Your Fitbit is designed to make things simple by automatically syncing the time and date from your paired smartphone. This means that as long as your phone’s clock is accurate, your Fitbit should always display the correct time without requiring any action on your part. However, there are situations where your Fitbit may display the incorrect time, which can be confusing and frustrating—mainly if you rely on it for workouts, alarms, or daily activity tracking.

Some of the most common causes include:

• Traveling across time zones – If you’ve recently flown to another country or region, your Fitbit may not immediately update to the local time.
• Daylight savings changes – Twice a year, when clocks move forward or backward, your Fitbit might fail to catch the change if it hasn’t synced properly.
• Sync issues – Bluetooth connection problems or a delay in syncing with your smartphone can result in the wrong time showing up.
• App settings – If “Set Automatically” is turned off in the Fitbit app, your device may stay stuck on an outdated time zone.
• Software glitches – Like any smart device, Fitbits can sometimes run into minor bugs that cause display errors.

The good news is that adjusting the time on your Fitbit is quick and straightforward. You don’t need any technical expertise or extra tools—just your Fitbit, your smartphone, and the Fitbit app.

In this guide, you’ll learn three reliable methods to change the time on your Fitbit:

• Letting it sync automatically through the Fitbit app.
• Manually changing the time zone in your app settings.
• Restarting and re-syncing your device to fix glitches.

We’ll also provide a comparison table to help you determine which method is best for your situation, along with troubleshooting tips and answers to the most frequently asked questions. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to get your Fitbit back on track and keep perfect time.

Why the Time Might Be Wrong on Your Fitbit

Before you jump into fixing the problem, it helps to understand why your Fitbit might be displaying the wrong time. Since Fitbits don’t have a manual clock-setting feature on the device itself, they rely heavily on your smartphone and the Fitbit app for accuracy. When something interrupts that process, the displayed time can fall out of sync.

Here are the most common reasons this happens:

• Traveling across time zones
  If you recently traveled, your phone may have already updated to the local time zone, but your Fitbit may not adjust until it completes a successful sync. In some cases, if the “automatic time zone” feature is disabled in the app, the watch will remain set to your old time zone.
• Daylight savings changes are not updating automatically
  Twice a year, when clocks shift forward or backward, your Fitbit should update automatically through your phone. However, if your device hasn’t synced recently or if the setting for automatic time updates is disabled, your Fitbit may continue to show the pre–daylight savings time.
• Bluetooth connection issues with your phone
  Your Fitbit communicates with your phone primarily through Bluetooth. If Bluetooth is turned off, unstable, or disconnected, your watch won’t be able to pull the updated time from your phone. This can cause your device to display outdated information until the connection is restored.
• App settings set to “manual” instead of “automatic”
  In the Fitbit app, you can either allow the app to detect your time zone or set it manually. If it’s set to manual and you move to a new location, your Fitbit will not update automatically unless you manually change the setting back to automatic.
• Fitbit not syncing correctly with your smartphone
  Even if Bluetooth is enabled, your Fitbit may still fail to sync occasionally due to software glitches, outdated app versions, or a low battery. When syncing is interrupted, your watch can’t update its internal clock, resulting in an incorrect time.

3 Ways to Change the Time on a Fitbit Watch

1. Sync Automatically Through the Fitbit App

The most common and easiest method is to let the Fitbit app update the time automatically.

Steps:

• Open the Fitbit app on your phone.
• Ensure your Fitbit is connected via Bluetooth.
• Swipe down to refresh and allow the app to sync with your device.
• The time should be adjusted based on your phone’s clock.

2. Manually Change Time in the Fitbit App

If automatic sync fails, you can manually set the time.

Steps:

• Open the Fitbit app.
• Tap your profile picture (top left corner).
• Select your device (e.g., Fitbit Versa, Charge, Sense).
• Scroll down and select App Settings or Advanced Settings.
• Toggle Set Automatically OFF.
• Choose the Time Zone and select the correct one.
• Sync your device to apply changes.

3. Restart and Re-Sync Your Fitbit

Sometimes, a simple restart can fix time issues.

Steps:

• Restart your Fitbit by pressing and holding the button(s) until the logo appears.
• Open the Fitbit app.
• Allow it to sync again with your phone.
• The time should now display correctly.

Comparison Table: Methods to Change Time on Fitbit

Tips to Prevent Fitbit Time Issues

To avoid recurring issues with your Fitbit displaying the incorrect time, it’s helpful to establish a few habits that keep your device and app running smoothly. Here are some best practices to follow:

• Always keep your Fitbit app updated
  Fitbit regularly releases app updates that improve performance, fix bugs, and enhance compatibility with new phone operating systems. Make sure to check your phone’s app store for updates and install them promptly.
• Enable automatic time zone in your phone settings
  Since your Fitbit retrieves its time and date information directly from your phone, your phone’s settings are essential. By enabling “Set Automatically” in your phone’s time zone settings, you ensure that both devices update seamlessly whenever you travel or when daylight savings time begins or ends.
• Regularly sync your Fitbit after traveling
  After you arrive in a new time zone, open the Fitbit app and refresh it to force a sync. This small step ensures that your Fitbit quickly adjusts to the local time, preventing confusion when tracking workouts, sleep schedules, or alarms.
• Keep your Fitbit charged
  A low battery can sometimes interfere with syncing and communication between your phone and Fitbit. To avoid time discrepancies, aim to keep your device charged to at least 20–30% whenever possible. Many users find that charging during short breaks—such as while showering or working at a desk—helps maintain a steady battery level.
• Restart your Fitbit occasionally to clear minor glitches
  Just like a smartphone, your Fitbit can occasionally experience minor software issues. Restarting your device periodically helps eliminate temporary glitches and keeps performance smooth, reducing the chance of time errors or syncing delays.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I change the time directly on the Fitbit watch without the app?
No, most Fitbit models require the app for manual time changes. The watch itself does not allow manual adjustment.

2. Why does my Fitbit show the wrong time even after syncing?
This usually happens if your phone’s time zone is incorrect or if the “Set Automatically” option in your Fitbit app is disabled.

3. Do I need Wi-Fi to change the time on Fitbit?
Not directly. Your Fitbit connects via Bluetooth to your phone, which provides the correct time. However, an internet connection helps ensure your phone’s time zone is correct.

4. Will my Fitbit adjust automatically when traveling to another country?
Yes, if both your phone and Fitbit app are set to “Set Automatically,” the time will update after syncing.

5. What should I do if none of these methods work?
Try uninstalling and reinstalling the Fitbit app, or contact Fitbit Support for troubleshooting specific to your device model.

Conclusion

Keeping the correct time on your Fitbit is essential—not just for convenience, but also for accurate tracking of your steps, workouts, sleep patterns, and reminders. While the device usually updates automatically through your phone, it’s not uncommon for time discrepancies to occur after traveling, daylight savings changes, or syncing issues.

The good news is that fixing the problem is straightforward. Whether you rely on automatic syncing through the app, make manual adjustments in the settings, or restart and re-sync your device, you have reliable options to get your Fitbit back on track.

By following the prevention tips—such as keeping your app updated, enabling automatic time zone adjustments, and syncing regularly—you can minimize the chances of encountering time errors in the future. With just a few quick steps, your Fitbit will continue doing what it does best: helping you stay active, on schedule, and motivated every day.