To sync your Fitbit with your iPhone, open the Fitbit app and pull down on the Today screen. The app syncs with your tracker over Bluetooth, and your latest steps, heart rate, and sleep appear. To have it sync on its own throughout the day, keep Bluetooth on and turn on All-Day Sync in your device settings in the Fitbit app. If you haven’t connected the tracker yet, set it up first through Add a device in the app.
Here’s how to pair a new Fitbit, keep it syncing, and fix it when it stops.
How to pair a Fitbit with your iPhone
- Install the Fitbit app from the App Store and sign in with your Google Account.
- Charge your Fitbit and keep it near your iPhone.
- Tap your profile picture, then Add a device (or Pair a device).
- Choose your Fitbit model and follow the prompts. You may need to enter a code shown on the tracker.
- When iOS asks to allow Bluetooth, tap Allow. If asked to pair, tap Pair.
Pair your Fitbit through the Fitbit app, not in iPhone Bluetooth settings.
How to sync your Fitbit manually
- Open the Fitbit app.
- On the Today tab, pull down from the top of the screen and let go.
- Wait for the sync message to finish.
To check when it last synced, tap your profile picture, then your device. The last sync time is shown at the top.
How to keep your Fitbit syncing automatically
- Turn on All-Day Sync: In the Fitbit app, open your device settings and turn on All-Day Sync.
- Allow Background App Refresh: Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh on your iPhone and turn it on for Fitbit.
- Keep Bluetooth on: Turning Bluetooth off in Control Center pauses syncing. Make sure it’s on in Settings > Bluetooth.
- Don’t force-close the app: Swiping Fitbit away in the app switcher can stop background syncing.
- Turn off Low Power Mode when you can. It limits background activity.
Fitbit not syncing? Try these fixes
- Open the app and pull down to sync while the tracker is next to your phone.
- Turn Bluetooth off and on in Settings > Bluetooth.
- Restart your Fitbit. The steps depend on the model. On many, go to Settings > About > Restart device on the tracker, or hold the button(s) until the logo appears.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Update the Fitbit app and iOS.
- Forget the tracker in Bluetooth settings. In Settings > Bluetooth, tap the i next to your Fitbit, then Forget This Device. Open the Fitbit app and sync again.
- Disconnect other apps that use the tracker, like other fitness apps. Only one app can connect at a time.
- Remove and re-add the tracker in the Fitbit app as a last resort. Sync first if you can, so you don’t lose data.
Related: How to See How Many Miles You’ve Walked on an iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sync Fitbit data to Apple Health?
Fitbit doesn’t sync directly with Apple Health. Some third-party apps can copy data between them.
How often does Fitbit sync with iPhone?
With All-Day Sync on, it syncs periodically in the background, usually every 15 to 30 minutes, and whenever you open the app.
Does my iPhone need internet to sync Fitbit?
Bluetooth moves the data from your tracker to your phone. Your phone then needs internet to upload it to your account.
Can I use a Fitbit with an iPad?
Yes. The Fitbit app runs on iPad, but it’s best to sync each tracker with only one phone or tablet.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.