Fitbit Won't Turn On? Causes and Fixes

A Fitbit that won't turn on has a black, blank or frozen screen, or keeps restarting. Google says most blank-screen problems can be fixed by updating and syncing the firmware; if not, it suggests cleaning, charging, restarting and, last, resetting the device. This page covers a Fitbit that stays dark or frozen; charging faults and fast battery drain have their own guides. If yours won't turn on or charge, start here: an hour on a wall outlet tests both. Other faults are on Fitbit not working.

We checked each step against Google's Fitbit help pages on September 27, 2026. The phone app is now the Google Health app (formerly the Fitbit app). For Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch and other brands, see how to reset a smartwatch.

Why Your Fitbit Won't Turn On

We count six common causes of a dark Fitbit on Google's help pages:

1. A battery at 0%. Google says the screen might stay black for several minutes when you first plug it in.
2. Charge that isn't getting through. Sweat or lotion on the contacts, stuck or dirty cable pins, or a computer port instead of a wall outlet.
3. Frozen software. A blank or frozen display and a continuous reboot loop are both on Google's list of problems a restart fixes.
4. A watch that was shut down. Sense and Versa watches can be turned off; Google says models missing from its list, such as Charge, Inspire and Luxe, don't turn off.
5. A firmware fault. Google's first fix for a blank screen is to update and sync the firmware.
6. Dirt, moisture or damage. Dirt, oil, sweat or moisture can interfere with touchscreen sensitivity, and cracks call for support.

How to Fix a Fitbit That Won't Turn On

These start with Google's fix for a totally black screen, then follow its charging steps; the factory reset stays last and outside this list.

Fix 1: Charge It From a Wall Outlet for a Full Hour

Plug the charging cable into a standard wall outlet, not a computer, and leave the Fitbit on it for a full hour. Google says to leave it "for at least one hour as the battery may be depleted and the screen may turn on without enough charge." If the error "insufficient power source" appears, unplug other gadgets from your USB hub or use a different wall plug. Google Fitbit Air shows its charge with a status light: solid red means it has run out of battery, and a fully drained Air can show no light at all.

Fix 2: Check the Charger and Contacts

Clean contacts and a firm connection let the charge reach the battery:

1. Clean the gold contacts on the back of the Fitbit and the pins on the cable with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. For stubborn buildup, Google suggests rubbing the gold dots with a pencil eraser, then brushing away every bit. Never scrape the contacts with anything metal.
2. Push each gold pin on the cable with your finger. It should spring back up at once; a pin that stays pushed in or feels stuck means the cable likely needs to be replaced.
3. Seat the Fitbit properly: Charge 5, Charge 6, Luxe, Sense 2, Versa 4 and Google Fitbit Air attach magnetically, Inspire 3 snaps into its charger, and Charge 3 and Charge 4 clip on.

A Fitbit that shows no charge sign after these checks needs the full charging guide: Fitbit not charging.

Fix 3: Turn It On the Right Way

A Sense or Versa watch that was shut down stays dark until you press its button; the other models in this table never shut down.

Model	How to turn it on
Sense, Sense 2, Versa 3, Versa 4	Press and hold the button until you feel the watch vibrate
Versa, Versa Lite Edition, Versa 2	Press the back button
Charge, Inspire, Luxe, Google Fitbit Air	They don't turn off, so a dark one needs charging or a restart

Google notes that shutting down a Fitbit doesn't delete any data.

Fix 4 (Last): Restart It on the Charger

Restart it with the steps for your model, keeping it connected to the charger:

Model	How to restart it
Charge 5, Charge 6, Luxe	Press the button on the flat end of the charging cable 3 times, pausing 1 second between presses, then wait 10 seconds or until the Fitbit logo appears
Inspire 3	Hold the buttons for 10 seconds; it has restarted when it vibrates and shows the Fitbit logo
Inspire 2	Hold the buttons for 10 seconds; it has restarted when it vibrates and shows a smile icon
Charge 3, Charge 4	Hold the button for 8 seconds; it has restarted when it vibrates and shows a smile icon
Sense, Sense 2, Versa 2, Versa 3, Versa 4, Versa Lite	Hold the button for 10 seconds until the Fitbit logo appears
Versa	Hold the left and bottom-right buttons for 10 seconds until the Fitbit logo appears
Google Fitbit Air	Hold the button on the back of the charger for 10 seconds, or until the status light flashes white

Restarting reboots the hardware without deleting your fitness data, Google says. Menu restarts for a Fitbit that still responds are on our guide to restart or reset a frozen Fitbit.

Specific Cases

Four situations need their own steps: a blank screen that still vibrates, a red X, a Sense 2 in a boot loop, and damage.

The Screen Is Blank or Flickering, but It Vibrates

Start with Google's firmware steps for a blank or flickering screen:

1. Charge the Fitbit and install the latest Google Health app on your phone or tablet.
2. In the app, tap Connections › your device › Update to update your Fitbit. The pink button appears only when an update is available.
3. Sync it: on the Today tab, tap and hold the screen and pull down, or tap Connections › Sync.
4. Change the clock face: tap Connections › your device › Watch faces, browse the Clocks tab, then tap a face and Install.

If the screen is smeared, wipe it with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, slightly dampened with water if needed.

A Red X on the Screen

A big red "X" is a sync or software error: Google says the software froze during a data transfer, and you need to remove the Fitbit and add it again. On Google's red X steps, tap your Profile picture or initial at the top right of the Google Health app, then Remove this device; Google's setup page gives the path Connections › your device › System › Disconnect device, so use whichever your app shows. Then tap Forget or Unpair on the Fitbit in your phone's Bluetooth settings, and tap Set Up a Device in the app.

Sense 2 Keeps Restarting

A Sense 2 stuck in a boot loop has its own factory reset sequence on Google's update troubleshooting page, run on the charger with a series of button holds. Google keeps it as a last resort: it erases all data stored on the watch, including unsynced activity, alarms, goals and notification settings. Follow the exact sequence on the Fitbit reset page.

After Water or Physical Damage

Google's blank-screen page tells you to check the screen for cracks or moisture, then contact Google Health support with your Fitbit model and serial number ready. It gives no drying steps, so we don't add any.