Got a new or replacement Fitbit? How to set it up so you don’t lose data

close up for fitbit inspire

Lost your Fitbit and bought another as a replacement? Decided to replace an old Fitbit and update your Fitbit to the latest model or to the new Google Pixel Watch?

Received a replacement Fitbit covered under Fitbit’s warranty program? Or did your Fitbit break down, and you purchased a new Fitbit to take its place? All of these are reasons why folks replace their Fitbits.

If you are wondering how to get that new device to work just like the old one, the good news is that it’s relatively easy to replace your Fitbit and retain all your activity data from the old Fitbit!

The most important step is to connect your replacement (or new) Fitbit device to your existing Fitbit account.

It’s actually your Fitbit account that stores your activity data, not the individual device.

In a hurry? Check out these tipsin a hurry graphic

If time is short and you don’t need a thorough step-by-step, follow these quick instructions to get your replacement or new Fitbit device up and running!

Use the Fitbit App on your phone

  1. Open the Fitbit app > Today tab> and tap your profile picture or icon
  2. Choose Set Up a Device
  3. Select your replacement Fitbit model and follow the on-screen instructions

Or use Fitbit Connect App for Macs and older Windows

  1. Open Fitbit Connect on your computer
  2. Choose Open Main Menu
  3. Tap Set Up A New Fitbit Device
  4. Select Existing User and log in to your Fitbit account using your current credentials
  5. From the list of supported devices, choose your replacement Fitbit model and follow the on-screen instructions

Related reading

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases using links in this post.

Why replace a Fitbit device and not just add another Fitbit (or Pixel Watch) to my account?

If your new Fitbit is a warranty replacement for a troublesome or broken device or you’re replacing a lost device with the same model, you should do a one-to-one replacement.

However, if you upgraded or changed your Fitbit device model, you might consider simply adding that new device to your list of account devices.

Having more than one device gives you some flexibility, especially if you want to use a different model for varying activities–like one worn for the office and a different model used for swimming or at the gym.

Connecting more than one Fitbit to your account aggregates and syncs the data across devices. So your Fitbit dashboard shows you the sum of all your data!

Sadly, it’s just not that easy to have multiple Fitbits on your account anymore.

Connect any replacement to the same Fitbit account

If you replace your existing Fitbit, make sure you connect it to your current Fitbit account–do not create a new Fitbit account.

That means logging in as an Existing User with the same Fitbit account credentials you used on that older Fitbit. three different Fitbit models

Having multiple Fitbits connected to your account sounds like a good idea. Sadly, it’s often not possible.

Unfortunately, while Fitbit supports multi-trackers on a single account, it does not offer this feature for all of its devices.

In particular, most of the newest models (like the Sense, Versa, Charge, Luxe, Pixel, Charge Series, or Inspire series models, and also the Google Pixel Watch) do not allow for multiple device support.

These listed devices allow you to connect only one of these devices at a time to your account: The Fitbit Charge 3 and above, Fitbit Ionic, Fitbit Luxe, Fitbit Inspire series, Fitbit Sense series, Fitbit Versa series, and Google Pixel Watch.

So if you’re replacing or upgrading from one of those listed devices, you cannot keep your old device on your account!

Steps to set up your replacement Fitbit 

When you replace a device, most people do not want to create a new Fitbit account. Instead, you want your new Fitbit to seamlessly integrate with your Fitbit account and its history.

So when you set up your replacement Fitbit or Google Pixel Watch, make sure you select that you are an existing user and log in with your current Fitbit account credentials. 

Step 1: Sync the old Fitbit to your Fitbit account, if you can

First, if you still have your old Fitbit and it works, make sure you sync it to your Fitbit account using the Fitbit app for Apple, Android, Windows 10, or the Fitbit Connect app for Mac and older Windows versions.

Once you complete the sync, do not remove the old Fitbit from your account until you set up the new Fitbit!

How to sync using the Fitbit app 

Each time you open the Fitbit app or Fitbit Connect, your device syncs automatically if it’s nearby.

  • Charge your Fitbit (ideally to 100%) before you start
  • Ensure your paired phone, tablet, or computer are within a few feet of your Fitbit.
  • To sync your Fitbit, open the Fitbit app.
  • Tap the Today tab and then tap your profile picture or icon account icon in the Fitbit app
  • Go to your account and look for your current (old) Fitbit from the list of devices.
  • Tap your old device and check if it’s automatically syncing right now Fitbit app syncing Fitbit Inspire HR automatically
  • If not, tap the device and choose the Sync Now option.Fitbit app Sync Now

How to sync using the Fitbit Connect

  1. Charge your Fitbit (ideally to 100%) before you start
  2. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
  3. Open the Fitbit Connect app on your computer.
  4. Place your Fitbit near your computer, within Bluetooth range.
    1. If you see a message saying searching for Fitbit or your tracker can’t be found, wake it up by pressing its button.Fitbit connect searching for tracker
    2. If your Fitbit connects to another device like your phone, disable Bluetooth temporarily on that phone and try using Fitbit Connect again (or sync using the Fitbit app on your phone instead)
  5. Choose Sync Now sync your fitbit using fitbit connect app
  6. If asked to sign in to your Fitbit account, log in with your Fitbit account credentials, and then your Fitbit should sync

Step 2: Setup your new or replacement Fitbit to your Fitbit account

When you connect your new Fitbit to your existing account, you usually need to set it up as a replacement for the old Fitbit.

You do not lose your data and history when replacing or switching your Fitbit device model as long as you connect both devices to the same Fitbit account.

Fitbit stores your account’s data and history (including all connected Fitbit devices) on its servers linked to your Fitbit account’s email address. So your data persists, even if your device does not!

Remember to sync your old Fitbit before setting up the new Fitbit, even when replacing the old device with the same model (i.e., Fitbit warranty replacement.)

Replace your device using the Fitbit App

  1. Open Fitbit Connect on your computer.
  2. Ensure you enable Bluetooth on your computer to wirelessly set up your replacement Fitbit.
    1. If your computer does not have Bluetooth, you need a wireless sync dongle.
  3. Click the Fitbit Connect icon and choose Open Main Menu OR open the Fitbit Connect app directly.Mac top menu icon for Fitbit Connect
  4. Select Set Up A New Fitbit Device use fitbit connect to set up a device
  5. Click Existing User and log in to your account.sign into Fitbit connect as an existing user
  6. Choose your device and follow the steps on-screen.set-up a new or replacement device in fitbit connect app for mac and older windows versions
  7. If you replace your old Fitbit with a new one of the same model (like a warranty replacement), the set-up process asks you to confirm that you are replacing the older Fitbit.
  8. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your set-up.

How to remove your old Fitbit device from your account

Once you confirm your replacement, the Fitbit device works as expected, and you may need to delete the old Fitbit from your account.

When you remove your old Fitbit, any data you didn’t previously sync is deleted from your account. So, if you forgot or neglected to sync your old Fitbit, now is the time to do it and save that data!

First, remove all the Fitbit device’s data.

  • For Sense, Versa Series, Ionic series, or Charge 3+, open the Settings app > About > Factory Reset or Clear User Data Factory Reset or Shutdown menu on Fitbit Versa
  • For Inspire, Luxe, and Ace 2/3, open the Settings app > Clear User Data.clear user data in settings Fitbit Inspire

Use the Fitbit app to remove a Fitbit device from your account. 

  1. Open the Fitbit app on your paired Apple or Android device.
  2. Tap the Today tab 
  3. Select your profile picture or icon
  4. Tap the Fitbit device you want to remove
  5. Confirm you want to remove that Fitbit from your account how to delete a Fitbit device from the Fitbit app

Use the Fitbit website to remove a Fitbit device from your account.

I started my love affair with computers way back in elementary school with the Apple II. Since then, I've worked with technology in my career as a media educator and videomaker. I have an MFA in media making from Temple University, where I also taught undergrads as an adjunct faculty member. So I know a thing or two about teaching others and creating how-to guides! After a cancer diagnosis, I turned to mobile technology like my Apple Watch to help me monitor my health throughout my chemotherapy treatment and later, to regain my wellness once in remission. I love sharing how to understand and use mobile tech, like smartwatches and phones, as a tool for empowerment to live our best and healthiest lives!

9 COMMENTS

  1. I accidentally deleted my first Fitbit app and I’ve bought a new Inspire 2, it won’t let me sync it to my iPhone or start registering steps or show time etc, saying I already have an account so won’t let me start a new one

    Can you help?

    • Hi Sue,

      You can actually use the same Fitbit account, the one you previously used. Fitbit only allows one account per email address, so it’s easier to use that old one. Plus, you’ll also get all your old device’s history so you can compare your Inspire 2 performance with that older one.

      If you forgot its password, you can reset that.

        Open the Fitbit app and then choose Log In > Forgot your password?

        Enter your email address and tap Send Reset Email.

        Open your email account and open that password reset email, then choose a new password for your account.

      After resetting the password, open the Fitbit app and type in your email and new password. Then, tap the Today tab and choose your account picture or icon at the top.

      If you see your old Fitbit in the list, tap it and scroll all the way down and choose Remove.

      Then go back to that account list and choose Set Up a Device, then follow the steps on-screen.

      Alternatively, you can also use another email address and set-up a new Fitbit account with that email. Just remember that you’ll then have two different Fitbit accounts, which cannot be merged.

      I hope this helps!

      Cheers,

      Amanda

  2. Why can’t I mirror one Sense Fitbit with my new one. My old Sense has a cracked screen, but still works fine. I wanted to use it for work outs and the new pretty one for going out. HELP ME

    • Hi Maureen,

      Unfortunately, Fitbit only allows you to pair one Fitbit Sense with the Fitbit app and your Fitbit account. You can pair a Fitbit Sense and some of the older Fitbit models to your account and the app–but not any of the newer models.

      At this time, if your Fitbit supports the Fitbit Gallery (find this in your device settings in the app), you can’t connect multiple devices to your account. This includes these models: Charge 3+,, Fitbit Ionic, Fitbit Inspire series, Fitbit Luxe, Fitbit Sense, and Fitbit Versa series. All of these models limit you to connect one of these devices to your account at a time.

      What you can do is have multiple Fitbit accounts, with different IDs–however, that means your data from each device won’t be combined and remains separate.

      There is a feature request discussion for adding multiple devices to a single account–consider adding your voice to the request.

    • Hi Ronna,

      We’re sorry to hear that your Fitbit Flex is having problems with holding a charge. Have you tried restarting it?

        Remove the Flex from its band.
        Plug your charging cable into the USB port and insert your Flex in.
        Take a paperclip or a SIM card tool and insert it into the small pinhole on the back of the charger.
        Press on that pinhole for 3-4 seconds until your Flex restarts, then remove the object from the pinholes.
        After it restarts, remove it from the charger and put it back in the band and open the Fitbit app and see if it works.
  3. I stopped my premium on my old Aspire some time ago. I just got a Charge 5 and would like to try it again. Can I get the free trial of Premium that comes with a new Charge?

    • Hi LuAnn,

      Technically the free trial is only for new customers who haven’t opted for Fitbit Premium before. However, since it’s been a while, you might qualify. We suggest you reach out to Fitbit support chat and they should be able to look up your account.

  4. I wanted to add a charge 5. I had a charge 2 and a charge 4. I deleted the charge 2. When I went to add the charge 5, the only option I was given was “replace charge 4.” What jerks! … and I can’t believe that at the end of the process, they wanted me to sign up for a premium version of their jerkwater app. Geez.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.