Google's setup troubleshooting and update articles describe a clean re-pair. Remove the device from the Google Health app (your device settings, remove the device from your account), then go to the phone's system settings, Connected devices or Bluetooth, find the Fitbit in the previously paired list and forget it: Google warns that skipping this leaves residual pairing data.
Force quit the Google Health app, turn phone Bluetooth off for at least 10 seconds and back on, restart the Fitbit and fully restart the phone, keep the device within 2 to 3 feet, and temporarily turn off Bluetooth on other nearby devices, including second phones, smart home hubs and other wearables, because multiple paired devices cause connectivity trouble. Then set the device up again. For a Fitbit device that shows a phone-disconnected icon, use the sync article's steps: uninstall the app on other nearby phones, restart, and try again.
Differential
Likely causes of “Fitbit trackers and smartwatches will not pair with the phone”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Old pairing data on the phone
What separates it Setup fails or the device never appears because of old pairing data on the phone
How to confirm Forget the Fitbit in the phone's Bluetooth list, as Google warns
- 2
Another phone or device is connected
What separates it The Fitbit connects to the wrong phone because another phone or device is connected
How to confirm Turn off Bluetooth on other nearby devices and uninstall the app on other phones
- 3
A frozen phone Bluetooth stack
What separates it No device is found because the phone Bluetooth stack is frozen
How to confirm Turn Bluetooth off for 10 seconds and back on
- 4
An outdated app or firmware
What separates it The setup stalls because of an outdated app or firmware
How to confirm Update the Google Health app and the device
- 5
The device is too far away
What separates it The link drops because the device is too far away
How to confirm Keep it within 2 to 3 feet during setup
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The model and the serial number of the device
- The phone model, OS and Google Health app version
- The exact error message during setup
- Whether other phones or wearables are nearby with Bluetooth on
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedRemove it from the app
ReversibleRemove it from the app, by opening the Google Health app and removing the device from your account.
Forget it on the phone
ReversibleForget it on the phone, by going to Connected devices or Bluetooth and forgetting the Fitbit.
Reset phone Bluetooth
ReversibleReset phone Bluetooth, by turning Bluetooth off for at least 10 seconds and back on.
Restart both
ReversibleRestart the Fitbit and the phone, then let the tracker sync again and check whether the numbers now look right.
Isolate the pair
ReversibleIsolate the pair, by turning off Bluetooth on other nearby phones, hubs and wearables, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Keep it close
ReversibleKeep it close, by keeping the Fitbit within 2 to 3 feet of the phone during setup.
Set up again
ReversibleSet up again, by following the setup steps in the app from the beginning, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Setup by model
- Google's articles cover the Charge 5 and 6, Inspire 3, Luxe, Sense 2 and Versa 4 with the Google Health app; the Ace LTE uses the Fitbit Ace app and needs Wi-Fi and an Ace Pass plan for setup.
- Compatibility
- Google's specifications list the Ace LTE as working with most phones running Android 11 or newer or iOS 16 or newer.
- Repair cost
- Pairing costs nothing. If the device never appears after a full disconnect and re-setup, it is a hardware fault; Alibaba's guide puts a mail-in battery service at $45 to $75 and a Charge 6 replacement at $99 to $129.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models Sense 2, Versa 4, Inspire 3, Luxe, Ace LTE.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If setup fails after a full disconnect and re-setup on a second phone, contact Fitbit support
- !If the app cannot find any Bluetooth device, fix the phone first
- !If an Ace LTE fails setup, use the Ace LTE Help
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
The full Bluetooth disconnection and re-setup, force quit, 10 second Bluetooth reset and other nearby devices.
Set-up troubleshooting.
Other phones, restart and manual sync.
Ace LTE requirements including the Ace Pass plan.
The Fitbit brand and its devices.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why will my Fitbit not pair?+
Old pairing data or other connected devices are the commonest cause, per Google's troubleshooting.
Do I need to forget it in Bluetooth settings?+
Yes. Google says failure to do so leaves residual data.
Why turn off other Bluetooth devices?+
Multiple paired devices can cause connectivity issues, per Google.
How close should it be?+
Google says within 2 to 3 feet during updates and setup.
Do I need the latest app?+
Yes, Google lists the latest Google Health app as a requirement.
Does it work with iPhone and Android?+
Yes, with steps that differ slightly in the app.
What about the Ace LTE?+
It is set up with the Fitbit Ace app and a Wi-Fi network and needs an Ace Pass plan.
Can I pair two phones?+
One at a time; disconnect the first.