Fix: Fitbit Update Failed

Your Fitbit device may fail to update due to the incorrect date and time settings of your devices. Moreover, the corrupt installation of the Fitbit app or corrupt firmware of the Fitbit device may also cause the error under discussion.

Affected users encounter the error when they try to update their devices. The issue is reported on nearly all variants of the Fitbit as well as on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone apps. In some rare cases, the user faced the error during the initial setup of the device.

Before moving on with the troubleshooting process to fix the stuck Fitbit update, make sure your Fitbit device is charged to 100% (do not proceed even on 99%). Also, check the Twitter handle of Fitbit Support for any server-side issues. Moreover, check if the Fitbit device and your phone are on the same network. Fitbit devices are known to have issues with the 5GHz band, it will better to use a network with 2.4 GHz band. Additionally, it is better to use Wi-Fi (if possible, avoid the Bluetooth connection) to sync between the Fitbit device and your phone/PC app. Furthermore, in some cases, the firmware of Fitbit devices was updated but the phone/PC app did not report that and asked the user to check for updates. It will be better to check if the Firmware is already not updated.

Solution 1: Restart the Devices

The issue could be a result of a temporary glitch of the communication and application modules. In this context, restarting your devices may clear the glitch and thus clear the problem.

1. Exit the Fitbit app on your phone.
2. Now restart your Fitbit device and retry the update to check if the issue is resolved.
3. If not, power off your Fitbit device and your phone.
4. Now power on your Fitbit device and wait till it is completely powered on.
5. Then power on your phone and check if the update issue is resolved.

Solution 2: Correct Date and Time Settings of Your Devices

The correct date and time of your devices are essential for the operation of Fitbit devices and applications. You may encounter the update issue if the date and time settings of your devices are not correct and Fitbit fails to sync properly. This can be important if you are encountering the issue in a country that uses daylight savings. In this context, correcting the date and time settings of your phone may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process of an Android device.

1. Exit the Fitbit app.
2. Launch Settings of the phone and open Date and Time.

   

3. Then disable Automatic Date & Time and Timezone.

   

4. Now change the date, time, and time zone as per your area. Make sure to check for Daylight Savings.
5. Then launch the Fitbit app and open the Today tab.
6. Now tap on Your Profile Picture and then open Advanced Settings.
7. Then disable the option of Set Automatically for time zone.

   

8. Now set the time zone as per your area. Make sure it matches your phone’s time zone and do not forget to count in the Daylight Savings.
9. Now sync your Fitbit device and then restart your devices.
10. Upon restart, try to perform an update on your device to check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 3: Try Another Network

You may encounter the error at hand due to the restrictions imposed by your ISP. Moreover, the hardware limitations of some phone models may also cause the error i.e. the model which uses the same antenna for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In this scenario, using another network or using cell data of your device (not Wi-Fi) to update the device.

1. Disconnect your phone from the current Wi-Fi network.
2. Now restart your devices.
3. Then connect your phone/device to another network or use hotspot of your phone (make sure you are in an area with the best signal strength).

   

4. Now try to update Fitbit to check if it is clear of the update error.
5. If not, then try to use a hotspot from another phone as a Wi-Fi between the phone and the Fitbit device. Then check if the Fitbit device is clear of the error.

Solution 4: Unpair and Forget the Fitbit Device in the Phone’s Settings

You may encounter the update error if the Bluetooth settings (especially related to the Fitbit device) of your phone are glitched. In this context, removing the Fitbit device from the phone’s settings and repairing the devices may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the troubleshooting process for an Android device.

1. Exit the Fitbit app and open Settings of your phone.
2. Then tap on Bluetooth and then tap on your Fitbit’s device name (or the gear icon in front of it).
3. Now tap on Unpair or Forget this Device. If possible, remove all the paired devices from the Bluetooth settings of your phone.

   

4. Then disable Bluetooth of your phone.

   

5. Now restart your Fitbit devices and phone.
6. Upon restart, enable Bluetooth of your phone and pair it with the Fitbit device.
7. Now check if you can update the device.
8. If not, and your Fitbit app shows Try Again message, do not tap it. Instead, minimize the Fitbit app (do not close it).
9. Then disable Bluetooth of your phone.
10. Now wait for 10 seconds and then enable Bluetooth.
11. Now open the minimized Fitbit app and tap on Try Again to check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 5: Reinstall the Fitbit Application

You may encounter the error at hand if the installation of your Fitbit app is corrupt. In this context, reinstalling the application may solve the problem. For elucidation, we will discuss the process for an Android device.

1. Power off your Fitbit app.
2. Open the Fitbit app on your phone and tap on the Today tab.
3. Now tap on your profile picture and then tap on the problematic device.
4. Now tap on the Trash icon to remove the device.

   

5. Then follow the prompts on your screen to complete the removal process.
6. Now power off your phone.
7. Wait for a few minutes before powering on your phone and Fitbit device.
8. Now open your Fitbit app on your phone and add the device to it.
9. Then check if you can update the device.
10. If not, repeat steps 1 to 6 to remove the Fitbit device from your account.
11. Now power on the phone and launch Settings of your phone.
12. Then open the Application Manager and tap on the Fitbit app.

    

13. Now tap on the Uninstall button.

    

14. Then restart your phone and upon restart, install the Fitbit app and sign-in using your credentials.
15. Now power on your Fitbit app and sync it to your phone.
16. Then try to update your device to check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 6: Factory Reset the Device

If nothing has helped you so far, then the update issue is caused by the corrupt firmware of the Fitbit device. In this case, resetting the device to factory defaults may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process for the Charge series of Fitbit devices. Keep in mind that un-synced data will be wiped.

1. Remove your Fitbit device from the Bluetooth settings of your phone by following solution 4.
2. Then remove the Fitbit device from your account and reinstall the Fitbit app by following solution 5.
3. Now, launch the Settings of your Fitbit device and open About. If you cannot operate your Fitbit device, then you may have to hard reset your device.
4. Now tap on Factory Reset (or Clear User Data).

   

5. Then wait till the reset process of the Fitbit device is complete.
6. Now set up your device as a new and then pair it with your phone to check if the update issue is resolved.

Solution 7: Use Another Device to Update the Fitbit Tracker

You may encounter the error under discussion due to the platform compatibility issues between the Fitbit device and your phone. Here, using another device to update your Fitbit tracker may solve the problem. If you are having issues with the Android app, then try the iPhone app and vice versa. For illustration, we will go through the process of a Windows PC.

1. Download and install the Fitbit app from Microsoft Store on your PC.

   

2. Then launch the app and log in using your Fitbit credentials.
3. Now connect your device with your PC. You can use Bluetooth (either built-in or a dongle) but it is better to use a USB cable to connect the device. If you are using the Bluetooth dongle, then unplug the dongle from the PC and restart your PC. Upon restart, plug back the dongle and then proceed.
4. Now, in the Fitbit app, click on the Check for Device Update button and then check if the issue is resolved.

   

5. If not, remove the device from your account (as discussed in solution 5) and reset the device to the factory defaults (as discussed in solution 6).
6. Then check if you can update the tracker through the PC application.

Solution 8: Create Another Fitbit Account

If you still are encountering the issue, then the issue could be a result of the misconfiguration of your Fitbit account. Creating another Fitbit account and using that account to update the Fitbit device may solve the problem.

1. Remove your device from your account and reinstall the Fitbit app from your phone or PC (as discussed in solution 5) and then reset the device to the factory defaults (as discussed in solution 6).
2. Then launch the Fitbit app and create a new account to sign-in the app. It is better to use the PC app to perform this operation.

   

3. Now sync your device to the phone/PC and hopefully, your Fitbit device is clear of the update error.

If nothing has worked for you so far, then most probably your Fitbit tracker is faulty and you should ask for a replacement from the vendor (if under warranty).