This article explains what might stop the Fitbit app from working with your iPad, and what to do to fix the problem. Below are some of the common issues and how to fix them to get your fitness tracking back on the road.
What to Know
- Make sure your iPad is newer than 3rd Gen or older, consider installing iPhone Fitbit app instead.Enable Bluetooth on iPad > quit Fitbit app and restart iPad > unpair Fitbit from other devices > update Fitbit app.Temporarily disable Bluetooth on other devices > check battery > manually enable modules in app > reinstall app.
Causes for Fitbit Issues
Most issues with your Fitbit and iPad are communication-based. Whether your iPad can’t detect your Fitbit, syncing won’t start, continue, or complete, or there are pairing issues, most of these are merely a lack of communication. Below are several tips and tricks to fix those Fitbit and iPad issues.
Check Fitbit’s site for a list of currently supported Apple devices.
- You can’t find an iPad app. If you have a 3rd generation iPad or earlier, you may have a hard time finding the app in the App Store. Instead, you may have to download the iPhone version:
- In the App Store, go to the top left corner and select Filters.Select Supports > iPhone only.Now search for “Fitbit” and select Search.
- Fitbit won’t pair with iPad. Once you have your Fitbit app downloaded, you’ll want to get it paired with your iPad. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPad. If it’s not on, you’ll never be able to pair it with your Fitbit.
- Fitbit won’t pair but Bluetooth is turned on. If Bluetooth is already enabled and pairing may be frozen or stuck, you must force close the Fitbit app on your iPad and retry pairing it again. You may need to reboot your iPad before trying to pair it again.
- Fitbit is paired with other devices. If you’ve set up your Fitbit on another device, such as your smartphone, you’ll most likely need to unpair it from your phone or at least turn off Bluetooth before pairing it with your iPad.
- If all else fails, remove the pairing from the Fitbit app on your other device, open the Fitbit app on your iPad, then begin setup as you did on your smartphone. You should be prompted to enter a 4-digit pin (shown on your Fitbit.). Enter it, and the Fitbit app will prompt to pair with your fitness band.
- Fitbit app is out of date. If the Fitbit won’t sync with the iPad, make sure you have the latest Fitbit app version. Many times, it’s just a software bug interfering with communication.
- Interference from other devices. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPad. If you have more than one device setup with the Fitbit, you may need to disable the Bluetooth on the other device.
- Low Fitbit battery. Check the Fitbit’s battery level. If it’s too low, it won’t sync.
- Fitbit dashboard not showing info. This is usually due to the different modules not being enabled. To do this:
- Scroll down to the bottom of app and select Edit. The modules that aren’t enabled will have a red/pink plus sign in the top left corner.Select the Plus (+) for each module you want to display.Select Done.
- You can also tap and drag the tile to other locations while in Edit mode.
- Fitbit app stopped working. If your Fitbit app won’t run properly or keeps crashing, your best solution is to remove and reinstall your Fitbit app.
- You will lose any data that hasn’t synced.
- The iPad is too old. Some older iPads may not receive new data as anything older than a 4th generation iPad isn’t officially supported and may not work properly. If these troubleshooting steps from above don’t work, the only other solution is to get a new iPad.
- It’s something else. If these fixes don’t help, always check with Fitbit’s forums or Apple’s forums. There is always someone who can give you a helping hand.
You can’t find an iPad app. If you have a 3rd generation iPad or earlier, you may have a hard time finding the app in the App Store. Instead, you may have to download the iPhone version:
- In the App Store, go to the top left corner and select Filters.Select Supports > iPhone only.Now search for “Fitbit” and select Search.
Fitbit won’t pair with iPad. Once you have your Fitbit app downloaded, you’ll want to get it paired with your iPad. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPad. If it’s not on, you’ll never be able to pair it with your Fitbit.
Fitbit won’t pair but Bluetooth is turned on. If Bluetooth is already enabled and pairing may be frozen or stuck, you must force close the Fitbit app on your iPad and retry pairing it again. You may need to reboot your iPad before trying to pair it again.
Fitbit is paired with other devices. If you’ve set up your Fitbit on another device, such as your smartphone, you’ll most likely need to unpair it from your phone or at least turn off Bluetooth before pairing it with your iPad.
If all else fails, remove the pairing from the Fitbit app on your other device, open the Fitbit app on your iPad, then begin setup as you did on your smartphone. You should be prompted to enter a 4-digit pin (shown on your Fitbit.). Enter it, and the Fitbit app will prompt to pair with your fitness band.
Fitbit app is out of date. If the Fitbit won’t sync with the iPad, make sure you have the latest Fitbit app version. Many times, it’s just a software bug interfering with communication.
Interference from other devices. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPad. If you have more than one device setup with the Fitbit, you may need to disable the Bluetooth on the other device.
Low Fitbit battery. Check the Fitbit’s battery level. If it’s too low, it won’t sync.
Fitbit dashboard not showing info. This is usually due to the different modules not being enabled. To do this:
- Scroll down to the bottom of app and select Edit. The modules that aren’t enabled will have a red/pink plus sign in the top left corner.Select the Plus (+) for each module you want to display.Select Done.
You can also tap and drag the tile to other locations while in Edit mode.
Fitbit app stopped working. If your Fitbit app won’t run properly or keeps crashing, your best solution is to remove and reinstall your Fitbit app.
You will lose any data that hasn’t synced.
The iPad is too old. Some older iPads may not receive new data as anything older than a 4th generation iPad isn’t officially supported and may not work properly. If these troubleshooting steps from above don’t work, the only other solution is to get a new iPad.
It’s something else. If these fixes don’t help, always check with Fitbit’s forums or Apple’s forums. There is always someone who can give you a helping hand.
- How do I change the time on my Fitbit?
- It’s not possible to change the time on your Fitbit directly. Instead, change the time on your connected phone, then re-sync the two devices.
- How do I sync my Fitbit?
- To sync your Fitbit to a phone, make sure your phone has Bluetooth turned on and keep both devices close to each other. Open the Fitbit app and select Today > press and hold on the app screen, then swipe down. The devices should begin to manually sync with each other.
- How do I reset my Fitbit?
- The process for resetting your Fitbit varies based on the model you have. Newer Fitbits can be reset from your phone’s settings after you manually remove the tracker from your fitbit.com account. Once removed, open Settings > Bluetooth > choose your Fitbit > forget this device, then open Settings > About > Factory Reset.
It’s not possible to change the time on your Fitbit directly. Instead, change the time on your connected phone, then re-sync the two devices.
To sync your Fitbit to a phone, make sure your phone has Bluetooth turned on and keep both devices close to each other. Open the Fitbit app and select Today > press and hold on the app screen, then swipe down. The devices should begin to manually sync with each other.
The process for resetting your Fitbit varies based on the model you have. Newer Fitbits can be reset from your phone’s settings after you manually remove the tracker from your fitbit.com account. Once removed, open Settings > Bluetooth > choose your Fitbit > forget this device, then open Settings > About > Factory Reset.
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