Fitbit Not Getting Notifications? How to Fix It

To get texts on a Fitbit, open the Google Health app (formerly the Fitbit app), tap Connections, then your device, then Notifications, and follow the prompts. Your phone has to receive the notifications itself first: Google says it must receive phone, text, calendar and app notifications. This page is for alerts that reach your phone but not your wrist on a Fitbit that's already set up. A Fitbit that won't pair, or stats that stop updating, have their own guides. Other faults are on Fitbit pairing, sync and battery fixes.

Google lists notifications that stop reaching your Fitbit as a sign it might be disconnected from your phone, the same fault behind a Fitbit that won't sync. We checked these steps against Google's Android and iPhone help on September 27, 2026. For other watches, see smartwatch sync fixes.

Why Your Fitbit Isn't Getting Notifications

We group Google's checklist into seven blockers, in the order Google lists them:

1. The phone is too far away. It must be within 30 feet of the Fitbit.
2. The conversation is open on your phone. The Fitbit shows only new, unread texts.
3. A quiet mode is on the phone: focus, do not disturb, quiet hours or driving mode.
4. A quiet mode is on the Fitbit: do not disturb or sleep mode, or device lock is active.
5. Notifications are off on the Fitbit, or not set up in the Google Health app.
6. Bluetooth trouble: several Bluetooth devices paired to the phone, or a dropped connection.
7. Syncing or a fresh app update: syncing can delay a notification, and a Google Health app update can stop them.

How to Fix Fitbit Notifications

These work through Google's checklist, then its troubleshooting steps; setting notifications up again comes last, as it does on Google's page.

Fix 1: Check the Connection and the 30-Foot Range

Keep your phone within 30 feet of your Fitbit, the range Google gives for notifications, and check that Bluetooth is on. Google also lists a dropped connection between the phone and the Fitbit as a cause. If the Fitbit shows as disconnected or won't pair at all, fix that first with the steps for when your Fitbit won't connect to the app.

Fix 2: Turn Off Do Not Disturb and Sleep Mode on Your Fitbit

Each Fitbit keeps Do Not Disturb and Sleep mode in its quick settings, reached a different way per model:

Model	Where to find Do Not Disturb and Sleep mode
Charge 5, Charge 6, Inspire 3, Luxe	Swipe down from the clock face
Sense 2, Versa 4	Swipe down from the clock face
Sense, Versa 3	Swipe right from the clock face
Versa, Versa Lite Edition, Versa 2	Swipe down twice to open the control center, then tap the quick settings icon
Charge 4	Press and hold the button, then swipe left to quick settings
Inspire 2, Ace 3	Press and hold the buttons

Google's instruction is plain: "Make sure both settings are turned off to receive notifications." If device lock is active, tap the Fitbit's screen to unlock it.

Fix 3: Turn Off Quiet Modes on Your Phone

Phone quiet modes stop notifications at the source:

1. iPhone: tap Settings › Focus › Do Not Disturb and make sure it's turned off.
2. Android: tap Settings › Sound and make sure Do not disturb is off.
3. Either phone: turn off quiet hours or driving mode if you use them.

Fix 4: Turn On Notifications in the Google Health App

Set up notifications in the app once the quiet modes are off:

1. Open the Google Health app.
2. At the top left, tap Connections, then your device.
3. Tap Notifications and follow the on-screen instructions. On Android, this is where you allow the Google Health app to access notifications.
4. Choose the notification types you want. On Android, pick 1 app per category, such as Dialer for calls, Messages for texts, Calendar for events and Gmail for email.
5. Tap App Notifications to add other apps, then sync your Fitbit.

Fix 5: Check Your Phone's Notification Settings

Your phone's own switches decide what it passes on:

Phone	Turn on	Also check
iPhone	Settings › Bluetooth › information icon next to your Fitbit › Share System Notifications; Settings › Notifications › Show Previews: Always or When Unlocked	For Phone, Messages, Calendar and other apps: Allow Notifications on and Notification Center on
Android	Settings › Connected devices › Connection preferences › Bluetooth; Settings › Apps & notifications › Notifications › Notifications on lock screen	The Google Health app allowed to run in the background; Enable Notification Widget on in the app's notification settings

On iPhone, a Fitbit shows events from all calendars synced to your default Calendar app.

Fix 6: Force Quit the App, Reset Bluetooth and Restart the Fitbit

Google's troubleshooting steps continue in this order:

1. Force quit the Google Health app, then reopen it to sync your Fitbit.
2. Turn off Bluetooth on your phone, wait 10 seconds, turn it back on, then open the app to sync.
3. iPhone or iPad: in Settings › Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to your Fitbit and turn Share System Notifications off and back on. If it's missing, restart the Fitbit, tap Allow when your iPhone asks to let the Fitbit show notifications, then turn the setting on.
4. Restart the Fitbit, then open the app to sync it.

Fix 7 (Last): Refresh Notifications, Then Set Them Up Again

Refresh notifications first, then set them up from scratch:

1. In the Google Health app, tap Connections › your device › Notifications and turn off all notifications.
2. Restart your phone, open the app, turn notifications back on and sync.
3. Still nothing: in your phone's Bluetooth settings, tap the information or gear icon next to your Fitbit and forget it, then set up notifications again in the app and sync.

A factory reset isn't on Google's notification checklist, so save the steps to reset a Fitbit for when Google Support asks you to.

Texts, Calls and Specific Fitbits

Texts, calls and kids' models each have their own limits on a Fitbit.

Text Messages Not Showing

Texts appear only when they're new and unread: with the conversation open on your phone, you won't get a text notification. On Android, pick your messages app for the Text messages category under Notifications. Quick replies are Android only and work on Charge 3, Charge 4, Charge 5, Charge 6, Inspire 3, Luxe, and the Sense and Versa series. Texts in alphabets such as Cyrillic or Arabic may not display properly; on Android, Enable Transliteration converts them to the closest Latin letters.

Calls Not Showing

Charge 3, Charge 4, Charge 5, Charge 6, Inspire 3, Luxe, and the Sense and Versa series let you accept or reject calls when paired to an iPhone or Android phone. On Charge 3, Charge 4 and the Sense and Versa series, an older Android version can reject calls but not accept them. Except for on-wrist calls on Sense and Versa 3, you can't speak into the Fitbit, so accepting answers the call on your nearby phone.

Kids' Fitbits (Ace) Only Show Calls

Ace, Ace 2 and Ace 3 receive call notifications only, so texts and app alerts won't appear on them.