Google's charging article starts with a table: a totally black screen means plug the device into a wall outlet for 60 minutes, not a computer; an insufficient power source message means unplug other gadgets from the USB hub or use a different wall plug; a charger that will not stay attached means the small gold pins on the cable are stuck or dirty; a battery that dies in under a day means turn Always On off; and a big red X means a sync or software error, fixed by removing and re-adding the device.
Then the steps: deep clean by rubbing the gold dots on the back and the cable pins with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol, and a pencil eraser for stubborn buildup, brushing away every bit; leave it on a wall outlet for a full hour; press the cable's pins to check they spring back; and restart. On a Charge 5, Charge 6 or Luxe, press the small button on the flat end of the charger three times, one second apart, and wait about 10 seconds for the logo. On a Sense or Versa, hold the side button for 10 seconds on the charger.
Differential
Likely causes of “Fitbit trackers and smartwatches will not charge”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Sweat or lotion film on the contacts
What separates it The device charges intermittently or not at all because of a sweat or lotion film on the contacts
How to confirm Clean the gold dots and cable pins with rubbing alcohol and a pencil eraser
- 2
A stuck or dirty charger pin
What separates it The charger will not stay attached because of a stuck or dirty charger pin
How to confirm Press each pin; if one stays down, replace the cable
- 3
Charging from a computer or crowded hub
What separates it An insufficient power source message shows because you are charging from a computer or a crowded hub
How to confirm Use a wall outlet and unplug other gadgets from the hub
- 4
A completely drained battery
What separates it The screen stays black because of a completely drained battery
How to confirm Leave it on a wall outlet for a full hour
- 5
A frozen device
What separates it The red X or a stuck logo shows because the device is frozen
How to confirm Restart it, then remove and re-add it in the Google Health app
- 6
A worn battery
What separates it It charges but dies in under a day because of a worn battery
How to confirm Turn Always On off first, then get the battery tested
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The model and serial number, and the firmware version if it wakes
- What the screen shows on the charger: black, a battery icon, a red X or the logo
- Which cable, wall outlet and adapter you used
- Whether the pins on the cable spring back and the contacts look clean
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedUse a wall outlet
ReversiblePlug the cable into a wall outlet and leave the device on it for a full hour; do not use a computer.
Clean the contacts
ReversibleUse a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol on the gold dots and the cable pins, then a pencil eraser if needed.
Test the pins
ReversibleTest the pins, by pushing each gold pin on the cable with a finger, and each pin must spring back.
Check the connection
ReversibleHold the cable near a Charge 6 or Versa 4 port until it attaches magnetically and the charge percentage appears.
Restart
ReversiblePress the charger button three times on a Charge 5, 6 or Luxe, or hold the side button 10 seconds on a Sense or Versa.
Fix a red X
ReversibleFix a red X, by removing and re adding the device in the Google Health app.
Contact support
ReversibleContact support, and give Fitbit the model and the serial number of the device, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Charging by model
- Google's charging article: Charge 6 and Sense 2 or Versa 4 attach magnetically, an Inspire 3 snaps onto pins, and Charge 5, Charge 6 and Luxe share a cable; a full charge takes one to two hours.
- Restart on the charger
- Charge 5, Charge 6 and Luxe restart with three presses of the charger button, one second apart; Sense and Versa restart by holding the side button for 10 seconds while charging, per Google.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Versa 4, Inspire 3, Luxe, Ace LTE.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a full hour on a wall outlet, clean contacts and a restart do nothing, contact Fitbit support with the model and serial number
- !If the case is swollen or hot, stop charging and contact Google
- !If a red X persists after removing and re-adding, contact support
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
The problem table, deep clean, wall outlet hour, cable pins and restart.
How each model attaches to the charger and the 1 to 2 hour charge time.
Clean the contacts and leave it charging for at least an hour.
The Ace LTE's orientation, USB-C cable and four contact pins.
The Fitbit brand and its devices.
Exact questions
Common questions
How long does a dead Fitbit take to show a charge?+
Google says leave it on a wall outlet for a full hour; at 0 percent the screen can stay black for several minutes.
Why not charge from my computer?+
Google's table says do not plug it into a computer when the screen is black; use a wall outlet.
What does insufficient power source mean?+
Unplug other gadgets from your USB hub or use a different wall plug, per Google.
How do I clean the contacts?+
A cotton swab with rubbing alcohol, then a pencil eraser on the gold dots, brushing away every bit, per Google.
How do I know the cable is good?+
Push the gold pins with a finger; if one stays pushed in or feels stuck, replace the cable.
What does the red X mean?+
A sync or software error; remove and re-add the device in the Google Health app.
Do Charge 5, Charge 6 and Luxe share a cable?+
Google says they use the same charging cable.
Does the Ace LTE charge the same way?+
No. It charges in one orientation on a USB-C fast charging cable with four contact pins.