How to Reset Your Fitbit

Sometimes, the best thing to do is start over

By
Joli Ballew
Joli Ballew
Joli Ballew
Writer
  • University of Texas
Joli Ballew is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and Microsoft MVP, Lynda.com trainer, Microsoft Press author, and college professor.
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Updated on December 6, 2022
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
Ryan Perian headshot
Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

What to Know

  • Flex: Insert pebble in charging cable > connect cable to USB port > hold paperclip in pebble's black hole.
  • Charge: Connect cable to USB port > hold button and remove Fitbit from cable > hold, release button > repeat.
  • To reset other Fitbits, remove the device from your account and forget it in your phone's settings.

This article explains how to reset the Fitbit Flex, Charge, Blaze, Surge, Ionic, and Versa.

How to Reset a Fitbit Flex and Fitbit Flex 2

You’ll need a paperclip, the Flex charger, your computer, and a working USB port. To reset a Fitbit Flex device to factory settings:

Screenshot of a black Fitbit Flex 2
Fitbit

  1. Turn on your computer and bend the paperclip into an S shape before beginning.

  2. Remove the pebble from the Fitbit.

  3. Insert the pebble into the charging cable.

  4. Connect the Flex charger/cradle to the PC’s USB port.

  5. Locate the small, black hole in the pebble.

  6. Put the paperclip in there, and press and hold for about 3 seconds.

  7. Remove the paperclip.

  8. The Fitbit will ​light up and go through the reset process. 

How to Reset Fitbit Charge and Charge HR

You’ll need your Fitbit device, the charging cable, and a working USB port to get started. To reset a Fitbit Charge device to factory settings:

Screen shot of the Fitbit Alta HR in pink.
Fitbit 

  1. Attach the charging cable to the Fitbit and then connect this to an available, powered-on USB port.

  2. Locate the button available on the Fitbit and hold it down for approximately two seconds.

  3.  Without letting go of that button, remove your Fitbit from the charging cable.

  4. Continue to hold down the button for 7 seconds.

  5. Let go of the button and then press it again and hold.

  6. When you see the word ALT and a screen flash, let go of the button.

  7. Press the button again.

  8. When you feel a vibration, let go of the button.

  9. Press the button again.

  10. When you see the word ERROR, let go of the button.

  11. Press the button again.

  12. When you see the word ERASE, let go of the button.

  13. The device will turn itself off.

  14. Turn the Fitbit back on.

If your device isn't syncing with your phone, properly tracking activities, or responding to taps, resetting the device might resolve those problems. A factory reset deletes all previously stored data, as well as any data that hasn't yet synced to your Fitbit account. A restart can also resolve minor problems, and simply reboots the device with no data lost (except saved notifications). Always try a restart first and use a reset as a last resort.

How to Reset a Fitbit Blaze or Fitbit Surge

The Fitbit Blaze doesn’t have a factory reset option. To remove a Fitbit Blaze or FitBit Surge from your Fitbit account:

A screenshot of a black Fitbit Blaze Activity Tracker.
Fitbit 

  1. Visit the Fitbit site and log in.

  2. From the Dashboard, click the device you'd like to remove.

  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

  4. Click Remove This Fitbit (Blaze or Surge) From Your Account and click OK.

  5. Now you’ll need to go to your phone’s Settings area, click Bluetooth. Locate the device and click it, and then opt to forget the device.

How to Reset a Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa

Newer Fitbits have the option to reset the device using your phone's settings. To remove a Fitbit Ionic or FitBit Versa from your Fitbit account:

Screenshot of special edition Fitbit Versa in lavender.
 Fitbit

  1. Visit the Fitbit site and log in.

  2. From the Dashboard, click the device you'd like to remove.

  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

  4. Click Remove This Fitbit (Ionic or Versa) From Your Account and click OK.

  5. Now you’ll need to go to your phone’s Settings area, click Bluetooth, locate the device and click it, and then opt to forget the device.

  6. Finally, click Settings > About > Factory Reset and follow the prompts to return your device to factory settings. 

Have a Fitbit Alta? See our piece on how to reset Alta and Fitbit Alta HR.

FAQ
  • How do I reset the time on my Fitbit?

    To change the time on your Fitbit, first change the time on the device it's synced to and then re-sync the devices via the Fitbit app. To change the timezone, open the Fitbit app and select Options > Advanced Settings > Timezone.

  • How do I sync my Fitbit with my phone?

    To sync your Fitbit with a smartphone, turn the tracker on and make sure your phone has Bluetooth turned on. Open the Fitbit app and select the Fitbit icon, then select the sync icon (two arrows in a circle) and wait for syncing to finish.

  • How do I cancel Fitbit Premium?

    Open the Fitbit app and select Today > Account Settings > Manage Subscriptions. Choose your Fitbit Premium subscription, then select Cancel Subscription. You'll know it worked when you no longer see the Premium subscription in the Manage Subscriptions menu.

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