Google's update troubleshooting article lists what must be true first: the device is on the latest firmware, charged to at least 50 percent (75 percent or more is recommended to prevent power loss), the Google Health app is the latest version, and you have stable Wi-Fi or cellular. Updates can take up to an hour and the app should keep running in the background while the device syncs. If the device fails to sync or the update never starts:
force quit the app, turn phone Bluetooth off for at least 10 seconds and back on, restart the Fitbit with its own procedure, fully restart the phone, keep the Fitbit within 2 to 3 feet and turn off Bluetooth on other nearby devices including second phones, smart home hubs and other wearables. The advanced step is a full Bluetooth disconnection and re-setup: remove the device from the app, forget it in the phone's Bluetooth list and set it up again. Updating at midnight, as the step count resets, can show a wrong step count for a day.
Differential
Likely causes of “Fitbit trackers and smartwatches software update will not install”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The battery is too low
What separates it The update will not start or fails midway because the battery is too low
How to confirm Charge to at least 50 percent, ideally 75 percent or more
- 2
A weak internet connection
What separates it The update stalls because of a weak internet connection
How to confirm Use stable Wi-Fi or cellular, and start the update again
- 3
The app is closed
What separates it The firmware stops between syncs because the app is closed
How to confirm Keep the Google Health app running in the background
- 4
Other Bluetooth devices interfere
What separates it The connection drops mid update because other Bluetooth devices interfere
How to confirm Turn off Bluetooth on other nearby devices, and try again
- 5
A stale pairing
What separates it The update never begins because of a stale pairing
How to confirm Do the full Bluetooth disconnection and re setup, and try again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The model, serial number and current firmware version
- The battery percentage and the exact error
- How long the update ran and whether the app stayed open
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCharge
ReversibleCharge the device to at least 50 percent, and ideally 75 percent or more, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Update the app
ReversibleUpdate the app, by installing the latest Google Health app on the phone, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the connection
ReversibleCheck the connection, and make sure that the phone has stable Wi-Fi or cellular data.
Force quit and reset Bluetooth
ReversibleForce quit and reset Bluetooth, by force quitting the app and turning Bluetooth off for 10 seconds.
Isolate the pair
ReversibleTurn off Bluetooth on other nearby devices and keep the Fitbit within 2 to 3 feet.
Re-setup
ReversibleRe setup, by removing and forgetting the device, and then setting it up again from scratch.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Updating by model
- Google's article covers the Charge 5 and 6, Inspire 3, Luxe, Sense 2 and Versa 4; the Ace LTE updates through its own system and the Fitbit Ace app.
- Battery guide
- Charge above 50 percent, ideally above 75 percent, so a battery with only a day of life is best charged before an update.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models Charge 5, Sense 2, Versa 4, Inspire 3, Ace LTE.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the update fails after a full re-setup, contact Fitbit support
- !If the device reboots repeatedly, contact support, and give them the model and the serial number
- !If the Ace LTE cannot update, use the Ace LTE Help
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
The pre-update checklist, reconnecting the phone and the full re-setup.
How to update the firmware from the app.
Restarting before retrying.
The sync steps an update depends on.
The Fitbit brand and its devices.
Exact questions
Common questions
How much battery does an update need?+
Google says at least 50 percent, with 75 percent or higher recommended.
Should the app stay open?+
Yes, keep the Google Health app running in the background.
Why did my steps look wrong?+
Updating at midnight, when steps reset, can show an inaccurate count for 24 hours.
What if it never starts?+
Force quit the app, reset Bluetooth, restart both and keep the devices close.
Do other Bluetooth devices matter?+
Yes, multiple paired devices can cause issues.
How close must they be?+
They should be within 2 to 3 feet of each other during the update.