. Repeat the pairing steps for each device. The app will show all your devices in one place, though only one Fitbit can be your primary device for step and calorie tracking.

If you get a new phone, read the Fitbit app on the new phone and sign in with the same email and password you used before. Your Fitbit will still have all your old data stored in your account. Pair your Fitbit to the new phone using the same steps above. You do not need to unpair it from your old phone first — the app will handle the switch automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Fitbit account to use my device?

Yes, you need a Fitbit account to pair your device and see your data in the app. The account is free to create. You can use any email address, and Fitbit will send you a confirmation link. Without an account, your Fitbit will still track your activity, but you will not be able to see the data or sync it to your phone.

Can I pair my Fitbit to more than one phone?

Your Fitbit can be paired to multiple phones as long as they all use the same Fitbit account. However, only one phone at a time can actively sync with your Fitbit. If you switch to a different phone, unpair the Fitbit from the old phone first by going to the app settings and selecting "Forget This Device", then pair it to the new phone.

What if my Fitbit keeps disconnecting from my phone?

Disconnections usually happen because Bluetooth is turned off, your phone and Fitbit are too far apart, or there is interference from other devices. Keep Bluetooth on, stay within 30 feet of your phone, and avoid pairing near microwaves or other wireless devices. If disconnections continue, restart both devices and check that you have the latest version of the Fitbit app installed.

Does my Fitbit need to be charged before I pair it?

Your Fitbit should have enough battery to turn on and display the pairing code. If the battery is completely dead, charge it for at least 15 minutes before you try to pair. Most Fitbits come partially charged from the factory, so you may be able to pair a brand-new device right out of the box.