How to change the time on a Fitbit

Your Fitbit activity tracker helps you keep tabs on your fitness and health. But sometimes, it might not properly keep time. Especially if the clocks have just changed or you’ve travelled abroad for a holiday.

Don’t sweat it though, as we’ve got some top tips on how to set the time on your Fitbit. Helping you stay on track so you’ll never have to run to work. Again.

How do you change the time on a Fitbit?

Fitbit fitness trackers and smart watches are digital devices, so you can’t manually set them like analogue watches. What you’ll need is the paired Fitbit app on your mobile phone instead.

Now, your Fitbit should set the time automatically once it’s synced with your phone. But if your Fitbit’s run out of charge and not hooked up to your phone for a while, it might have slipped out of time. And the same thing can happen if you’ve left your phone in flight mode while travelling through different time zones.

How to change Fitbit time using an iPhone

If you’ve got an iPhone, make sure you’ve got Bluetooth switched on so you can connect to your Fitbit smart wearable. Then follow these steps to manually change the time zone on your device:

1. Open the Fitbit app on your iPhone and tap the ‘Today’ tab.

2. Tap on the settings icon and then select ‘App Settings’. If you’ve signed in with your Google account, tap your profile picture instead of the settings icon.

3. Switch off the ‘Set Automatically’ option.

4. Tap on ‘Time Zone’ and choose the time zone you want.

5. Sync your Fitbit device to get the correct time (you can do this in the app’s account section).

Tech tip: If the time is still wrong, try logging out of the Fitbit app and logging back in before syncing again.

How to change Fitbit time using an Android phone

If you’re rocking an Android phone instead, the process for changing the time on your Fitbit is almost exactly the same as with an iPhone. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Tap the ‘Today’ tab in the Fitbit app on your Android phone.

2. Navigate to the settings icon and tap on ‘App Settings’.

3. Turn off the 'Automatic time zone' option.

4. Tap 'Select time zone' to choose the time zone you’re in.

5. Sync your Fitbit device.

How to change the time format on a Fitbit

Prefer reading the time with a 24-hour clock? No problem, you can easily switch between 12 or 24-hour formats from the Fitbit app too. This’ll work on both the iPhone and Android versions of the app:

1. Open the Fitbit app and tap on the ‘Today’ tab.

2. Then tap the settings icon and select ‘App Settings’.

3. Tap on ‘Clock Display Time’ and choose between a Fitbit 24-hour clock or 12-hour clock.

4. Sync your Fitbit to update the time format.

Does Fitbit update time automatically?

Your Fitbit does a pretty good job of updating the time all by itself. It syncs with your computer or phone to get the right time, so you don’t have to worry about it. Just check that your Fitbit is connected to either of them, and that your device’s time settings are correct. If everything is set up properly, your Fitbit should then stay in sync without any hassle. And you won’t miss that important appointment!

How to change the time on Fitbit without the app

You can still change the time on your Fitbit without your phone or computer. Just follow these steps…

1. Press the side button – Start by pressing the button on the side of your Fitbit until the home screen flashes up.

2. Head to settings – Use the buttons to scroll through the menu and find the ‘Settings’ option. It should look like a gear icon.

3. Find ‘time’ – In the settings menu, look for ‘Time’ or ‘Clock’. This might be a bit different depending on the model of Fitbit you’ve got.

4. Tweak the time – Once you’re in there, you can use the buttons to set the hour and minute. Some models might also let you set a specific time zone.

5. Save your changes – All happy? Once you’ve set the time, press the button to save your changes. Your Fitbit should now be showing the correct time.

What to do if your Fitbit won’t sync time

Sometimes, your Fitbit might not sync time properly. Don’t sweat it though – it’s usually an easy fix. Here’s some quick steps to try…

1. Check your connection – Make sure your Fitbit is connected to your phone or computer. You can check this in the Fitbit app or on your device’s Bluetooth settings.

2. Restart your Fitbit – It’s the oldest trick out there. But sometimes a simple restart can sort it. Press and hold the button on your Fitbit until it turns off, then press it again to turn it back on.

3. Update your Fitbit – Your Fitbit might be running on an old version of the software. Head to the ‘Device’ section in the Fitbit app to see if there’s any new updates to download.

4. Reset your Fitbit – If nothing else works, you might have to completely reset it. Before you do anything though, it’ll wipe all of your data. So, back it up first. You’ll find the full reset instructions in the app or on the official Fitbit website.

5. Contact support – Still having trouble? Get in touch with Fitbit support. They’ll help to troubleshoot the issue and get your gadget back on track.

FAQs

Why is my Fitbit not showing the correct time?

There could be a couple of reasons why the time on your Fitbit is wrong. To be clear, you shouldn’t have to manually update the time on a Fitbit as it’ll change automatically when it’s connected to your phone. But sometimes, it might lose connection and not update.

This could happen if the clocks changed overnight and your Fitbit hasn’t synced with your phone yet. Or if you’ve had your phone in flight mode or switched off while travelling to a country with a different time zone. And if you’ve not used your Fitbit for a while and the battery’s run out, you’ll need to recharge it and probably sync it to your phone to get the right time.

Can I manually change the time on my Fitbit?

If your Fitbit’s time is wrong, then you can manually correct it using the Fitbit app on your iPhone or Android. To reset the time on your Fitbit, just head to the ‘App Settings’ section in the Fitbit app to select the time zone that you want. Then sync your device to update it.

How do I get my Fitbit to sync time?

To change the time on your Fitbit so it’s correct, you just need to sync it with the iPhone or Android phone you paired it with using the Fitbit app. Make sure Bluetooth is activated on your phone so your Fitbit can connect, and head to the account section in the Fitbit app to find the sync function.

Any more questions?

So, there you have it. You won’t be wasting any time updating the clock on your Fitbit thanks to our top tips. And for more handy advice, check out our Fitbit: all you need to know article.