Connected gps fitbit

Hey there @Toé, it's nice to see you around here! Charge 3 includes connected GPS. This means that it will connect to the GPS through your phone. Connected GPS is available for all supported phones with GPS sensors. For more information about setting up connected GPS; check this helpful article.

1. To use connected GPS, turn on Bluetooth and GPS on your phone.
2. Make sure the Fitbit app has permission to use GPS or location services.
3. Check that connected GPS is turned on for the exercise. a. Open the Exercise app and swipe left to find the exercise you want to track. b. Swipe up and make sure Use Phone GPS is set to On.
4. Keep your phone with you while you exercise.

Please check Charge 3 User Manual (page 36) for information on tracking GPS exercises with this new device.

Hope this helps. Keep me posted! 

There are only a handful of Fitbits with built-in GPS. However, most of its other devices have the ability to connect to a GPS signal via your smartphone. Here’s what to do if you’re having trouble establishing a connection.

Troubleshooting Fitbits with Connected GPS

Those that run or cycle often appreciate the usefulness of built-in GPS. And while there are quite a few sports watches with this functionality, fitness bands with built-in GPS are few and far between.

The next best thing is Connected GPS. This is a fancy term meaning the device on your wrist can piggy-back on your smartphone’s GPS signal. The benefit of this is that your outdoor exercise stats will be more accurate, plus you get a map of the workout in the Fitbit smartphone app.

What to do if the Fitbit is unable to get a satellite signal

Those of us that have a watch with built-in GPS know that it can be very difficult at times to secure a connection. The same applies to Connected GPS – yes, the dreaded ‘Connecting…’ message!

Fitbit suggests you switch off Wi-Fi on the phone when using Connected GPS. Of course, the Bluetooth on your smartphone needs to be switched on in order for it to communicate with the device on your wrist. You can check whether this is the case by going into the Bluetooth settings on your phone.

Your phone needs to be within 30 feet of your device, and the Fitbit app should be open while you are tracking your workout. The wearable will vibrate to indicate that it found a GPS signal. How quickly this occurs depends on your surroundings. Tall buildings, dense forests or steep hills might all impede with your phone’s ability to find a GPS satellite.

Ideally, you want to wait until the signal is established before you start your exercise. Otherwise the step count will be used to estimate distance instead of GPS, and your workout data will be less accurate.

If you’re not getting a signal the first thing to do is to check that Connected GPS is switched on. On the Versa 1 or 2, this is done by tapping the gear icon on any exercise and making sure that GPS is listed and switched on. Similarly, on Charge 3 check that Use Phone GPS is listed and on for the particular exercise. On Charge 2 and Inspire range you will need to do this via the Fitbit app. Choose the Today tab/your profile/your device images/Exercise Shortcuts. Find the exercise and make sure Connected GPS is on.

Additional things you can try

Here are a few more things you can try if you’re still having problems obtaining a GPS signal:

• close and re-open the Fitbit app
• restart your smartphone
• go to the Location section in your smartphone’s settings and make sure Fitbit has permission to access these
• for Android smartphones, in your phones settings go to location, location method, and choose phone only
• other smart devices (such as headphones) may interfere with the Bluetooth signal, so you may want to try switching these off

Troubleshooting Fitbits with built-in GPS

But what if you are having problems securing connection on a device with built-in GPS? There are things you can do to help resolve this.

Charge 4 is the latest fitness band from the San Francisco wearables manufacturer. It’s main upgrade is the inclusion of built-in GPS. You won’t find many fitness bands with built-in GPS.

The previous editions only had Connected GPS. This means they require your smartphone in order to obtain a satellite signal.

No other Fitbit fitness bands have built-in GPS. But a couple of smartwatches do – Versa 3 and Sense. Or you could opt for the agening Ionic.

Using built-in GPS on a Fitbit

Using the built-in GPS is very simple. Open the Exercise app on your Fitbit and choose an activity such as walk, run, bike, golf or hike. These are the ones that support GPS tracking. The others don’t so there’s no point in trying.

Wait until the tracker establishes and connects to the satellite. Once the signal is there tap on the play icon to commence your workout.

There are three GPS settings you should be aware of. One is the built-in GPS which works as explained above. There’s also a Phone GPS setting which works as described above – via Connected GPS (by tapping into the GPS sensors on your smartphone). The final option is called Dynamic GPS. This uses the built-in GPS at the beginning of the workout, but if you have your phone with you it will revert to its sensors to map the route.

You might want to choose the second or third option to preserve battery life. This is done by going into the settings on Charge 4 and tapping on “GPS Settings”.

Of the three options, built-in GPS is much more convenient as it allows for true phone-free exercising outdoors.

What to do if built-in GPS on Fitbit doesn’t connect

As long as you are using built-in GPS and the connection is stable, your activity tracker will utilise that data to calculate distance, step count and other stats. If the connection is non-existent or drops, your tracker will refer to counting your steps to estimate these metrics.

There are a few things you can do to make sure Charge 4, Versa 3, Sense or Ionic establishes a connection quickly.

For starters, make sure you have a clear view of the sky. This will help with obtaining the signal. Avoid tall buildings, dense forests, steep hills. Even thick cloud cover can make obtaining a connection more difficult, but there’s nothing you can do about that.

Essential reading: Best fitness trackers and health gadgets

It’s also a good idea to make sure that GPS is switched on. This is done by opening the Exercise app, choosing the exercise you want to track and swiping up. Make sure the setting is switched to “On”.

Other things you can do include making sure your Fitbit is topped up to at least 80% battery capacity. This is because using built-in GPS is battery draining.

The company says you should also avoid trying to start an exercise with GPS several times in a row. Apparently, that can cause issues.

There’s a 10 minute window to establish a GPS connection. If your device fails to do so, you’ll be presented with options to end the exercise, change the GPS mode or start the exercise again.

What to do if the built-in GPS connection of a Fitbit keeps dropping

Let’s say you managed to establish the connection and commence your workout. But the signal keeps dropping. For example, the GPS connection gets lost midway through your run. A number of users have reported this issue on Fitbit Community forums. This can be very frustrating as it will mess with the exercise data.

Those who have spoken to Fitbit Support report they’ve been told to restart the device. The other suggestions are along the lines the ones we have listed above such as making sure you have a clear view of the sky.

A Fitbit Moderator on the forum says the following.

“We are aware that some customers are reporting that during a GPS activity, the GPS connection may be lost.” and adds

“If normal troubleshooting steps are unsuccessful, we are working on a resolution and are sorry for any trouble. We appreciate your patience and look forward to getting you back on track.”

None of this works? Revert to Connected GPS.

Hopefully one of the above solutions will have resolved any problem you might be experincing with built-in GPS. No? A not-so-ideal workaround can be to revert to using the Phone GPS settings options. It won’t resolve the built-in GPS issue, but at least you’ll be able to put in that workout! And then hope for the best next time around.

Essential reading: Experiencing problems with your Fitbit? Where to get help.

If, on the other hand, you suspect your device is faulty, the other option is to contact Fitbit Support. They will create a case and further assist you. Or you could exchange the fitness band or smartwatch for another one in the store where you bought it.

* This article has been updated in May 2021

Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!

Should you use Fitbit’s GPS function? If you want to upgrade your exercise routine, it’s best to start tracking your activities using GPS.

Get set up and analyze your workouts through Fitbit’s Intensity Maps showing you your route, distance, heart-rate zones, and pace. 

Some Fitbits have built-in GPS, and others rely on the Global Positioning of your paired smartphone. Here’s everything you need to know!

Related reading

Does my Fitbit device have GPS?

Fitbit models with built-in GPS

The Fitbit Sense, Versa 3, Ionic, and Charge 4 & Charge 5 all feature both built-in GPS + GLONASS. 

With Built-In GPS, your Fitbit records your position during outdoor runs, rides, walks, hikes, and more. This GPS function allows you to see your pace and distance and view a map of your workout in the Fitbit app.

While the Charge 4 or 5 offers built-in GPS, it primarily uses your phone’s GPS to save battery when your phone is nearby. If you don’t take your phone, Charge 4 and 5 uses its built-in GPS.

What is the GLONASS option of Fitbit’s GPS feature?

GLONASS is Russia’s global positioning satellite system that works with GPS to provide your Fitbit with position information.

GLONASS helps connect your Fitbit to satellites faster than GPS alone and provides enhanced GOS performance.

Fitbit’s Connected GPS

The Fitbit Luxe, Blaze, Fitbit Charge 2, Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Inspire 2 & Inspire HR, Fitbit Versa, Versa Lite, and Versa 2 devices all solely use the GPS sensors on your smartphone to capture data.

So make sure you keep your phone near your device to capture your activity!

For Connected GPS to work, make sure you pair your Fitbit to your phone and turn on Bluetooth.

And, check that Allow Location Access is set to Always or All the time for the Fitbit app on your phone.

Looking to turn off GPS on your Fitbit?

To learn how to turn GPS off, check out this article for those steps: How to turn off GPS on your Fitbit watch or tracker.

How do I turn on GPS before an exercise on my Fitbit device?

In general, for all Fitbits, you use the Exercise app to track your workout’s route using GPS. Only activities where you cover physical distance offer GPS tracking.

• On your Fitbit, open the Exercise app and choose an activity type.
• Scroll down check that GPS is on before you start the activity–if you turned it off in the past, you need to turn it back on. Not all Fitbits offer this option.
• Wait for your Fitbit to show that GPS is connected.
• Once GPS is active, tap the play icon and begin working out.

If the GPS signal disconnects, don’t stop exercising. Your phone or Fitbit device continues to search for a signal and should reconnect once found.

Fitbit Ionic & Versa Series, and Sense

1. Open the Exercise app and scroll to the exercise you want to track.
2. Tap the settings gear icon and make sure GPS is On. If not, tap it once to turn it on.
   1. You may have to swipe up to find this option.

Only The Sense, Versa 3, and Ionic offer built-in GPS. The Versa, Versa Lite, and Versa 2 use the GPS sensors on your nearby phone to capture GPS data.

Fitbit Charge 5

1. Set your Charge’s GPS mode by opening the Settings app > GPS > GPS Mode.
   1. Choose Built-in, Dynamic, or Phone GPS.
   2. We recommend using Dynamic or Built-in unless you always carry your phone with you.
   3. If the GPS signal is lost while working out, your Charge 5 cannot switch to a different GPS type, i.e. it must use the same GPS setting during the entire workout.
2. Open the Exercise app and locate the exercise you want to do.
3. Tap the exercise, then swipe up and make sure GPS is on.

Fitbit Charge 4 & Charge 3

1. To use GLONASS (Charge 4 only), open the Settings app > GPS Settings > GLONASS and turn it on.
   1. GLONASS works only when your Fitbit uses built-in GPS–it does not work when your Charge 4 uses your phone’s GPS sensors.
2. Open the Exercise app and swipe to find the exercise you want to track.
3. Swipe up, and make sure GPS is On. If not, tap it once.
4. If the GPS signal is lost while working out, your Charge 4 cannot switch to a different GPS type, i.e. it must use the same GPS setting during the entire workout.

Fitbit Luxe

1. On your Luxe, open the Exercise app.
2. Choose your exercise type.
3. Swipe up through the exercise settings to locate GPS.
4. Tap GPS to turn it on.
5. Wait for the screen to show GPS connected and for your Luxe to vibrate before starting your exercise.

Fitbit Inspire Series

1. Click on the Settings app and make sure Phone GPS is On. If not, tap it once.

Fitbit Blaze

1. In the Fitbit app, click on Exercise Shortcuts. Open the exercise you want to track, and ensure Connected GPS is turned on.
2. If GPS doesn’t connect, confirm GPS is enabled on your device by pressing the gear icon and making sure Use Phone GPS is on.

Fitbit Charge 2

1. In the Fitbit app, click on Exercise Shortcuts. 
2. Tap the exercise you want to track and make sure Connected GPS is turned on.

How do I start a workout with GPS on my Fitbit device? 

1. Open up the Exercise app on your device, and click on an activity.
   1. Remember, only activities where you cover physical distance, such as running, walking, or cycling, give you GPS tracking.
2. Wait for GPS to connect. You should see a message that your device is connecting. This process may take a while, depending on your location.
3. Once connected, press the play icon to start your activity.

How do I see GPS data captured by my Fitbit device?

Once you’ve ended your workout, open the Fitbit app, and tap the Exercise tile.

You’ll then see a workout intensity map that shows your route, distance, heart-rate zones, and pace. Tap on the map to further analyze your activity.

How do I allow my Fitbit device to use my phone’s GPS sensors?

Turn on Fitbit’s Connected GPS for iPhones

1. First, you’ll need to make sure your phone can track your location when you’re out of WiFi range. To do this, open Settings, then Cellular, and then ensure Cellular Data is turned on.
2. Now make sure your phone can continue tracking your location when your phone is locked. Go to Settings, then General. Next, press Background App Refresh, search for the Fitbit app and make sure it’s turned on.
3. Finally, confirm your phone can identify your location. Settings, then privacy, then make sure Location Services is set to On. Search for Fitbit in the app list, and change Allow Location Access to Always. For best GPS data, also toggle on Precise Location.

Turn on Fitbit’s Connected GPS for Android and Windows 10 Phones

1. Like iPhones, make sure your phone can track your activity by turning on cellular data.
2. Ensure your phone can continue to track your location while it’s locked. How you do this varies by model–check with your device’s or operating system’s user guide or manual.
3. Make sure your phone can identify your location by turning on Location Services in your privacy settings.

You want to see a notice that Connected GPS is running for Fitbit.

How do I export my GPS Fitbit account data?

You can quickly export up to 31 days of your most recent Fitbit data or successfully export archived Fitbit data from any activity since you activated your account.

However, exporting archived data is a little more complicated.

To export your recent Fitbit account data:

1. From the Fitbit’s online dashboard, log in to your Fitbit account. 
2. Click the gear icon and choose Settings.
3. In your account’s sidebar, choose Data Export.
4. Choose the time period and data you want to include and the file format.
5. Click Download.

By downloading your data as a .GPX, .TCX or .FIT file, you can upload your activities to applications like Strava.

To export your archived Fitbit account data:

1. From the fitbit.com dashboard, click the gear icon.
   
2. Go to Settings.
3. From the sidebar, choose Data Export.
   
4. Open the Export Your Account Archive tab, then click Request Data.
5. You’ll get sent an email to the address associated with your Fitbit account. Open the email and click ‘confirm your data archive request.’
6. You’ll receive another email with a link to download your Fitbit account data.
7. Download and save the data file to your computer. 

Fitbit’s built-in GPS not working? GPS signal missing?

If the built-in GPS isn’t working on your Fitbit device, try these tips.

• Make sure the exercise you select allows for GPS tracking. Swipe on any exercise and check that Use Phone GPS is listed and set to On, and if available on your Fitbit, turn on GLONASS too (reduces battery life on your Fitbit.)
  • Only activities where you cover physical distance outdoors, like a run, walk, hike, or bike ride, offer GPS tracking.
• Use these settings for best built-in GPS performance:
  • GPS built-in.
  • GLONASS on.
  • Low-power GPS off.
• Charge your Fitbit to at least 80% before going out for your workout or activity.
• If using a metal band, switch to a fabric or elastomeric band and see if the GPS signal improves. There’s anecdotal evidence that metal bands and, in particular, any magnetic clasps or other parts interfere with GPS connections.
  • Also, if you wear any jewelry made from metal, remove those, especially if you wear them on the same arms/hand as your Fitbit.
• Turn off GPS Low Power Mode.
• On your Fitbit, open the Settings app > GPS Settings and change GPS mode to Built-in GPS instead of Dynamic or Phone modes.
• Sync your Fitbit device to your phone’s Fitbit app before going out, and make sure All Day Sync is turned on inside the Fitbit app.
• Check if there is a firmware update for your Fitbit device and if so, update it.
• Force quit and then relaunch your phone’s Fitbit app to refresh its connection to your Fitbit. Do this before you go out without your phone.
• Restart your Fitbit device.
• Uninstall the Fitbit app on your paired phone, then reinstall it. Once done, perform a factory reset of your Fitbit device.

Fitbit’s Connected GPS not working? Or GPS signal missing?

If your Fitbit failed to map your route using your phone’s GPS, try starting the exercise in the Fitbit app on your phone instead of starting it directly on your Fitbit.

Remember, only activities where you cover physical distance outdoors, like a run, walk, hike, or bike ride, offer Connected GPS tracking with your phone.

And remember to wait for your phone to find the GPS signal before you start your workout.

Your phone’s Fitbit app needs to be active or running in the background to connect to GPS.

If that didn’t help, make sure Bluetooth is on, and your Fitbit is listed as connected in those Bluetooth settings.

Verify that the Fitbit app is always allowed in the background for things like location services, background app refresh, and battery usage by app.

Turn off Low Power mode, Battery savings, or Power saver mode on your phone.

Other things to check are that you don’t have Airplane mode or Do Not Disturb on and that you set the Fitbit app to the All Day Sync option. For Android devices, make sure Always Connected is on.

Tips to get Connected GPS working on your Fitbit device

• Update the Fitbit app to its latest version and check if your Fitbit device has a pending firmware update.
• Force quit and then relaunch the Fitbit app to refresh its connection. Then, sync your device in the app. Finally, select a GPS-based activity and start it from the tracker.
• Open your phone’s Settings > Fitbit app and turn off Bluetooth. Restart your phone and then go back to Settings > Fitbit app and turn Bluetooth on.
• Go to your paired phone’s settings, turn Bluetooth off, wait 20 seconds, and then turn it back on.
• Review your phone’s Bluetooth devices. If you see any old and not used Fitbit devices in your phone’s list of Bluetooth devices, tap them and choose to Forget this Device.
• Restart your phone and restart your Fitbit device.
• Sync your Fitbit and then remove the Fitbit app and reinstall it on your paired phone.
• Set up your Fitbit as a new device.
  • Sync your Fitbit to the Fitbit app so you archive your data.
  • Go to the Bluetooth settings on your phone and choose to Forget this Device.
  • Open the Fitbit app and choose to Set up a New Device.
  • Choose your Fitbit model and follow the onscreen instructions.
  • If the Fitbit app asks you to replace your Fitbit, choose to replace it.
  • Pair your Fitbit with your phone or other device and follow the remaining instructions.

Summary

We hope we’ve answered all your Fitbit GPS-related questions.

Still need some help?

Comment below, and we’ll try and find a solution as fast as we can!

Or reach out to Fitbit Support and Fitbit Help for answers!

FeaturesGPS, smartwatches, Wearables