Fitbit trackers and smartwatches touchscreen, crown or buttons: Google's article on a blank, unresponsive, rebooting or flickering screen says most blank-screen faults are fixed by updating and syncing the firmware, then cleaning and charging, restarting or resetting. Charge the device and confirm the latest Google Health app; in the app tap your device and the pink Update button, keep the device close during the update, and allow up to an hour or more. Sync manually from the Today tab.
Clean the contacts with a toothbrush and fresh water, dry them, clean the cable pins with a swab and rubbing alcohol, and leave it charging for at least an hour because a depleted battery can turn the screen on without enough charge. Then restart: on a Charge 5, Charge 6 or Luxe press the charger button three times one second apart, or on a Sense or Versa hold the side button for 10 seconds. Try a different clock face, since some faces cause flicker. If a device is unresponsive to taps, swipes or buttons or is in a reboot loop, a restart fixes it without losing activity data. Never poke the sensor holes.
Differential
Likely causes of “Fitbit trackers and smartwatches touchscreen, crown or buttons are not responding”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Outdated firmware
What separates it There is a blank or flickering screen because of outdated firmware
How to confirm Update the device from the Google Health app
- 2
A depleted battery
What separates it The screen wakes then dies because of a depleted battery
How to confirm Charge for at least an hour, and try the screen again
- 3
A frozen device
What separates it The screen ignores taps because the device is frozen
How to confirm Restart it, since activity data is not lost by a restart
- 4
A clock face problem
What separates it There is flickering after a face change because of a clock face problem
How to confirm Change the clock face, and check the screen again
- 5
Dirty contacts
What separates it It will not stay charged because of dirty contacts
How to confirm Clean the contacts and the cable pins, then charge it
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- What the screen does: blank, flicker, reboot loop or frozen
- Whether it charges and whether the clock face was changed recently
- Whether the device was dropped or wet
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCharge for an hour
ReversibleCharge for an hour, by cleaning the contacts and leaving it charging for at least an hour.
Update
ReversibleUpdate, by charging, then updating from the Google Health app and keeping the device close.
Sync
ReversibleSync, by syncing manually from the Today tab of the app, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Restart
ReversibleRestart, by using your model's steps for restarting the device, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Change the clock face, and check the screen again
ReversibleChange the clock face, by picking a different clock face in the app, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reset
ReversibleReset, and if it still fails, reset the device as Google describes for your model.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Restart by model
- Charge 5, Charge 6 and Luxe: three presses of the charger button, one second apart. Sense 2 and Versa 4: hold the side button 10 seconds on the charger. The Charge 5 and 6 also restart from Settings, Restart Device.
- Ace LTE has no reset button
- Google says the Ace LTE has no physical reset button and warns not to insert items into the microphone hole on the side.
- 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 the screen stays blank after an hour of charging, an update and a restart, contact Fitbit support
- !If a reboot loop continues, contact support, and give them the model and the serial number
- !If the screen is cracked or has dead zones, contact support
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Update, sync, clean, charge, restart and change the clock face.
When to restart and the per-model steps.
Restarting on the charger.
The Ace LTE's restart and fast boot reset.
The Fitbit brand and its devices.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my Fitbit screen blank?+
Usually a depleted battery or outdated firmware; charge for an hour, update and restart.
Does a restart delete data?+
Google says a restart turns the device off and on without the loss of any activity data.
How do I restart a Charge 6?+
On a Charge 5 or 6, use Settings, Restart Device, or press the charger button three times if it is unresponsive.
How do I restart a Sense 2 or Versa 4?+
Hold the side button for 10 seconds while charging, or use Settings, Restart Device.
What if it reboots repeatedly?+
Update and sync, then restart; contact support if the loop continues.
Can a clock face cause flicker?+
Google lists changing the clock face as a fix.
How long can an update take?+
Up to an hour or more.
Can I use a paper clip?+
No. Do not insert items into the sensor holes.
How does the Ace LTE restart?+
Long press the top side button and choose Restart; if that fails hold both side buttons about 20 seconds.