Google's GPS article starts with which type of GPS you have. The Charge 4, 5 and 6 have dynamic GPS, with built-in GPS and phone (connected) GPS; the Sense 2 and Versa 4 have dynamic GPS; the Inspire 3 and Luxe use the phone's GPS. Dynamic GPS uses your phone's sensors when it is nearby to save battery. For built-in GPS: charge above 80 percent, go outside, wait up to 30 seconds after connecting before you start, sync at least every 24 hours to shorten acquisition, and make sure the Google Health app has location permission always allowed.
Only exercises that cover distance use GPS. If GPS will not connect: loosen the band a notch, keep the device off the wrist bone, wait until GPS connects, allow several minutes in a new area, avoid heavy trees and tall buildings, and if it failed wait 5 minutes before starting again. On a Charge tracker, change the GPS mode to Phone GPS and restart the exercise. Distance falls back to step count while there is no signal.
Differential
Likely causes of “Fitbit trackers and smartwatches GPS distance or route is inaccurate”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Location permission is not always allowed
What separates it GPS never connects on a phone GPS device because location permission is not always allowed
How to confirm Allow always for the Google Health app, in the phone's location settings
- 2
No sync in over a day
What separates it The satellite connection is slow because there was no sync in over a day
How to confirm Sync at least every 24 hours, so the GPS data stays current
- 3
Tall buildings or heavy trees
What separates it There are gaps in the map route because of tall buildings or heavy trees
How to confirm Move to open sky and wait for the connection
- 4
The band is too tight or on the wrist bone
What separates it GPS keeps dropping because the band is too tight or on the wrist bone
How to confirm Loosen a notch and move it off the bone
- 5
The phone is too far for phone GPS
What separates it There is no route on an Inspire 3 or Luxe because the phone is too far for phone GPS
How to confirm Keep the phone within 30 feet, so that phone GPS works
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The model and which GPS type it has
- Whether the phone was with you and its location permission
- Where it happened and how open the sky was
- How long it took to connect and whether you synced in the last day
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedIdentify your GPS type
ReversibleIdentify your GPS type, by checking Google's table for your model, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Grant location
ReversibleGrant location, by setting the app's location permission to always allowed, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Charge and sync
ReversibleCharge and sync, by charging above 80 percent and syncing before you go out, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Go outside
ReversibleGo outside, and connect to GPS in the open, and wait up to 30 seconds before starting.
Adjust the fit
ReversibleAdjust the fit, by loosening the band a notch and keeping the device off the wrist bone.
Switch mode
ReversibleSwitch mode, and on a Charge tracker, change to Phone GPS and start again, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Retry after 5 minutes
ReversibleRetry after 5 minutes, and if GPS did not connect the first time, wait 5 minutes and try again.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- GPS type by model
- Google's table: Charge 5 and Charge 6 dynamic GPS with built-in and phone GPS; Sense 2 and Versa 4 dynamic GPS; Inspire 3 and Luxe phone (connected) GPS; Ace LTE GPS and GNSS.
- Battery on GPS
- Continuous built-in GPS gives up to 5 hours on the Charge 5 and 6 and up to 12 hours on the Sense 2 and Versa 4, per Google.
- Repair cost
- GPS settings cost nothing. A device whose GPS never connects after syncing and a restart is a hardware fault; Alibaba's guide puts a mail-in service at $45 to $75 and a Charge 6 replacement at $99 to $129.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models Charge 5, Sense 2, Versa 4, Inspire 3, Luxe, Ace LTE.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If built-in GPS never connects in an open field after syncing and a restart, contact Fitbit support
- !If only the distance is slightly off, that is normal with a weak signal
- !If phone GPS fails, fix the phone's permission first
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
GPS type per model, best practices and troubleshooting tips.
Why the phone location permission matters.
GPS accuracy limits.
GPS continuous battery figures.
The Fitbit brand and its devices.
Exact questions
Common questions
Which Fitbits have built-in GPS?+
Google lists the Charge 4, 5 and 6 and the Sense 2 and Versa 4 with dynamic GPS; the Inspire 3 and Luxe use phone GPS.
What is dynamic GPS?+
Google says it uses your phone's GPS when nearby to save battery, otherwise built-in GPS.
Why does connecting take minutes?+
In a new area or with buildings and trees it can take several minutes, per Google.
Should I sync first?+
Yes, at least once every 24 hours reduces connection time.
Does GPS use battery?+
Yes; Google lists up to 5 hours continuous on a Charge 5 or 6 and 12 on a Sense 2 or Versa 4.
What if the map has gaps?+
Loosen the band, keep off the wrist bone and wait until GPS connects.
Does distance work without GPS?+
Google says your device uses step count until it finds a signal.
Do all exercises use GPS?+
Only exercises where you cover distance.
Does the Ace LTE have GPS?+
Google's specs list GPS and GNSS with Google Location Accuracy.