Why Won’t Fitbit Hold A Charge?
If you log on to a Fitbit chat forum, one of the most commonly asked questions you will come across is “Why is my Fitbit losing battery so fast?” Allow me to cite one user’s post: “My Fitbit will charge, however it dies within 20 minutes on a good day, and then it gives me a battery with an exclamation in the center Unfortunately, if the responses to this user’s original post are any indication, this is a really common issue for various Fitbit models, not just the Charge 2.
But the Charge 2 seems to get brought up rather frequently when it comes to devices that struggle to hold a charge. As this user and others in the same boat report, when Fitbits get to be even less than a year old, they will charge up when left on the charger but then rapidly drain as soon as they are removed from that power source.
And restarting the Fitbit doesn’t seem to resolve the issue for many owners. Users have demanded a recall on the Fitbit Charge 2 in particular, but there has been no clear response from the manufacturer.
Table of Contents
- Why Won’t Fitbit Hold A Charge?
- How many years does a Fitbit battery last?
- What is the battery life on just one charge?
- What if my charging cable isn’t charging the Fitbit?
- Can the Fitbit battery be replaced?
- How can I extend the battery life of my Fitbit?
- Closing Thoughts
Why Won’t Fitbit Hold A Charge?
One of the biggest reasons why your Fitbit’s battery is rapidly draining could be related to “always-on” and GPS being turned on via your Fitbit mobile app. Having these features on allows your Fitbit to continuously display the screen and track your location even when you are not using your Fitbit. Disabling these two features should help conserve battery power.
Battery life does vary by model. Which Fitbit has the longest battery life?
| Recommended Fitbit Article: What Fitbit Do I Have? |
What if the charging cable won’t charge the Fitbit? And just what are the best ways to extend the battery life on your Fitbit?
Read on to learn about how many years does a Fitbit battery last and how to tell if yours is on its last leg.
How many years does a Fitbit battery last?
How many years will a Fitbit’s battery last? On average, they only last about one or two years.
If you can make the battery last for more than two years, then you are quite fortunate and probably in the minority of Fitbit owners.
What is the battery life on just one charge?
Battery life on a single charge will vary based on the model that you own.
The Versa Versa Lite Edition can last about 4 days while the Alta Ace, Ace 2, Blaze, Charge 2, Flex 2, Ionic, Inspire, and Luxe can last for a little over 5 days.
The Sense, Versa 2, and Versa 3 can go for over 6 days.
The Alta HR, Charge 3, Charge 4, and Charge 5 can go for about 7 days.
The Ace 3 can last for over 8 days, and the Inspire 2 can last for about 10 days.
The One can last for about two weeks while the Zip can amazingly last for up to six months.
What if my charging cable isn’t charging the Fitbit?
Perhaps the charging cable is causing some problems.
If the pins are dirty or obstructed from getting properly connected to the charging port, the cable might not be able to charge as needed.
You will need to check the charging cord’s pins, make sure that they are clean, and make sure that nothing in the charging port is obstructing the connection.
Can the Fitbit battery be replaced?
You can indeed replace your Fitbit’s battery if it is clearly failing.
You will, however, need some technical capabilities.
If you have never replaced a device’s battery before, then this might not be the best way for you to go.
Also, take note that replacing the Fitbit’s original battery will void your device’s warranty.
How can I extend the battery life of my Fitbit?
There are some ways that you can extend the battery life of your Fitbit.
Let’s go over the best ways to try to stretch your battery’s lifespan.
Dim Down the Brightness
One of the first things that you can do is dim down the brightness level on your Fitbit’s screen.
There is no need to have the brightness level turned up high in order to see what is on the screen.
Utilize Dynamic GPS
Next, use dynamic GPS to let your mobile device track your steps and the distance traveled for you.
This takes some of the burden off of your Fitbit.
Lessen Your Call and Music Usage
Relying on your Fitbit for music and phone usage will drop your device’s battery life down quite a bit.
Reduce the use of these unnecessary features in order to boost your Fitbit’s battery life.
Turn Off “Always-On”
“Always-On” is a feature that will keep your Fitbit’s screen on all the time. This puts a lot of stress on the battery.
Turning this feature off can greatly extend your Fitbit’s battery life.
Turn the Fitbit Off While Not In Use
If you are not using your Fitbit, turn it off. Allow the battery time to just rest.
That way, when you go to use the Fitbit again, your battery life will still be intact.
There is no need to waste the Fitbit’s battery life.
Turn Off Notifications
Notifications will drain the battery’s life, so it can be helpful to turn off the notifications for your apps on the Fitbit.
You can easily do this using your Fitbit app.
Closing Thoughts
If your Fitbit is struggling to hold a charge, try turning some draining features off and turning down the brightness level.
Tinker around with the settings as much as you can, and make sure that your charging cord is fully functional for getting the device charged up.
Just bear in mind that your Fitbit’s battery is designed to last for maybe two years, tops.
Usage will influence your battery life, but you can make some adjustments to try to extend the battery’s charge as much as possible.