Why Won’t My Fitbit Charge?

The Fitbit has fast become a staple for many Americans today, and why not? Everybody wants to be fitter and healthier. However, once your tracker is unable to charge, it might become impossible to log in your activities. Fortunately, we have a few fixes we think might work for you if you have the question “why won’t my Fitbit charge?”

Before we get into the meat of the matter, here are some things you might want to check off on your list before we get into the fixes.

You have to ensure that your charging cable is connected securely to your Fitbit tracker. You also have to be sure that the cable is securely connected to the USB port as well. A charging device would show a lightning symbol beside the battery and the device would also vibrate.

Video: Fitbit Charge 2

This video from Fitbit demonstrates how to correctly charge your Fitbit charge 2.

That said, when it comes to charging issues, the hardware is mostly the problem. So, in most cases, they are easy to fix or, at least, easy to replace.

So, without further ado, let’s get to two important questions that must be answered when you start experiencing charging issues.

1. Is Your Cable Damaged?

How do you know if your Fitbit charging cable is damaged and what is the solution?

If you have not charged your Fitbit before and the charger isn’t charging the tracker, then it is possible that you received a faulty cable. If this is the case, contact the company and get a replacement.

However, if you have used the cable before, consider plugging the dongle into your PC rather than a wall charger. If it still isn’t charging, then something might be wrong with your cable. It’s possible that the wire is frayed or the internal wiring is damaged.

With Fitbits, fortunately, replacements are not very expensive. Just be sure to pick up the right charger when getting a new one.

2. Is Your Fitbit Charger Connector Damaged?

The connectors on your Fitbit or your dongle might be damaged. But to fully assess the situation, you’d need to get a good source of light as well as a magnifying glass. This way, you’ll be able to see the contact spots (those gold circles on the charging slot) clearly.

Make sure you don’t rub any metal on these contact spots as they are quite sensitive and touching them with metal can cause irreversible damage.

The good news is that most times, damaged connectors are found on the cable rather than on the Fitbit. But if your Fitbit is indeed damaged, then there is little you can do. Your best move right now would be to contact the company for help

That said, without further ado, let’s get down to some common reasons
your Fitbit might not be charging along with their solutions.

Why Your Fitbit Is Not Charging

Here are some of the reasons why your Fitbit is not charging: 

• Dirty Pins.
• Faulty USB Port or Outlet
• The device might not be working the way it should.
• A Wet Device
• You might get the error message, “Insufficient power source”, on your screen.
• You depleted your phone battery to 0% or your Fitbit has been inactive for several months.
• You did not fully open the charger clips.
• Wrong connection

Now that we know the reasons why your Fitbit may not be charging, let us explain them better and proffer possible solutions.

1. Dirty Pins

Sometimes, the reason your Fitbit isn’t charging is that the pins on the Fitbit itself or on your charger are dirty. This is a common problem as dust and debris will accumulate over time as you use your tracker. This is inevitable.

If this is the reason why your Fitbit is not charging, you would have to clean the charging contacts. That is, both the ones on the back of your tracker and the pins in your cable. In fact, Fitbit recommends that you do a routine cleaning of your device occasionally.

Here’s how to do that.

How to Clean The Charging Contacts On The Back Of Your Fitbit

Here are the steps to take in cleaning the back of your Fitbit:

i. Use rubbing alcohol to clean the contacts with the help of an old toothbrush. Then dry the contacts either with a tissue or with a cloth before you charge the device.

ii. You want to ensure that you do not scrape the contacts with a metal object so you don’t damage the plating which could cause corrosion.

The goal is to ensure that the contacts stay gold or bronze in color as the case may be. So, here’s what you do.

How to Clean The Pins On The Charging Cable of a Fitbit

Here are the steps to take in cleaning the pins on the Fitbit charging cable:

i. Use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to carefully clean out the pins.

ii. Ensure that there are no leftover swab pieces on the pins when you’re done.

Please note that the small holes on some Fitbit devices for sensors such as an altimeter or a microphone should not be poled using clips or paper as it could damage the device.

Video: How to Clean Your Fitbit Surge or Charge

Here is a video demonstrating how to clean your Fitbit following Fitbit’s instructions.

2. Faulty USB Port Or Outlet

Consider charging with another USB port or try using a UL-certified wall charger

3. The Device Might Not Be Working As It Should

In such a case, consider restarting your device. It also works for other problems such as when your device won’t sync, won’t respond to taps, swipes, or button presses, won’t track your steps or other stats, or won’t turn on even when it’s fully charged.

When you restart (also known as soft reset) your device, it turns off, but it does not delete any data from your ongoing activity.

Here is how to restart a Fitbit to make it responsive and/or sync:

i. First, plug the charging cable into the USB port and then connect the other end to the port at the back of your device which should get your Fitbit charging.

ii. Afterward, hold on to the button for between 10 and we seconds until you see the Fitbit icon as well as the version number of the device.

iii. Then release the button.

iv. Finally, unplug the cable from the tracker.

Video: Reset and Factory Reset Fitbit Charge

Here’s a video demonstrating how to soft reset and hard reset your Fitbit.

4. A Wet Device

Oftentimes, you’re told that Fitbits are water-resistant. Well, that’s true to an extent. For most Fitbits actually, they are more splash-resistant than water-resistant. So, if you get a few drops on your tracker while washing your hands or from a drizzle, you should be fine.

However, wearing it to swim or while showering might spell doom.

In such a situation, do NOT charge your Fitbit!

Instead, dry the device first. Of course, there’s always the uncooked rice or silica gel trick you can try. Put the wet device in a sealed bag of either uncooked rice or silica gel and leave it for 24 to 48 hours untouched.

5. You Might Get The Error Message — “Insufficient Power Source” On Your Screen

What do you do when there is an error message “Insufficient power source” while charging your Fitbit?

When you receive the error message “Insufficient power source” while charging your Fitbit, try to plug it to another power source. Or, you can also try removing other devices connected to the power source to which your Fitbit is connected.

Alternatively, confirm that the power being supplied is up to the normal voltage. If it is not, you run the risk of damaging your Fitbit charger.

6. You Depleted Your Phone Battery 0% / Your Fitbit Has Been Inactive For Several Months

If you depleted your phone battery to 0% before charging it, then it might take some time before it begins to charge. So, let your device remain plugged in for up to 30 minutes. Afterward, your Fitbit should begin to charge.

7. You Did Not Fully Open The Charger Clips

Sometimes, we see customers who say they are not able to charge their Fitbit and it’s the first charge. In some of these cases, it’s because the clips on the charger are not fully open. 

If these clips are not fully open, the charger will still fit into the Fitbit. However, because it can’t make the connection with the charging contacts on the back of the device, the device still won’t charge. So, you want to ensure that they are open.

8. One Final Trick

How do you make your Fitbit charger to work?

Connect your Fitbit to the charging cable and then insert a fingernail into the slot on the charger till you reach the on button. When you do, hold on to it until you see a smiley face on the display. 

This takes a while, normally, so don’t worry if you don’t see the smiley face immediately. Sometimes, it takes up to 30 seconds before you see it.

When the smiley does appear, disconnect the charging cable and restart the watch. Afterward, reconnect the charger again. When you reconnect the charger, the usual battery icon should show meaning that your Fitbit is now charging.

This trick should be used when you have confirmed that options 1 – 7 are not the problem.

(Click here to read our article on the Seiko Solar vs Citizen Eco-Drive watches).

Check out these articles for more on watches

How to Buy a Used Rolex

Where Is Rolex From

What Can You Do With a Smartwatch

How to Adjust Rolex Watch Band

What Is a Hybrid Smartwatch

How to Clean a Rolex 

Conclusion

If you’ve done all you can and they all fail, then it’s time to contact Fitbit’s customer support. It’s a very professional team and they are fast and helpful.

 Why Won’t My Fitbit Charge – Related FAQs

Can I Delete my Fitbit App and Reinstall It?

You can delete your Fitbit app and reinstall it. Just go to your Android or iPhone, locate the app and delete it. You can also reinstall it by going to the Apple store for iPhone or Play store for Android phones.

Deleting your Fitbit app does not mean that your account has been closed or your data, erased from the service. If your aim is to close your account or erase your data, then you need to delete your account. This can be done with your Android phone, iPhone, or the Fitbit app. 

Why Is my Fitbit Not Working?

Your Fitbit may not be working because of these reasons:

1. The Fitbit may not be powered on.
2. The smartphone or device that is connected to your Fitbit may be on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode. If so, have it turned off.
3. The Bluetooth may be switched off. If it is switched on, it could be that it is not paired with the Fitbit device.
4. The Fitbit and the smartphone may not be within communication distance. The two devices should not be more than 10 meters apart.

However, before you start checking what the fault is, make sure that the Fitbit device is in proper working order. 

How Long Should a Fitbit Last?

A Fitbit should last between 5 to 7 days when it is properly charged. Within this length of time, you can comfortably use it without bothering about having it charged again. However, there are situations that can make a Fitbit battery to last shorter or longer than the time estimated above. 

One of the situations has to do with the age of the device. Older models of the Fitbit have a shorter battery lifespan than the more recent models. Another situation that must be put into consideration is the duration of the usage. The more time you put your Fitbit to use, the shorter the battery will last. 

 Is it Unhealthy to Wear a Fitbit?

It is not unhealthy to wear a Fitbit. A Fitbit monitors your heart rate, activity levels, and tracks your calories. It then sends the gathered data to a connected device. The device and your Fitbit are connected through Bluetooth. 

Fitbit uses low radiofrequency waves to transmit the information gathered. Its radiofrequency is much lower than that of a phone. Therefore, it poses no health risk to the user. 

However, if the Fitbit is not properly used, it could cause a few minor health issues. Fitbit is not meant to be worn all the time. If abused in such a way, it could cause skin irritation to the user.

Can Fitbit Warn of Heart Attack?

Fitbit, on its own, cannot warn the user of a possible heart attack. Fitbit only monitors your heart rate through your pulses. This is not enough to conclude on a possible threat of an impending heart attack.

However, Fitbit now has a partnership with a Belgium based heart monitoring app called Fabricheck. Because of this partnership, Fitbit users can now monitor and share their heart and blood flow data with their doctor.  The app enables Fitbit users to monitor their heartbeat rhythm to discover any abnormalities. It also checks for atrial fibrillation. It is a condition that causes irregular heart rate.

Can I Wear my Fitbit in the Shower?

You can wear your Fitbit in the shower. All Fitbit trackers and smartwatches are designed to be water-resistant. Therefore, they are rain resistant and splash resistant. It is also perfect for that sweaty workout. There is no risk of the sweat from your body sipping into the device during exercises.

In fact, Fitbit charge 3 has a water resistance of up to 50 meters in depth. That means you can use it to swim and monitor your body without the fear of the battery being flooded with water.