If you have a new Fitbit and are setting it up for the first time, it’s not very difficult, but there are a lot of steps involved. The process may be different depending on your specific model of Fitbit, and the specific device(s) you are syncing it with, but here is the basic process.
How Do You Set Up a Fitbit?
Connect your Fitbit to the charger
Before you begin, download and install the Fitbit App. For Apple devices, you can download the app from the App store. For Android devices, it is available on the Google Play store. For Windows 10 devices, you can get the app from the Microsoft store.
Note: if you have an older device that isn’t compatible with the Fitbit App, you can connect Windows 8.1 and older Mac computers using Fitbit Connect. However, syncing a Fitbit with your phone or mobile device is preferred, in order to take advantages of some features like notifications and GPS, which rely on real-time syncing with your phone or tablet.
To Set Up Your Fitbit Tracker for the First Time
- Open the Fitbit App on your preferred device.
- Tap “join Fitbit.”
- Follow the instructions on screen in order to create a Fitbit account. The app will help you create an account with your first name, last initial, and a profile picture. This information will be visible to all Fitbit App users.
- Follow the instructions on screen to enter your basic health information. The app will ask you for your birthdate, height, weight, and sex in order to estimate data like your metabolic rate and calorie burn. This information is private by default, but you can choose to share it with other users.
- Follow the instructions on screen to pair your Fitbit device.
Setting up a Fitbit Smart Watch
Follow the above instructions to download the Fitbit App and pair your device. Fitbit smart watches like the Ionic or the Versa also need to be connected to your home Wi-Fi network in order to receive firmware and OS updates, as well as to download apps and playlists.
In order to connect your Fitbit smartwatch to a Wi-Fi network, it has to be the right kind of network. A Fitbit smartwatch will only connect to an open, WEP, WPA personal, or WPA2 personal network. It won’t connect to enterprise or public networks that require logins, so a Fitbit smartwatch won’t connect to Wi-Fi networks in hotels, airports, cafes, and similar networks.
To connect your Fitbit smartwatch to your home Wi-Fi network, you first need:
- To make sure that the place where you intend to charge your Fitbit is in range of your preferred Wi-Fi network
- To know the name and password of the network you want to connect to
- You need to have already downloaded the Fitbit App, created an account, and paired your smartwatch
Once you have done that:
- Open the Fitbit App.
- Tap the Today tab.
- Select your profile picture.
- Select your Fitbit smartwatch.
- Tap Wi-Fi settings.
- Tap add network.
- Follow the instructions on screen to navigate to your preferred network and connect to it.
Once your Fitbit smartwatch is connected to your Wi-Fi network, it will automatically download and update playlists, apps, and other functions when it is plugged into the charger and in range of the network.
How to Set Up Your Fitbit Smartwatch to Use Wi-Fi When Away From Home
If you want your Fitbit smartwatch to continue to function fully when you are away from home, the best way to keep it connected is to use your phone or tablet to create a personal hotspot. This uses your mobile device to create a Wi-Fi network that your Fitbit smartwatch can connect to, without using a public network. Depending on your mobile plan and network, creating a mobile hotspot may incur additional data charges.
If you are using Fitbit Connect to sync your Fitbit with an older computer, follow the instructions here to set it up Fitbit for the first time. Note that if your computer does not have Bluetooth capabilities, you will need to purchase a Bluetooth dongle from Fitbit to sync your wearable with your computer.
Conclusion
Setting up a Fitbit is easy and intuitive, with ample onscreen instructions to help walk you through the process. Once your Fitbit is set up and connected, you can use your mobile device to track and record your fitness, learn how to improve your sleep, set goals and challenge yourself, and even share your successes with the Fitbit community.