How to Change the Time on Your Fitbit

Getting the time wrong on your Fitbit is more common than you'd think — especially after daylight saving time, traveling across time zones, or switching to a new phone. The good news is that Fitbit devices are designed to sync time automatically, but there are enough variables in how that sync works that it's worth understanding the full picture.

How Fitbit Handles Time (It's Not Set on the Device Itself)

Here's the first thing to know: you generally can't change the time directly on your Fitbit tracker or smartwatch. There are no buttons to tap or dials to adjust on the device itself. Instead, your Fitbit pulls its time from two sources:

• Your connected smartphone via the Fitbit app
• Your Fitbit account's timezone setting, stored in the app and on Fitbit's servers

This means fixing an incorrect time almost always involves either syncing your device or updating a setting in the Fitbit app — not touching the device itself.

The Fastest Fix: Sync Your Fitbit

In most cases, the quickest way to correct the time is a manual sync:

1. Open the Fitbit app on your phone
2. Tap the Today tab (the home screen)
3. Pull down on the screen to trigger a sync, or tap your device's tile and look for a Sync Now option
4. Wait for the sync to complete — this usually takes under 30 seconds

After syncing, your Fitbit should display the same time as your phone. If your phone's time is correct, this typically resolves the issue immediately.

When the Time Is Still Wrong After Syncing

If syncing doesn't fix it, the problem is usually one of three things:

1. Your Phone's Time Zone Is Incorrect

Since your Fitbit mirrors your phone's clock, if the phone is showing the wrong time (or has the wrong time zone set), your Fitbit will too. Check your phone's Date & Time settings and confirm that either automatic time zone detection is enabled or the correct zone is manually selected.

2. Your Fitbit Account's Time Zone Setting Is Off

Fitbit also stores a time zone setting in your account profile. This can sometimes fall out of sync with your phone, particularly if you've recently traveled or changed devices.

To update it:

1. Open the Fitbit app
2. Tap your profile picture (top left or top right depending on your app version)
3. Go to App Settings or Personal Info
4. Find Time Zone and make sure it's set correctly — or toggle Automatic on if available

3. Bluetooth Isn't Connecting Properly

Time syncing happens over Bluetooth. If your phone and Fitbit aren't pairing cleanly, the time won't update. Try turning Bluetooth off and back on, moving your phone and Fitbit closer together, and syncing again.

Does the Fitbit Model Matter? ⌚

Yes — and this is where things diverge depending on which device you have.

Fitbit's Sense and Versa models with built-in GPS have an additional advantage: when you start an outdoor workout, the device can use GPS data to confirm or correct its clock. But for day-to-day time accuracy, the phone sync remains the primary mechanism across the lineup.

The 12-Hour vs. 24-Hour Clock Format

Changing the time format (12-hour vs. 24-hour display) is a separate setting from the time itself, and this one you do control explicitly:

1. In the Fitbit app, go to your device settings (tap your profile, then your device name)
2. Look for Clock Display Time or Clock Face settings
3. Toggle between 12-hour and 24-hour format

Some clock faces may override this setting — if your preferred clock face only displays in one format, switching formats in settings won't change it until you select a compatible face.

What About Traveling Across Time Zones? 🌍

When you cross time zones with your Fitbit, the device updates its time once it syncs with your phone — assuming your phone has automatically adjusted to the new local time. If you have automatic time zone detection enabled on your phone, this usually happens without any action on your part. If not, you'll need to manually update the time zone on your phone and then trigger a sync in the Fitbit app.

Keep in mind that sleep tracking, step goals, and activity summaries are tied to your device's clock, so an incorrect time can affect how Fitbit logs your daily data. Getting the time right before bed or before a workout matters more than it might seem.

Common Situations That Lead to Time Errors

• Restoring or resetting your Fitbit without immediately re-syncing
• Setting up a Fitbit as a new device on a different phone
• Traveling internationally without updating phone time zone settings
• Using the Fitbit app in airplane mode without syncing afterward
• Pairing your Fitbit with a tablet that doesn't automatically update its clock

The Underlying Variable: Your Setup

Most time issues resolve with a sync, a time zone check, or a Bluetooth reconnect. But which of those steps actually applies depends on the exact combination of your Fitbit model, your phone's operating system (Android or iOS behave slightly differently in how they handle Bluetooth sync reliability), your app version, and whether you've recently changed devices or traveled. The fix is almost always simple — it's just a matter of identifying which link in the sync chain is the one that's broken in your particular case.