Getting started with theFitbit Charge 3orfee 4may be simple, but there are many features included in the company's latest releasesFitness-Trackerwaiting to be discovered.
And while it might not be as feature-rich as Fitbit's two smartwatches, it isIonicAndVersa, the third generation fitness bracelet still has many new functions that you can use. After two years in the cold, the Charge has been upgraded with waterproofing, support for contactless payments, and improved battery life.
But how do you get the most out of the Fitbit Charge? Well, luckily for you, we've put together some top tips to help you out.
Read on below for everything you need to know.
Fitbit guide:Fitbit smartwatches and trackers compared
1. Change your watch face
You have fewer options on the Charge 3 than the mountain of watch faces developed by both Fitbit and third-party developers on the Ionic and Versa, but that doesn't mean there's not still a healthy range of monochrome options to choose from.
If you're mixing things up from digital to analog, highlighting a different tracked metric, or just fancy changing up your look, Fitbit currently offers seven faces on the Charge 3.
We expect more to drop as the tracker ages, but for now you can change things up by heading to the Fitbit app. From there, click the device icon in the top left, tap Watch Faces and switch between the My Watch and All Watches tabs and decide how you want to customize the screen.
2. Customize notifications
Whether you love using your wrist gadget as a second screen for your smartphone or want to turn off all notifications, we've got you covered.
Go to the Fitbit app, tap the "Notifications" tab, and start toggling exactly what you want to buzz through to your Charge 3. As shown above, this can be done to give all your calls, texts, and calendar pings the green or red flag. and you can also choose from your list of apps.
3. Improve step tracking accuracy
This is actually more of a general Fitbit tip than a Charge 3 tip, but it's essential for getting the best accuracy.
Now there's a lot more to consider with this tracker, but steps will no doubt be the focus of most people's daily tracking picture. However, Fitbit estimates what each step looks like based on your height and gender, meaning those with naturally large or small steps may see inaccurate information.
Important reading:We're trying out Fitbit's Female Health Tracking
To edit, tap the card in the upper-right corner of the Fitbit app, scroll down to Advanced Settings, and tap Stride Length. As said, this is set automatically by Fitbit, but you can manually enter the centimeter equivalent of your walking and running steps.
Wondering how to solve it? It's easy - just walk to a track or place where you know the exact distance, count your steps as you complete that distance, then divide the total distance covered by the number of steps to get your to get stride length.
You'll also need to tell Fitbit which wrist your device is on to improve accuracy. To do this, go to the Charge 3 icon, select Wrist and then the wrist your device is attached to.
4. Set a silent alarm
If you're anything like us, you'll take great delight in replacing your alarm clock with a much friendlier buzz on the Charge 3's wrist.
Sure, you can always use your phone, but that almost always results in spending 45 minutes every morning checking out Twitter, Instagram, or, heaven forbid, work email before even getting it out of bed create.
You can set alarms through the Fitbit app, but you can also toggle your list on and off through the device itself. If you're setting up a new alarm, you should go to the Charge 3 Settings section, click Silent Alarms, and then choose your time and days you want it to sound.
5. Make the battery last longer
The Charge 3 already boasts weeks of battery life, but as always there are ways to extend that even further with a few neat tricks.
The first thing to think about optimizing is how often you sync your device. This can be turned off through the Charge 3 section of the Fitbit app, but means you'll need to manually sync the device to see your progress in the app.
Notifications can also be reduced to save lives. The good news is that you also don't have to go into the Fitbit app by double-pressing that side button to toggle it on and off.
The same goes for heart rate - perhaps the biggest battery hog you can change. To easily turn it off, swipe to your device's Settings menu and scroll down to Heart Rate. The downside to this is quite a mammoth, as you can't properly track your activity, sleep or resting heart rate, but very handy for keeping the charge charged.
You don't have to do all of these things to save a bit of juice, but toggling a few of these settings will definitely keep the tracker running longer.
6. Disable raise to wake
We're not the biggest fans of Fitbit's Screen Wake as all too often it fails to accommodate our wrist raises. However, if you want to add a control when the screen lights up, just hold the side button and tap the Screen Wake tab.
That means you have to tap the screen or press the side button to wake the device - a great feature when you're sleeping or just want to turn off the tracker light at the cinema.
7. Edit your exercise shortcuts
By default, the exercises listed on the Charge 3/4 may not be your first choice. However, if you want to track your tennis, yoga, or anything else in the list above, you can create a shortcut through the Fitbit app.
Just go to the Devices section from the top left icon, tap on Exercise Shortcuts and change the order you want the current six options in. You'll need to remove one or two if you want to add more, as six is the limit, and we recommend adding workouts (which is set as the default option on the Ionic and Versa, but not here) for any activity you want to track and that are not listed.
Also, remember that you can change the type of activity you did post-workout. All you have to do is click on your workout and tap Categorize workouts at the top of the screen to toggle.
8. Quickly check your stats
As we just hinted at, you can edit your exercise shortcuts and the details surrounding your exercise from within the Fitbit app. However, if you don't want to open your phone to check all your daily stats, the Charge's quick view lets you do so on your wrist.
Of course, the watch face you select will already give you some of these tracked stats, but you can get a basic look at the bigger picture by swiping up from the home watch face.
From here you can scroll down and take a look at your battery percentage, steps taken, active minutes, distance, current heart rate, calories burned, stairs climbed and number of hours of sleep recorded.
9. Reboot your Fitbit Charge 3/4
The Fitbit Charge 3 is a fairly steadfast tracker, but that doesn't mean it's not prone to the odd hiccup. We didn't have any major issues with this tracker, but there have been cases with other Fitbit devices that required a hard reset to get things working again.
If yourFitbit not syncing properly, or it keeps crashing, you can reset it from the device itself or from the app. This isn't entirely foolproof, and of course there's a chance you just have a faulty device, but the off-on rule should always be your first troubleshooting action - after checking you're using the latest software, of course.
This means you will lose any not-yet-synced data stored on the device, and you will also need to take some time to set everything up again.
In the Fitbit app, click the charge icon in the top left and scroll all the way down to the tab in red that says "Remove this charge 3/4". Or go to Settings > About > Clear User Data on the tracker.
As mentioned, you then need to set up the device just like you did when you first unpacked it. Make sure it's plugged in and wait for the Charge 3 to restart before following the in-app instructions to set up a new device. if you have toReset your Fitbit, we have a guide for that too.
10. Change your goals
The key to success in fitness tracking is setting achievable goals that you can actually achieve. So make sure you adjust your Fitbit goals to an activity level that suits your needs. Forget it for a week and see how many steps you can get. Then dive into the app and see if you can set your goal about 10% higher.
- Get the app and tap the device icon in the top left corner.
- Scroll down to the main objective.
- Choose from steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes or floors climbed.
- Sync your device.
Oh, and when you start crushing that goal - get back up the target. Don't let up - otherwise! Check out oursfull guide to changing your Fitbit goals.
FAQs
What cool things can you do with your Fitbit Charge 4? ›
You can use it to track your heart rate, steps, calories burned, sleep and floors climbed. There's automatic exercise detection, plus modes for running, biking, treadmill, “outdoor workout” and walking. The Fitbit Charge 4's 50m water resistance means you can use it for swim tracking, too.
What is the correct way to wear a Fitbit Charge 4? ›Wear your device on top of your wrist. For best results, the back of your device should be in contact with your skin for features like heart-rate tracking. Make sure that your band isn't too tight. Wear it loose enough that it can move back and forth on your wrist.
What features does a Fitbit Charge 4 have? ›The Charge 4 tracks your steps, distance, floors climbed, calories burned, and Active Zone Minutes, a new metric earned for time spent in fat burn, cardio, or peak heart rate zone. Women can use the Fitbit app to track their periods and fertile windows, and view where they are in their cycle from their wrist.
Can you answer calls on Fitbit Charge 4? ›A: yes, it can me enabled. I get my phone calls and texts on my charge 4. I can read the text on my charge, but I have to use my phone to answer the call.
Does Fitbit Charge 4 work without a phone? ›However, a great new feature about the new Charge 4 is that you don't need your phone at all! The tracker comes with its own GPS so you can keep your phone at home when doing your workouts (this feature is available on the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch, but is new for the Fitbit Charge).
Can Fitbit Charge 4 send text messages? ›Use quick replies to send customized responses to text messages and messages from certain apps with Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Charge 4, Fitbit Charge 5, Fitbit Inspire 3, Fitbit Ionic, Fitbit Luxe, Fitbit Sense series, or Fitbit Versa series. This feature is currently available on devices paired to an Android phone.
Can Fitbit Charge 4 receive text messages? ›Your Fitbit device can receive notifications from your nearby phone to keep you informed, including calls, texts, meeting alerts, and app updates.
Should I shower with my Fitbit Charge 4? ›Even though it may be ok to shower with our water-resistant devices, not doing so reduces the potential for exposure to soaps, shampoos, and conditioners, which can cause long-term damage to your device and may cause skin irritation. We also don't recommend wearing any of our devices in a hot tub or sauna.
What happens if I wear my Fitbit on my dominant hand? ›Wear it on your non-dominant wrist
The reason: You move your dominant hand a lot throughout the day, and this can result in an inaccurately high number of "steps" reported by your fitness tracker.
The correct answer is, do not wear your watch on your dominant hand. That is to say, if you're right handed (as 89% of people are) then your watch should be worn on your left wrist. However, if you're left handed it should be worn on your right wrist.
How do I get my Fitbit Charge 4 to turn on when I move my wrist? ›
- When you set Screen Wake to Auto (Motion), the screen turns on each time you turn your wrist.
- When you set Screen Wake to Manual (Button), press the button to turn on the screen.
A Fitbit only needs your phone or tablet or computer to sync your data to the app. You can go as far as you want. As long as your charged up the Fitbit will keep your data till midnight. You need to be close to your device to sync though.
Can Fitbit Charge 4 hold music? ›If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. The Fitbit Charge 4 is an excellent fitness tracker that packs all the features you need to track and improve your performance over time. It's just missing one thing: on-board music storage.
What's better Apple Watch or Fitbit? ›While both brands offer outstanding, high-quality wearables, Fitbit has more budget-friendly options, superior battery life, and better health and fitness tracking than the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch edges out the Fitbit in terms of accuracy, convenience, and extra features, but it may be too pricey for some users.
Can you text people on a Fitbit? ›Your Fitbit Versa has the ability to receive and send messages from your Android devices. You'll have to enable notifications and will only be able to send quick, customized replies called Quick Replies.
Can Fitbit reply to texts? ›One of the benefits of using an Android device with a Fitbit is the ability to reply to text messages directly from your wrist. Quick Reply is easy to use, but you should take a takes a few minutes to get everything the way you want.
Does Medicare pay for Fitbit? ›As a UHC Medicare Advantage member, you are eligible for one Fitbit device every two plan years to help you achieve your health goals.
What is the easiest Fitbit for seniors? ›Best Overall: Fitbit Sense
The Sense is more like the best health watch for seniors because of the in-depth health metrics and big, bright customizable screen.
Best answer: No, you don't need to pay for a subscription to use Fitbit software. You can download and use the basic Fitbit app for free. However, subscribing to Fitbit Premium — Fitbit's paid subscription service, unlocks more features on your wearable and deeper insights into your health.
How do I make calls on my Fitbit 4? ›- Open the Settings app on your watch. ...
- On your phone, tap Settings. ...
- When you see Sense Controls/Calls or Versa 3 Controls/Calls as an available device, tap it. ...
- When the same number appears on your watch, tap Pair.
- Return to the Fitbit app on your phone.
Can I make my Fitbit vibrate when I get a text? ›
If paired to an Android phone, your Fitbit watch or tracker can alert you to notifications at any time: From the Fitbit app dashboard, tap the account icon > your device image > Notifications. In the Vibration Settings section, turn on the Always Vibrate option.
Why won t my Fitbit Charge 4 vibrate when I get a text? ›If you have "sleep mode" engaged ensure it is not in a sleep period. On your phone app touch your icon in the top left corner of the home screen, then touch notifications, swipe up a little and you will see "always vibrate".
How do I connect my Fitbit to my phone calls? ›- Tap Start Setup. If you're unable to start the on-wrist call setup, open the Settings app on your watch. ...
- On your phone, tap Settings. Bluetooth. ...
- When you see Sense Controls/Calls as an available device, tap it. ...
- When the same number appears on your watch, tap Pair.
- Return to the Fitbit app on your phone.
The Versa 2 can receive and display messages from your phone, and you can reply directly from the watch if you have an Android device.
Does Fitbit work with iPhone? ›Fitbit App Compatibility Requirements.
Apple iOS 14 and higher. Android 9 or higher.
By connecting your Fitbit account to your HidrateSpark STEEL bottle and app, you will receive glowing bottle reminders and text notifications about your water intake, while also being able to automatically track your hydration levels in the water section on your today dashboard in the Fitbit app.
Can I wear my Charge 4 in salt water? ›User: Can I wear my Fitbit in salt water? Fitbit: Yes, it's waterproof up to 50m User: It stopped working after swimming with it Fitbit: Water damage is not covered under warranty community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-3/Ca… help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US… To be clear, my fitbit is fine.
How long does Fitbit Charge 4 battery last? ›Charge 4 and Charge 5 have a battery life of up to 4 days. If you use built-in GPS continuously, Charge 4 and Charge 5 have a battery life of up to 5 hours, Ionic has a battery life of up to 10 hours. Sense, Sense 2, Versa 3, and Versa 4 have a battery life of up to 12 hours.
How tight should you wear your Fitbit? ›Don't Wear It Too Tight
Make sure your band isn't too tight. Wear the band loosely enough that it can move back and forth on your wrist. During exercise, try moving the band higher on your wrist (2-3 finger widths above your wrist bone) to get a better fit so it's secure, but not too tight.
Fitbit products contain electrical equipment that could cause injury if not handled properly. Proper handling includes, but is not limited to the following: If you feel soreness, tingling, numbness, burning or stiffness in your hands or wrists while or after wearing the product, please immediately discontinue use.
Can I wear my Fitbit in my bra? ›
Clipping it on your bra is fine. There are plenty of (young) people who slip their phone in their bra when they don't have pockets 😏. The Fitbit does have a protective 'case'.
Should I wear Fitbit all the time? ›For a fitness tracker to do its job, you have to wear it almost all the time. Failing to wear it during a walk means it won't record your steps. And if you care about sleep tracking, you'll need to wear it at night, too.
Should I wear Fitbit on ankle? ›Wear it on your ankle to ensure you get your steps when your arms aren't moving. The band is SECURE and COMFORTABLE! It has an overlapping pocket to fully insert the Fitbit.
Why won't my Fitbit turn on when I move my wrist? ›If you press haptic button for a bit longer, you'll feel 2 vibrations and quick setting menu will show up. There you'll see Screen Wake and Notification options that can be turned on or off. If your Screen Wake is off, tap on it to turn it on - then the watch should be waking any time you flick the wrist.
Can you keep Fitbit in your pocket? ›You can either wear your Fitbit or you can keep it your pocket.
How far can my Fitbit be from my phone? ›Find My Fitbit app can find a Fitbit up to 100 feet away.
Do Fitbits drain phone battery? ›The fitbit itself will not drain your phone battery, however leaving bluetooth on the phone on all the time to communicate with the fitbit will cause a small additional drain on the battery.
Can Fitbit Charge 4 detect sleep apnea? ›Many modern CPAP machines now include sleep tracking functions, but that only helps if you've already been diagnosed with sleep apnea. However, wearables such as Fitbit or the Apple Watch may be able to clue you in on your sleep quality and even track sleep apnea.
Can you listen to music on Fitbit without phone? ›The Spotify app on your Fitbit device doesn't support offline music playback, so your paired phone must remain nearby with the Fitbit app running in the background and connected to the internet.
Does Fitbit sell the Charge 4 anymore? ›This product has been discontinued by the manufacturer. It's been replaced by the Fitbit Charge 5, you may want to check out that review instead.
Does Fitbit do blood pressure? ›
In addition to blood pressure, Fitbits with an electrocardiogram (ECG) features are also available.
Which lasts longer Apple Watch or Fitbit? ›When it comes to battery life, Fitbit wins hands down, said Gebbie. "The Apple Watch offers an 18-hour battery life, which means you need to charge it every day, whereas many Fitbit trackers and watches can last for days or even weeks at a time without charging.
Can Fitbit detect irregular heartbeat? ›Fitbit's ECG app records those electrical signals and looks for signs of AFib. To take a heart rhythm assessment, set up the ECG feature in the Fitbit app. With Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications, Fitbit analyzes your heart rhythm while you're still or sleeping and looks out for potential signs of AFib.
How do I turn my Fitbit on for the first time? ›- Download and log in to the Fitbit app. Download or update the Fitbit app. ...
- Wake your Fitbit up. Press the button on the side of your tracker or watch to turn it on.
- Start setup. ...
- Get going on your goals.
Use the charging cable that came with your Fitbit device. The Charge 4 charging cable has a gray connector on the base of the clip. Hold the charging cable near the port on the back of the tracker until it attaches magnetically. Make sure the pins on the charging cable align with the port on the back of your tracker.
How long does it take to charge a Fitbit Charge 4 for the first time? ›Charge 4 vibrates, and a battery icon appears on the screen. Charging fully takes about 1-2 hours.
Can my Fitbit Charge 4 Wake me up? ›The Smart Wake feature is a pretty cool addition; it will work along with the wearable's sleep tracker, and set alarms to wake you at the time you're likely to feel most rested. Another new option allows users to decide how long the screen display stays on once the Fitbit has been awakened.
Does Fitbit Charge 4 wake you up? ›Another handy new feature here is “Smart Wake.” With this feature, Fitbit Charge 4 will be able to set alarms and wake you up at the optimal time. Since the wearable can track your sleep and sleep stages, it can optimize your alarm for the right time so you get up feeling well-rested.
What's the difference between a Fitbit Charge 4 and 5? ›The Charge 5 offers just about everything its predecessor does, but kicks it up a notch. The screen has color and is brighter, the battery life is just as excellent, and you'll get the EDA scan and ECG, too – both of which are otherwise exclusive to the $300 Fitbit Sense.
How long do you charge a Fitbit for the first time? ›There's no need to over charge a Fitbit. It takes about 1-2 hours to charge a Fitbit or un plug it once it reached 100% battery level. Check out our charging tips in this link: https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1799.htm.
Can you use Fitbit without Internet? ›
Your fitbit can hold detailed data for 7 days between syncs and up to 30 days between syncs at a summary level. For those who are out of wifi or data connectivity most of the data for the activity is still available directly on the Charge HR.
How does Fitbit know when you wake up? ›PPG measures blood flow based on how green light from an LED on the back of the watch is reflected by the body. Basically, Fitbit looks at how much you're moving and how often your heart is beating to infer whether you're awake, in a deep sleep, a light slumber, or dreaming.
Should I charge my Fitbit overnight? ›Plus, it takes only two hours to charge fully, so charging overnight isn't necessary.
Should you charge your Fitbit every night? ›You shouldn't need to charge it daily. Just when your battery is falling low. The Blaze is supposed to last 5 days and i'm finding it lasting 6 or 7 days so far. I wouldn't shower with it, since it's not waterproof, just water resistant.
At what point should you charge your Fitbit? ›For trackers, charge the device to 100% at least once every 6 months; for watches, charge the device to 100% at least once per year. Store your device in a cool, moisture-free place.
Can I shower with Fitbit Charge 4? ›Even though it may be ok to shower with our water-resistant devices, not doing so reduces the potential for exposure to soaps, shampoos, and conditioners, which can cause long-term damage to your device and may cause skin irritation. We also don't recommend wearing any of our devices in a hot tub or sauna.
How far away from my phone will my Fitbit work? ›You can go as far as you want to but they will only communicate with each other for about 20 feet or so (variable).