Change the time on your Fitbit through the mobile app or web dashboard
Your Fitbit automatically syncs the time from your phone or computer when you first set it up, so the clock should be correct without any action from you. If your Fitbit is showing the wrong time—usually because you traveled across time zones or your phone's clock drifted—you can fix it in two ways: resync through the Fitbit app on your phone, or manually adjust it in the web dashboard on a computer. The phone app method is faster for most people and takes about two minutes.
The time on your Fitbit matters because it affects when your device records activity, sleep, and heart rate data. If the clock is wrong by several hours, your daily stats may appear in the wrong time slot. Fitbit does not have a manual time-setting button on the device itself—you must change it through the app or website.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Fitbit app on your phone, tap your profile picture, select your device, and toggle off and back on the "Sync" option to resync the time from your phone to your Fitbit.
- If resyncing does not work, go to the Fitbit web dashboard on a computer, find your device settings, and manually enter the correct time zone.
- Traveling across time zones usually requires you to update your time zone in the Fitbit app under device settings so the tracker adjusts automatically.
- Restarting your Fitbit device can also fix time sync problems if the app resync does not work on the first try.
Resync the time through the Fitbit mobile app
The fastest way to fix the time is to force a resync between your phone and your Fitbit. Open the Fitbit app on your phone and tap your profile picture in the top left corner. Scroll down and select the Fitbit device that is showing the wrong time. Look for a "Sync" option and toggle it off, wait three seconds, then toggle it back on. Your phone will send the correct time to your Fitbit within a few seconds.
If the time still does not update after resyncing, close the Fitbit app completely and reopen it. Sometimes the app needs a fresh start to push the time change through. Make sure your phone's own clock is set correctly before you resync—your Fitbit pulls the time from your phone, so if your phone is wrong, your Fitbit will be wrong too.
Update your time zone in the Fitbit app settings
If you traveled to a different time zone and your Fitbit did not adjust automatically, you can manually set your time zone in the app. Open the Fitbit app, tap your profile picture, select your device, and look for "Time Zone" or "Location" in the device settings. Tap it and choose your current time zone from the list. Save the change and resync your device.
Fitbit should detect your time zone automatically based on your phone's location settings, but this does not always work if your phone's location services are turned off or if you disabled location permission for the Fitbit app. Manually setting the time zone ensures your device records activity in the correct time slot, especially important if you travel frequently or live near a time zone border.
Change the time through the Fitbit web dashboard
If you do not have the Fitbit app on your phone or prefer to use a computer, you can adjust the time zone through the web dashboard. Go to fitbit.com and log in with your account. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Settings." Find your device in the list and click on it. Look for "Time Zone" and select your current time zone from the dropdown menu. Click "Save" and your Fitbit will sync the new time the next time it connects to your phone.
The web dashboard is useful if your phone app is not working or if you want to change the time zone before you travel. You can set your time zone in advance, and when your Fitbit syncs with your phone after you arrive, it will already be set to the correct time.
Restart your Fitbit if the time still will not sync
If resyncing and changing the time zone do not fix the problem, restart your Fitbit device. The restart method depends on which Fitbit model you own. For most Fitbit trackers, hold the button on the side or bottom of the device for 10 to 15 seconds until you see the Fitbit logo appear on the screen, then release. For Fitbit smartwatches like the Sense or Versa, swipe down from the top of the screen, tap the gear icon, scroll to "About," and select "Restart."
After your Fitbit restarts, open the Fitbit app and resync. The device should pull the correct time from your phone during the resync. Restarting clears temporary glitches that sometimes prevent the time from updating, especially after a software update or a long period without syncing.
Check that your phone's time is correct before troubleshooting
Before you spend time resyncing or restarting, verify that your phone's clock is actually set correctly. Your Fitbit gets its time from your phone, so if your phone is wrong, your Fitbit will be wrong no matter how many times you resync. Go to your phone's settings, find "Date & Time," and make sure "Automatic" or "Set Automatically" is turned on. If it is already on, toggle it off and back on to force an update.
If your phone's clock is correct but your Fitbit is still wrong after resyncing, the issue is likely a temporary connection problem between the app and your device. Closing and reopening the Fitbit app usually fixes this. If the problem persists after a restart, contact Fitbit support through the app—they can help diagnose whether your device has a hardware issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Fitbit show the wrong time even though my phone is correct?
Your Fitbit may not have synced with your phone since the time changed. Open the Fitbit app, go to your device settings, and toggle the Sync option off and back on. If you recently changed your phone's time zone, make sure you also updated the time zone in your Fitbit device settings, not just your phone's settings.
Do I need to change the time on my Fitbit when I travel?
Your Fitbit should update automatically when you travel if your phone's location services are on and the Fitbit app has permission to access your location. If it does not update within a few hours, manually change your time zone in the Fitbit app under device settings. This ensures your activity and sleep data are recorded in the correct time slot.
Will changing the time affect my activity history?
Changing the time zone may shift when your past activity appears in the app, but it does not delete or lose any data. Your steps, heart rate, and sleep records stay the same—they just appear under a different time. If you change the time zone back, your activity will move back to its original time slot.
What if my Fitbit still shows the wrong time after I restart it?
Make sure your phone's clock is set to automatic and is correct. Restart your Fitbit again, then open the Fitbit app and resync. If the problem continues, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Fitbit app. If none of these steps work, your Fitbit may have a hardware issue and you should contact Fitbit support.