Google Assistant Not Working on Fitbit Versa 3 or Sense? Let’s fix it

Smartwatches, much like smartphones, can give you bugs that are troublesome to fix. So, if Google Assistant is not working on your Versa or Sense, don’t be quick to blame it on a faulty device. Maybe you can fix it with a couple of easy tricks. 

And that’s precisely what we are here to do with this article! So, without any further ado, let us get right into it!

Quick checklist

• Google Assistant only works when its paired phone or mobile device is nearby. 
• At this time, only Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3 offer Google Assistant. The Sense 2 and Versa 4 are limited to Alexa.
• If you use an Apple (iOS or iPadOS) device, you need first to install the Google Assistant app on your phone to use Google Assistant on your Fitbit. Plus, you must allow the Google Assistant app to refresh (run) in the background.
• If you just got a new Fitbit watch, you can activate Google Assistant when you first set up your watch.  
• If you have already set up your Fitbit, you need to activate Google Assistant in the Fitbit app and sign into your Google Account.
• You can only use one voice assistant on your Fitbit. So if you use Amazon Alexa, you need to turn Alexa off before activating Google Assistant.
• If you logged out of the Fitbit app, you must re-enable Google Assistant when you log in again.

Related reading

• Amazon working on a new ‘Ring’ wearable that features Alexa integration
• How to setup and use Google Assistant on your Samsung Galaxy Watch
• Alexa not working on your Fitbit? Follow these tips to fix it

1. Make Sure that Google Assistant is supported in your region and watch model

First, we need to ensure that your Fitbit watch and region support Google Assistant. If not, there’s little reason to continue troubleshooting. 

At the moment of writing this article, Google Assistant will only work on the Fitbit Versa 3 and Fitbit Sense. We don’t know why but the Sense 2 and Versa 4 do not offer Google Assistant at this time.

If you have any other Fitbit model, you are unfortunately out of luck with Google Assistant. However, if you use a Versa 2, Sense 2, or Versa 4, that Fitbit model supports Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant!

Another downside with Google Assistant is that it’s not currently available in all countries.

As for regions, check the official information from Fitbit for the latest list of supported countries and regions.

If you have a Fitbit Versa 3 or Sense and live in a supported country or region but can’t get Google Assistant to work, try one of the below solutions.  

2. Update Your Fitbit Watch to the latest firmware

Google Assistant is not going to work unless you have the required software version.

To get the latest firmware update for your Fitbit: 

1. Head over to the Fitbit app.
2. Tap on the Today tab > your profile picture > your Fitbit watch.
3. And finally, tap the Update banner.

You probably already have the latest firmware update if there is no update button.

Restart your Fitbit and try using Google Assistant again if you just installed a newer firmware version.

Update the Fitbit app and its permissions

Ensure that the Fitbit app is on the latest version available through Google Play or the App Store.

If an update is listed, tap it.

One thing to remember is that the Fitbit app needs permission to run in the background, or it won’t work correctly – be it for updates or other features. 

So, this may be worth checking out as well. 

Turn off battery savings mode or low power mode on your phone.

Most phones include some battery savings mode, and most of these restrict or reduce background activity and the “Hey, Google” features for Google Assistant.

These settings are usually in your Settings app. Look in your Settings app > Battery and turn off any battery saver or low power mode feature. 

Some phones offer additional savings features. Xiaomi devices, for example, come with a feature called “App battery saver” that often kills background apps.

3. Setup Google Assistant

Google Assistant on Fitbit watches doesn’t just work out of the box.

If you didn’t set it up after booting up the watch for the first time, or if you didn’t get the option to, follow these steps. 

Have a Google account available

Before you start, make sure you either have a Google Account or sign up for a new account  (if you have a Gmail account, a Google account.)

You’ll need to sign in to your Google Account for Google Assistant to work with your Fitbit!

Next, check if your phone already has the Google Assistant app.

If not, open the App Store or Play Store and install the Google Assistant app onto your phone.

Once you install Google Assistant, you’re ready to get it working on your Fitbit! 

To set up Google Assistant on a Fitbit Versa 3 or Sense watch: 

1. Open the Fitbit app on your phone.
2. Tap on your profile picture at the upper left of the screen (assuming you are already on the “Today” tab.)
3. Select your Fitbit device.
4. Tap on the Voice Assistant tile.
5. And select Google Assistant to connect to your Google account.
6. Please wait for it to Connect to your account, follow all the on-screen instructions, and activate Google Assistant for your Fitbit.
7. Select your feature preferences for Google Assistant, press Done, and then give it a try!

Please turn on your Fitbit’s microphone first in the Settings app > Vibration & audio > Microphone and switch it on. 

To use Google Assistant on your Fitbit, tap the Google Assistant app icon on your Fitbit or make Google Assistant your side button shortcut.

Still no luck? Then let’s keep on troubleshooting. 

4. Troubleshooting Google Assistant on Fitbit

Getting a message that something went wrong. Please try again later?

• This error usually shows up when you have already activated Alexa. Check if Alexa is listed as active and if so, turn it off.
• Then restart your phone and Fitbit watch and try to activate Google Assistant again.

Seeing the message that it Couldn’t Connect or Connection Lost?

• Check that you installed the Google Assistant app on your paired phone and connected it to your Google Account.
• Make sure you allow both the Fitbit app AND the Google Assistant app to run in the background on your phone. 
• Verify that you allowed the Fitbit app and Google Assistant access to location services.
• Sync your Fitbit device to the app. 
• Move your Fitbit closer to your phone so it’s within Bluetooth range.
• Check that your phone is connected to the internet.

Keep getting the message to Reactivate Google Assistant?

• Try pressing Reactivate Google Assistant and if that doesn’t work, try this:
  • Completely disable Google Assistant in the Fitbit app by selecting Remove Account instead of Reactivate. Then run through the set-up steps again.

If removing your account didn’t work, try these steps.

• Go to the Today tab > your profile picture or icon > your Fitbit device image.
  • Tap Voice Assistant > Google Assistant > Turn off Google Assistant > Turn Off.
• Also, verify that Alexa is not active. If so, turn Alexa off.
• Close the Fitbit app.
• Restart your phone and reboot your Fitbit watch.
• Open the Fitbit app and run through the steps to turn on Google Assistant again.

5. Common fixes when Google Assistant isn’t working on your Fitbit

If you are sure that you are living in a supported region, you own a Versa 3 or Sense, both the watch and Fitbit app are updated to the latest version, and the setup has been completed successfully, then these are the last common steps that you can try: 

1. Uninstall the Google Assistant app and reinstall it.
2. Ensure that the watch is within the range of your smartphone.
3. Check that both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled.
4. The Fitbit watch should be connected to your smartphone with access to the internet.
5. Ensure your smartphone is not “killing” the Fitbit app in the background (low power mode, battery saver, and Xiaomi’s battery-saving features are notorious for doing this.)
6. Try rebooting both the phone and watch in case something has bugged out.
7. Re-activate Google assistant with the steps that we’ve provided above.
8. Pull down on Fitbit’s home screen to force manual sync.
9. Try re-pairing the watch with your phone from scratch.
10. You can also try changing your location via the Fitbit app to a supported region – which may work if Google Assistant is not officially supported in your current region.
    1. Most people find that changing Google Assistant language to English (USA) works. Make sure you change the language settings for the Google Assistant app.
    2. You may also need to change the Fitbit app to English (US).

Want to turn Google Assistant off and disable it?

1. Open the Fitbit app on your phone.
1. Go to the Today tab and tap your profile picture.
1. Tap your Fitbit device from your account list.
2. Open the Voice Assistant tile.
2. Tap Google Assistant (when listed as active.)
2. Choose to Turn off Google Assistant > Turn Off.

FAQ

How do I enable Google Assistant on Fitbit Sense? 

You can activate Google Assistant by going into the Fitbit app and enabling Google Assistant under the Voice Assistant tile.

Step-by-step directions are available in this how-to guide above. 

How do I access Google Assistant from my Fitbit?

The easiest way is to set your side shortcut button to Google Assistant; then, all you need to do is press and hold that side button and speak.

To set your shortcut, open the Settings app on your Fitbit, scroll down to Shortcuts and change one of the shortcuts to Google assistant. 

If you use the shortcuts for something else, then from your Fitbit’s clockface, swipe and tap open the Google Assistant app.

Which Fitbit has Google Assistant? 

When publishing this article, only the Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense officially support Google’s voice assistant. The newer models, Sense 2 and Versa 4, do not offer Google Assistant and instead only support Amazon Alexa.

Why Has Google Assistant stopped working? 

This is a common Android-related bug that can sometimes occur not only with Google Assistant – but also with other apps.

Rebooting your phone or re-installing the Google Assistant app are two of the most common fixes. 

Can I use Google Assistant and Alexa on my Fitbit?

While your Fitbit (Versa 3 and Sense) supports both Alexa and Google Assistant, you cannot have them both active simultaneously.

Your Fitbit only supports one active voice assistant at a time. So, you need to disable one to use the other.

Fitbit Versa 2, Sense 2, and Versa 4 only support Alexa, so you cannot get Google Assistant on this older Versa model.

Currently, no other Fitbit models, including older Versas, Ionics, or Charges, support voice assistants.

Wrapping up

That’s about all you can do if Google Assistant is not working on your Versa or Sense device. 

If you have any more questions, feel free to let us and everyone else know about them in the comments section, and we’ll do our best to help you out. 

If you liked this article, feel free to come back for more, as we regularly post about anything related to smart tech, fitness, and well-being.