How Do You Change The Time On a Fitbit » (Step-by-Step Guide)

The Fitbit smartwatch is a tech miracle. This device tracks your bodily activity and is relatively simple to use. One of its most basic features is showing time, and it can sometimes show incorrect time zones. Here’s the answer to “how do you change the time on Fitbit manually?”:

Start the Fitbit app and tap on your profile picture in the upper left corner
Scroll down and locate the ‘App Settings’
Tap on ‘Time Zone’
Switch the ‘Set Automatically’ feature off
Click on the ‘Time Zone’ tab, and choose the correct time zone for yourself

Fitbit device is a great option out there for you if you’re looking to maintain fitness and body health. But, it can be a little confusing to set time and date on your Fitbit device.

Fear not — In this guide, I’ll walk you through simple steps to set time on a Fitbit and discuss troubleshooting time-related errors on a Fitbit device.

Read on to find out!

Does a Fitbit Adjust Time and Date Automatically?

Your Fitbit should automatically adjust according to the correct time zone, and you should not have to change the time by yourself. But, you may turn off the automatic settings and change the time manually.

Whenever your device relocates to a different location, the Fitbit will automatically change the region and the time zone according to it.

However, there are some moments when Fitbit fails to adjust time and date automatically. In this case, you would have to follow the steps I’m about to reveal.

#1 Syncing Your Phone

One crucial step you should take is to verify if your phone is synced with the Fitbit device correctly.

When your phone is connected to the device, it automatically feeds it the correct information regarding time and the time zones. Here is how you can verify if your phone is synced with Fitbit:

Once you do an activity, you should see the checkmark on your Fitbit device that indicates that the data has synced
Open the Fitbit app on your phone, and you should find the appropriate synced data to be there
You can then figure out if it synced correctly or not
If they are not synced, sync them and then check if the time shown is correct

» Read my blog post: How to Sync Google Fit with Fitbit? » (Step-by-Step Guide)

#2 Always Check For The Updated Version

Updating your app to the latest version usually fixes time and brings in the new features of that version as well. Here’s how you can update your Fitbit app to the latest version (3.58):

To confirm that you have the latest version, go to ‘Play Store’ or ‘App Store’ for android and apple devices respectively.
Type ‘Fitbit’ in the search bar and click the top app
You should see the ‘Update’ option automatically if a newer version is available
To confirm anyway, scroll to the bottom, and you will find the version of the app there. The latest version for Fitbit is 3.58.
Check if the time shown is correct after an update

#3 Restart Your Device

Restarting your Fitbit device can fix a lot of issues, including the issues regarding time zones. Here is how you can restart your Fitbit device:

Go to the settings menu on your Fitbit Versa Smartwatch interface
Find the option ‘About’ and tap on it
You will now have more options under that menu
Click on ‘Shutdown’
Allow the process to complete
Now that your device has restarted check if all your data is intact
Check if the time issue has been fixed

Usually, these three steps get any Fitbit working like a charm. But, if for some reason, you are unable to change the time and date on your Fitbit automatically, I have some manual procedures that will surely work!

Can I Manually Change the Time on My Fitbit?

Yes, you can. There are several methods you can use to manually change the time and date on your Fitbit. The most straightforward and effective methods are:

Changing The Time Through The App Settings
Changing The Through The Fitbit Website
Disconnecting The Fitbit And Pairing It With Your Phone Again
Factory Resetting Your Device

Now, let’s see how you can use each of the aforementioned methods seamlessly!

#1 Changing It through the App Settings

Fixing Through the ‘Set Automatically’ Feature

Start the Fitbit app and tap on your profile picture in the upper left corner. Scroll down and locate the ‘App Settings’. Tap on ‘Time Zone’.

Switch the ‘Set Automatically’ feature off. Turn it back on and check if the issue has been fixed.

Fixing Manually Through ‘Settings’

Follow the above steps as mentioned, but this time, do not turn the “Set Automatically” feature on again. Instead, click on ‘Time Zone’ and choose the correct time zone for yourself.

» This could also be something for you: How to Connect MyFitnessPal With Fitbit?

#2 Changing Time on Fitbit through Website

You can also change the time on your Fitbit through the website if that is more convenient for you. Keep reading to find out how.

Fixing By Logging In Online

To fix time through the website, type in ‘Fitbit.com’ on your search bar and log in to your account. After you’ve been redirected to the dashboard, click on the settings icon.

From there, go to ‘Personal Info’ and click on ‘Advanced Settings’. Within the advanced settings, you will find ‘Timezone’. Choose your appropriate time zone. Click on submit and sync your devices.

Check on your Fitbit if the time is fixed now.

Switch Between a 12-Hour And 24-Hour Format

If you want to switch the time format, you would have to log into Fitbit through your computer. Once on your dashboard, you can click the ‘Settings’ option in the upper right corner.

Scroll down to find ‘Personal info’ in the settings. Click on ‘Clock Display Time’ and change it according to the hour format that you prefer.

#3 Disconnecting and Pairing With Your Phone Again

Manually changing the time should work, but if it doesn’t, you can try disconnecting your phone from Fitbit and then reconnecting it.

Your phone, when connected to Fitbit, feeds it the correct data regarding your time zone, and this should fix the issue. Here are the steps that you can follow:

Go to the today page in the Fitbit program and tap on your profile picture. You will see a list of the devices connected to the app. Delete the Fitbit device that you are currently connected to.

Delete the app. Download the app again, and reconnect it to your Fitbit device. Verify if the time issue is still there or not.

#4 Factory Resetting Your Device

If none of the above-mentioned steps work and you are still stuck with the incorrect time, it is time to factory reset your Fitbit.

A factory reset erases all your data, and you would have to set up everything all over again. A factory reset is often used when encountering other issues with the data or the functionality of the device.

Here’s how you can factory reset your Fitbit:

Go to the settings menu on your Fitbit Versa Smartwatch interface. Find the option ‘About’ and tap on it. You will now have more options under that menu.

Click on ‘Factory Reset’ or ‘Clear User Data’. Confirm that you want to factory reset. Allow the process to complete. Switch on the device again. Check if the issue has been fixed.

I have written a separate guide on How to Reset Fitbit Versa Smartwatches — Check it out!

If you have a Fitbit Charge device, here’s another guide to Resetting Fitbit Charge Smartwatches.

Troubleshooting Time Settings on Fitbit

Showing incorrect time is one of the issues in Fitbit. Other issues can arise in Fitbit and are very common. If any of the undermentioned problems arise in combination with faulty time, it is a major red flag, and you should consider getting it fixed!

#1 Inaccurate Data

Your Fitbit can often get dysfunctional and collect incorrect data. This incorrect data can overall affect your activities and next targets.

If you think that it is showing incorrect data, try charging it fully and then do an activity to find out the functioning. Restarting or factory resetting often helps in this situation and should fix your issues right away

#2 Fitbit Won’t Charge

Charging issues are common with Fitbit. Your Fitbit functions optimally when it is sufficiently charged. If your Fitbit isn’t charging properly, the problem must be with the charging port on the device or the charger itself.

To confirm if the charger is working fine, connect another device to it and see if that is charging. A positive response would indicate that it is functioning well.

In that case, you should try cleaning the charging port on your Fitbit device because often dust and debris settle down in these areas, making it difficult for the device to be charged.

If you find that the charger is not functioning well, then there is no other solution than to buy another one.

#3 Unable to Receive Notifications

If you’ve made sure that you have enabled the notifications in the Fitbit app on your phone, the next step is to keep your phone and Fitbit device nearby.

Your Fitbit is connected to your phone through Bluetooth. Keeping the devices distant from each may result in an incomplete relay of the signals and hence a delay in or inability to receive notifications.

If the time zone issue is not fixed and you are encountering other issues as mentioned above, you should consider returning your Fitbit.

» Read my blog post about: Do You Need A Smartphone For Fitbit?

How to Return a Faulty Fitbit?

You can return your faulty Fitbit by contacting the customer support of Fitbit. Here’s how the entire procedure needs to work out:

You should return your Fitbit within 45 days after you bought it in order to get a complete refund
Contact the customer service of Fitbit, and they will guide you more about it
Note that the returned product needs to be in good condition and should not be physically damaged at all

The Final Verdict

Fitbit is a smart device that everyone enjoys using because it helps you stay fit and healthy. However, sometimes there can be issues regarding time zones.

Despite these issues, the Fitbit device can truly be your best friend in achieving your health goals. Explore this watch and try to engage every feature that it provides you with. You will find it to be no less than a blessing!

These issues are pretty easy to fix, and there can be several ways to fix them. Now that you know how do you change the time on Fitbit, if this issue arises next time, you can easily navigate your way around it!