How to restart your Fitbit tracker

Ideally, you shouldn't ever have to restart your Fitbit. Alas, we don't live in a perfect world. Each model has different method to initiate a restart, and usually the process only takes a few minutes. The following problems could potentially be fixed by restarting your Fitbit.

  • Your tracker won't sync
  • Your tracker doesn't respond to button presses, taps, or swipes
  • Your tracker won't turn on even when it's charged
  • Your tracker isn't tracking your activity

The great thing about restarting your Fitbit is it won't delete any of your tracked activity, so you don't need to be too worried about all the hard work you have put in to reach your goals. However, it is important to note that if your tracker stores calls, texts, or calendar notifications those will be deleted during the restarting process.

How to restart your Fitbit Zip

Since the Zip has a removable battery the restart process is essentially a battery pull.

  1. Open the door to the battery in the back using the battery door tool
  2. Remove the battery
  3. Wait 10 seconds
  4. Put the battery back in with the "+" facing up and close the battery door.

Your Fitbit Zip will now restart and you should see the version number on the screen followed by a series of smiley faces.

How to restart your Fitbit One

  1. Plug your charging cable into your computer
  2. Plug your One into the charging cable
  3. Press and hold down the tracker's button for 10-12 seconds
  4. Unplug your One from the charging cable
  5. Press the tracker's button.

Your Fitbit One should boot up in just a few seconds and be ready to track once again.

How to restart your Fitbit Flex

  1. Plug your charging cable into your computer
  2. Plug your Flex into the charging cable
  3. Insert a paperclip into the small pinhole on the back of the charger.
  4. Hold down the paperclip for 3-5 seconds
  5. Unplug the Flex form the charging cable.

Your Flex should show some flashing LED lights for a couple seconds and then the restart will be complete.

How to restart your Fitbit Charge

  1. Plug your charging cable into your computer
  2. Plug your Charge into the charging cable
  3. Press and hold the button for 10 to 12 seconds until you see the Fitbit icon and a version number on the screen
  4. Let go of the button

Your Charge should be up and running again. You should probably go do the same slacker!

How to restart your Charge HR

  1. Plug your charging cable into your computer
  2. Plug your Charge into the charging cable
  3. Press and hold the button for 10 to 12 seconds until you see the Fitbit icon and a version number on the screen
  4. Let go of the button

Now strap on that Charge HR and get that heart rate up!

How to restart your Fitbit Alta

  1. Plug your charging cable into your computer
  2. Plug your Alta into the charging cable
  3. Press the button on the charging cable three times with a slight pause between each press but within 8 seconds. The button is on the end of the charging cable.
  4. After you see the logo on the Alta's screen you can unplug it from your charging cable.

Get that stylish band back on your wrist and start strutting your stuff!

How to restart your Fitbit Blaze

  1. Press and hold the Back and Select buttons - the button on the left and bottom right - until you see the Fitbit logo on the Blaze's screen.
  2. Let go of the buttons

That should turn your dumbwatch back into a smartwatch!

How to restart your Fitbit Surge

  1. Press and hold the Back and Select buttons - the button on the left and bottom right - until you see the Fitbit logo on the Blaze's screen.
  2. Let go of the buttons
  3. When your screen turns off, wait 10 seconds and press the Home button to turn your Surge back on.

Take that GPS tracker for a run you track star!

Luke Filipowicz
Staff Writer

Luke Filipowicz has been a writer at iMore, covering Apple for nearly a decade now. He writes a lot about Apple Watch and iPad but covers the iPhone and Mac as well. He often describes himself as an "Apple user on a budget" and firmly believes that great technology can be affordable if you know where to look. Luke also heads up the iMore Show — a weekly podcast focusing on Apple news, rumors, and products but likes to have some fun along the way. 


Luke knows he spends more time on Twitter than he probably should, so feel free to follow him or give him a shout on social media @LukeFilipowicz.