Fitbit Charge - High-Performance Wristband Tracker Manual

Getting Started

What's in the box

Your Fitbit Charge box includes:

What's in this document

This manual gets you started quickly setting up your tracker. Setup ensures that your tracker can synchronize its data with fitbit.com or the Fitbit app, where you can get detailed information on your stats, view historical trends, log food, and much more. As soon as setup is complete you're ready to start moving.
The remainder of the manual walks you through every function on your Charge and also explains how to keep your tracker up to date with free firmware updates. Throughout the manual you'll notice that for tasks that can be done on the fitbit.com dashboard or the Fitbit app, only the fitbit.com instructions appear—if you have the Fitbit app for iOS, Android, or Windows, you can easily find the comparable task in the app without needing tap-by-tap instructions here. That said, all the details of our apps are described in our articles at https://help.fitbit.com. Just select Charge and then browse the iOS, Android, or Windows categories.
The manual concludes by explaining how to restart your Charge in the event you encounter difficulty with your tracker. All other troubleshooting suggestions, as well as detailed information about how Fitbit trackers and services work, can be found in the articles at https://help.fitbit.com. Just select Charge and then pick from a category to browse, or enter a search term to find something specific. Do us a favor and rate the articles you read—it's how we know we're getting you the right information at the right time!

Setting up your Fitbit Charge

You can set up your Fitbit Charge using your computer or the Fitbit apps for iOS®, Android™, or Windows®.

Setting up your tracker on your mobile device

The Fitbit app is compatible with more than 200 mobile devices that support iOS, Android, and Windows 10 operating systems.
To get started:

1. Make sure the Fitbit app is compatible with your mobile device by checking http://www.fitbit.com/devices.
2. Find the Fitbit app in one of these locations, depending on your device:
   • The Apple® App Store® for iOS devices such as an iPhone® or iPad®.
   • The Google Play™ Store for Android devices such as the Samsung® Galaxy® S5 and Motorola Droid Turbo.
   • The Microsoft® Windows Store for Windows 10 mobile devices such as the Lumia™ phone or Surface™ tablet.
3. Install the app. Note that you'll need an account with the applicable store before you can download even a free app such as Fitbit.
4. When the app is installed, open it and tap Join Fitbit to get started. You'll be guided through the process of creating a Fitbit account and connecting (pairing) your Charge to your mobile device. Pairing makes sure the tracker and mobile device can communicate with one another (sync their data).
   Note that the personal information you're asked during setup is used to calculate your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which helps determine your estimated calorie expenditure. This information is private unless you go into your Privacy settings and opt to share age, height, or weight with Fitbit friends.

After setup you're ready to get moving.

Setting up your tracker on your PC (Windows 10 only)

If you don't have a mobile device, you can set up and sync your tracker on your Windows 10 PC using the same Fitbit app available for Windows mobile devices.
To get the app, click the Start button and open the Windows Store (called Store). Search for "Fitbit app." Note that if you've never downloaded an app from the store to your computer, you'll be prompted to create an account.
Open the app and follow the instructions to create a Fitbit account and set up your Charge. You can set up and sync wirelessly if your computer has Bluetooth®, otherwise you'll need to use the wireless sync dongle that came in the box with your Fitbit Charge.

Setting up your tracker on your PC (Windows 8.1 and below)

If you don't have a compatible mobile device, you can set up your tracker with a computer and see your Fitbit stats on fitbit.com. To use this setup method you'll first install a free software application called Fitbit Connect that lets Charge sync its data with your fitbit.com dashboard.
To install Fitbit Connect and set up your tracker:

1. Go to http://www.fitbit.com/setup.
2. Scroll down and click the option to download.
3. When prompted, save the file that appears.
4. Double-click the file (FitbitConnect_Win.exe). The Fitbit Connect installer opens.
5. Click Continue to move through the installer.
6. When prompted, choose Set up a New Fitbit Device.
7. Follow the onscreen instructions to create a Fitbit account and connect your Charge.
   Note that the personal information you're asked during setup is used to calculate your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which helps determine your estimated calorie expenditure. This information is private unless you go into your Privacy settings and opt to share age, height, or weight with Fitbit friends.

Setting up your tracker on your Mac

If you don't have a compatible mobile device, you can set up your tracker with a computer and see your Fitbit stats on fitbit.com. To use this setup method you'll first install a free software application called Fitbit Connect that lets Charge sync its data with your fitbit.com dashboard.
To install Fitbit Connect and set up your tracker:

1. Go to http://www.fitbit.com/setup.
2. Scroll down and click the option to download.
3. When prompted, save the file that appears.
4. Double-click the file (Install Fitbit Connect.pkg). The Fitbit Connect installer opens.
5. Click Continue to move through the installer.
6. When prompted, choose Set up a New Fitbit Device.
7. Follow the onscreen instructions to create a Fitbit account and connect your Charge.

Note that the personal information you're asked during setup is used to calculate your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which helps determine your estimated calorie expenditure. This information is private unless you go into your Privacy settings and opt to share age, height, or weight with Fitbit friends.

Syncing your tracker data to your Fitbit account

Once you've set up and started using Charge, you'll need to make sure it regularly transfers (syncs) its data to Fitbit so you can track your progress, see your exercise history, earn badges, analyze your sleep logs, and more on your Fitbit dashboard. A daily sync is recommended but not required.
The Fitbit apps use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to sync with your Fitbit tracker. Each time you open the app it will sync if the tracker is nearby, and the app will also sync periodically throughout the day if you have the all-day sync setting enabled. If you're running the Fitbit app on a Windows 10 PC that doesn't have Bluetooth, you'll need to make sure the tracker is connected to the computer.
Fitbit Connect on a Mac® also uses Bluetooth for syncing (if available), otherwise you'll need to make sure your wireless sync dongle is plugged into the computer. Fitbit Connect on a PC requires that you plug in your wireless sync dongle. You can force Fitbit Connect to sync at any time or it will happen automatically every 15 minutes if:

• The tracker is within 15-20 feet of your computer.
• The computer is powered on, awake, and connected to the Internet.

Getting to know your Fitbit Charge

This section tells you how best to wear, recharge, and care for your tracker.

Wrist placement

Your Charge is designed to be most accurate when worn on your wrist. Though it will track stats such as steps and floors when placed in a pocket or backpack, it is most accurate on the wrist.

Putting on your Charge

1. Put on the wristband so the screen is closest to the outside of your wrist and facing you.
2. Align both ends of the wristband so they are directly overlapping each other with the clasp over the two holes that best fit your wrist.
   
3. Squeeze both the clasp and the wristband between your thumb and forefinger until you hear a soft click.
   

You'll know your Charge wristband is securely fastened if both pegs on the clasp are fully inserted.

NOTE: If you're having trouble, try securing the wristband off your wrist to get a feel for how it securely clasps and then try again on your wrist.

Wearing on your dominant vs. non-dominant wrist

To get the most accurate reading from your Charge, configure whether you are wearing the wristband on your dominant or non-dominant wrist. Your dominant wrist is the one you use for most day-to-day activities, such as writing or throwing a ball.
To configure this setting:

1. Log in to fitbit.com.
2. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the dashboard.
3. Click Settings.
4. Find and edit the Dominant Wrist setting.
5. Sync your Charge to send the change to your tracker.

Using your Charge in wet conditions

Your Charge is water resistant, which means it is splash and rain proof and can stand up to even the sweatiest workout. Give your tracker a break while showering or swimming and dry it thoroughly after getting it wet.

Battery life and charging

Your Charge contains a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery.
With normal use, your fully charged Charge should last about 7 to 10 days before needing a charge.

Determining your current battery level

You can check the level of your battery by logging into fitbit.com and clicking the gear icon on the top-right corner of the page or looking at the Fitbit app.
When you press the button on your Charge to cycle through your stats, the first screen will show a battery if there is approximately one day or less of battery life remaining.

Charging your tracker

To charge your Charge, plug the charging cable into the USB port on your computer and plug the other end into the port on the back of the Charge.

Conserving battery life

For tips on maximizing battery life, see help.fitbit.com.

Care

It's important to clean and dry your Charge regularly. For instructions and more information see http://www.fitbit.com/productcare.

Tracking with Fitbit Charge

Your Charge tracks:

• Steps taken
• Distance traveled
• Floors climbed
• Calories burned
• Active minutes
• Hours slept
• Quality of sleep

NOTE: Active minutes do not appear on the display; you can see them on your dashboard and in the Fitbit app.
To scroll through your stats simply press the button on the side of your Charge. You'll see the time followed by an icon and stat in turn. If you have an alarm set, your display will also show the next alarm time.

Tracking sleep

Your Charge automatically tracks the hours you sleep and your movement during the night to help you understand your sleep quality. You don't need to press any buttons or otherwise enter a "sleep mode" to begin tracking sleep. Simply wear your Charge to bed.
To see your sleep data, sync your tracker and then view the fitbit.com dashboard or Fitbit app. On the dashboard you can look at the sleep tile or go to Log > Sleep. In the Fitbit app, tap your sleep tile. If you choose, you can also set a goal for number of hours slept.
Note that after waking up in the morning and syncing your tracker it can take up to an hour for your sleep log to appear.

Tracking goals

Your Charge is designed to track your progress towards a main fitness goal that you define on your fitbit.com dashboard. The goal can be set for steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, or floors climbed. A progress bar below your goal keeps you motivated throughout the day. When you reach your goal, Charge will vibrate and flash to celebrate.
To choose the specific goal you want to track:

1. Log in to your fitbit.com dashboard.
2. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the page.
3. Click Settings.
4. Find and edit the Daily Goal Progress setting.
5. Sync your Charge to send the new goal to your tracker.

Once you've chosen which goal you want to track, you can set a specific value for that goal on the fitbit.com dashboard page or using the Fitbit app for mobile. For example, instead of the default 10,000 steps per day, you may want your goal to be 15,000 per day. To change your goal value using your dashboard:

1. Log into your fitbit.com dashboard.
2. Find the tile that corresponds to your goal.
3. Click the gear icon in the lower left corner of the tile.
4. Change your Daily Goal value.
5. Sync your Charge to send the new goal value to your tracker.

Tracking exercise

As mentioned above, your Charge automatically tracks several stats throughout the day. Using the exercise mode feature, you can choose to track stats for a specific activity as well.
For example, if you put your tracker in exercise mode and go for a run, you can view stats measured for that run, such as calories burned or steps taken. When you end exercise mode at the end of the run and sync your data, you'll see an entry for a "Workout" exercise on your dashboard. The entry provides a summary of the activity's stats as well as a minute-by-minute graph.

Starting and using exercise mode

To use exercise mode:

1. Press and hold the button until a stopwatch icon appears. The timer starts counting immediately and elapsed time is displayed.
2. To view stats being tracked during the exercise, press the button to advance through the stats, which are displayed in the following order:
   • elapsed time
   • calories burned
   • steps taken
   • distance covered
   • floors climbed
   • time of day

Ending exercise mode

When you finish the activity, press and hold the button to end exercise mode. Elapsed time will appear for about 4 seconds and then your Charge returns to all-day mode. When you sync your Charge, your exercise data is uploaded to your fitbit.com dashboard.

Using Silent Alarms

Your Charge can gently vibrate to wake or alert you with its silent alarm feature.
Silent alarms can be configured to recur every day or on particular days of the week. You can create up to 8 silent alarms. Note that each alarm reduces battery life by a small percentage.

Setting silent alarms

You can add, edit, and delete silent alarms from the Fitbit app or in the fitbit.com dashboard.
To set silent alarms using your fitbit.com dashboard:

1. Log in to your fitbit.com dashboard.
2. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the page.
3. Click Settings.
4. Find Silent Alarms and click the Add Alarm button.
5. Enter the time you want the alarm to alert you.
6. Choose how often you want the alarm to occur:
   1. Once – Your alarm will alert you at the specified time and not repeat.
   2. Repeats – Choose which days you want this alarm to repeat every week.
7. Click Save.
8. Sync your Charge to update your tracker with the new alarms.

Dismissing silent alarms

When your silent alarm goes off, your Charge will vibrate and the screen will flash. This notification will repeat several times until dismissed. You can dismiss the alarm by pressing the button on the side of the Charge.

Receiving Call Notifications

Over 200 mobile devices let you receive incoming phone call notifications on your Charge when your phone is within about 20 feet. To determine whether your device supports this feature, go to http://www.fitbit.com/devices.

Enabling call notifications

To enable call notifications on your Charge:

1. If you have not already done so, confirm that your device is compatible for call notifications at http://www.fitbit.com/devices.
2. Enable Bluetooth on your mobile device.
3. Open the Fitbit app on your mobile device and select your Charge.
4. Enable Call Notifications and follow the onscreen instructions.

Managing call notifications

When you receive a phone call, your Charge vibrates once and the incoming number or name (if the contact is in your address book) scrolls across the display.
The notification scrolls for 10 seconds or until the call is answered. You can dismiss the notification at any time by pressing the button on your Charge.
Note that if you receive a call while your Charge is syncing, the call notification will not appear.

Using your fitbit.com Dashboard

Browser requirements

Browser	Mac Version	Windows Version
Apple Safari	5.1.1 and higher	Not supported
Google Chrome	12 and higher	12 and higher
Microsoft Internet Explorer	Not supported	8 and higher
Mozilla Firefox	3.6.18 and higher	3.6.18 and higher

Using your dashboard

Fitbit provides you with a free online tool — the fitbit.com dashboard — to help track, manage, and evaluate your fitness progress. When you log into fitbit.com, you will automatically be taken to your dashboard. Your dashboard shows an overview of your progress towards your goals, as well as graphs with historical data. You can also use the dashboard to record your food intake, which many people find helps them keep their fitness plan on track.

Device info

You can see a quick preview of your tracker's last sync, battery level, and upcoming alarms if you click on the gear icon in the top-right corner of the page.

Managing your tracker from fitbit.com

To manage your tracker from fitbit.com, click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the page and choose Settings from the left sidebar.
Settings allow you to change:

• Display Settings: Hide and show items to customize what you see on your Charge's OLED display. You can also drag items up and down to change the order in which they appear.
• Daily Goal Progress: Choose which goal you want your Charge to track for you throughout the day. You can edit the value of this goal from the Fitbit app or on the fitbit.com dashboard.
• Tap Gesture: If you want your Charge to respond to taps, choose whether you want the clock or your main goal displayed when you double tap your Charge.
• Clock Display: Choose from four different clock styles.
• Dominant Wrist: Choose which wrist you wear your Charge on to get the most accurate data readings.
• Sleep Tracking: Set the sensitivity of your sleep tracking by changing this setting. The Normal setting, which is the default, is appropriate for most people. If you are a sound sleeper, you can choose Sensitive to capture the smallest movements of your body.
• Silent Alarms: Add, edit and delete silent alarms on your Charge.

NOTE: You must sync your Charge in order to apply any changed settings.

Updating Fitbit Charge

Free feature enhancements and product improvements may be made available for your Charge through firmware updates.
Updating the firmware on your Charge takes several minutes and is demanding on the battery. We recommend that you charge your device before updating or while the update is in progress.
You can update your Charge by using the Fitbit app or by using Fitbit Connect on your computer.
To update your Charge using Fitbit Connect:

1. Plug in your dongle and have your tracker nearby, turned on, and charged.
2. Open Fitbit Connect.
3. From the Main Menu, choose Check for device update.
4. Log in to your account using your fitbit.com credentials. Fitbit Connect will now look for your Charge.
5. If an update is found for your Charge, Fitbit Connect displays a progress bar indicating that the update is in progress. Keep your Charge close to your computer during the update.

You'll see a notification when the update completes.

Troubleshooting your Fitbit Charge

If you experience one of the following problems, it may be fixed by restarting your tracker:

• Your tracker isn't syncing
• Your tracker isn't responding to movement
• Your tracker isn't responding even when charging
• Your tracker has a battery charge but isn't lighting up
• Your tracker isn't tracking your steps
• Your tracker isn't responding to button presses

To restart your Charge:

1. Plug your charging cable into a USB port on your computer and insert the other end into the port on the back of your Charge. Your Charge will begin charging.
2. Press and hold the button for 10 to 12 seconds until you see the Fitbit icon and a version number (e.g. "V70").
3. Let go of the button.
4. Unplug your tracker from the charging cable.

Your Charge should now work normally.
For additional troubleshooting suggestions or to contact Customer Support, see http://help.fitbit.com.

Fitbit Charge General Info & Specifications

Sensors and motors

Your Charge uses a MEMS 3-axis accelerometer to measure your motion patterns and determine your steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and sleep quality. Charge also contains:

• An altimeter, which measures floors climbed
• A vibration motor, which allows it to vibrate when alarms go off, when you reach a goal, and when you receive call notifications

Battery

Charge contains a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery.

Memory

Charge holds detailed minute-by-minute information for the most recent 7 days, and 30 days of daily summaries.
Your recorded data consists of steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, floors climbed, and sleep tracked.
Sync your Charge regularly to have the most detailed data available to view on your fitbit.com dashboard.
NOTE:
Your Charge starts tracking your goal for the next day at midnight for the time zone selected in your account.
Though your stats reset to zero at midnight this does not delete the previous day's data; that data will be uploaded to your fitbit.com dashboard the next time you sync your Charge.

Size

Environmental conditions

Help

Troubleshooting and assistance for your Charge can be found at http://help.fitbit.com.

Return policy and warranty

Warranty information and the fitbit.com Store Return Policy can be found online at http://www.fitbit.com/returns.