How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device?

Elevate your workouts by capturing GPS data with certain Fitbit devices. If your device doesn’t have GPS, use the Fitbit app to record GPS data.

To use connected or phone GPS, make sure that Allow Location Access is set to Always or All the time for the Fitbit app on your phone.

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Does my Fitbit device have GPS?

Device Name	GPS Type
Fitbit Charge 4 Fitbit Charge 5 Fitbit Charge 6	Dynamic GPS* Built-in GPS Phone (connected) GPS
Fitbit Sense 2 Fitbit Versa 4	Dynamic GPS*
Fitbit Sense Fitbit Versa 3 Google Pixel Watch series	Built-in GPS
Fitbit Blaze Fitbit Charge 2 Fitbit Charge 3 Fitbit Inspire HR Fitbit Inspire 2 Fitbit Inspire 3 Fitbit Luxe Fitbit Versa Fitbit Versa 2 Fitbit Versa LE	Phone (connected) GPS**

*If your phone is nearby, these devices use the GPS sensors on your phone to capture GPS data instead of the built-in GPS sensors on your device. This option preserves battery life on your device. For more information about your device’s battery life, go to the related help article.

**Devices with phone (connected) GPS use the GPS sensors on your phone to capture GPS data. Keep your phone near your device during your workout.

How do I get my Fitbit device to connect to GPS?

Built-in GPS

BEST PRACTICES

Charge your device to at least 80%, as built-in GPS can cause the battery to drain more quickly.
Go outside; then connect to GPS and start your exercise. To make sure the GPS connection is stable, you can wait up to 30 seconds after it shows "Connected" on your device's screen to tap the play icon and begin moving.
For Fitbit devices, sync your device regularly with the Fitbit app (at least once every 24 hours) to reduce the time it takes for the built-in GPS sensors to connect to GPS satellites. Make sure the location permission for the Fitbit app on your phone is always allowed. For instructions, go to the Apple help article or the Google (Android) help article.
Check that GPS is turned on for the exercise. Note that only exercises where you cover physical distance use GPS. For more information, go to How do I turn on GPS for an exercise on my Fitbit device?

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

If your device can’t connect to GPS satellites, or if gaps appear in the map of your route, try these tips:

Follow the recommendations for wearing your device for exercise. For more information, go to How do I wear my Fitbit device?
Try loosening the band 1 notch.
Make sure your device doesn't touch your wrist bone.
Wait until GPS is connected to start the exercise.
Note that if you’re using GPS for the first time in an area, connecting to GPS satellites might take several minutes. Heavily wooded areas and tall buildings can increase the time it takes to connect to GPS satellites.
If GPS didn’t connect the first time, wait 5 minutes before you start the exercise again.
(Charge 4, Charge 5, and Charge 6) If your tracker doesn’t connect to GPS satellites, end the exercise, change the GPS mode to Phone GPS, and start the exercise again. To change the GPS mode, go to How do I manage the GPS settings on my Fitbit device?
To reduce the time it takes for your device to connect to GPS satellites, hold your arm parallel to your body near your head and at least 2 inches away from you when you connect to GPS and start an exercise.

Phone (connected) GPS

REQUIREMENTS

Go outside; then connect to GPS and start your exercise.
Make sure that your device can sync with the Fitbit app. For more information, go to How do Fitbit devices sync their data?

Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your phone's GPS sensors:

iPhones	Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your location (Allow Location Access is set to Always). For instructions, go to Apple help article. Confirm that Background App Refresh is turned on for the Fitbit app. For instructions, go to Apple help article.
Android phones	Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your location: Location permission is set to Allow all the time. For instructions, go to Choose which apps use your Android phone’s location. Precise Location is turned on. Confirm that Background App Refresh is turned on for the Fitbit app. For instructions, go to Manage your Location History for iPhone & iPad.

Check that GPS is turned on for the exercise. Note that only exercises where you cover physical distance use GPS. For more information, go to How do I turn on GPS for an exercise on my Fitbit device?
Make sure that your phone is within 30 feet of your device.

Note that heavily wooded areas and tall buildings can increase the time it takes to connect to GPS satellites

TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS

Check if GPS connects after each step.

Force quit, and reopen the Fitbit app to refresh the connection with your device. For instructions, go to the Apple help article or with Find, open & close apps on Android.
On your phone, go to Settings Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth off and back on.
Restart your phone.

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

Blaze

In the Fitbit app, open Exercise Shortcuts. For more information, go to How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?
Tap the exercise you want to track, and make sure Connected GPS is turned on.

If GPS doesn't connect, confirm GPS is enabled on your device:

On Blaze, tap the Exercise screen, and find the exercise you want to track.
Tap the gear icon, and make sure Use Phone GPS is on.

Charge 2

In the Fitbit app, open Exercise Shortcuts. For more information, go to How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?
Tap the exercise you want to track, and make sure Connected GPS is turned on.

Charge 3 and Charge 4

Open the Exercise app and swipe to find the exercise you want to track.
Swipe up, and make sure GPS is On.
Press the button to return to the activity screen.

Charge 5, Charge 6, Inspire 3, and Luxe

Swipe right or left to the Exercise app , then swipe up to find an exercise.
Tap to choose an exercise, then swipe up through the exercise settings.
Tap GPS to turn it on.
Swipe down to return to the exercise screen.

Google Pixel Watch series

Press the crown on your watch, swipe up to the Exercise app , and tap the app to open it.
Swipe up to Settings GPS.
Make sure GPS is on. Note that you can’t turn GPS on or off for individual exercises.
Swipe right to return to the Exercise screen.

Inspire HR and Inspire 2

Open the Settings app

and make sure Phone GPS is On.

Versa, Versa Lite Edition, and Versa 2

Open the Exercise app and swipe to find the exercise you want to track.
Tap the gear icon and make sure GPS (Connected GPS for Versa series) is On.
Press the back button to return to the activity screen.

Sense series, Versa 3, and Versa 4

Open the Exercise app and swipe to find the exercise you want to track.
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the exercise settings.
In the GPS section, tap the switch icon to turn on GPS.
Swipe down to return to the exercise screen.

How do I start an exercise with GPS on my Fitbit device?

Go outside, then open the Exercise app

on your device and tap an exercise. Only activities where you cover physical distance offer GPS tracking. Wait a few moments for GPS to connect.
Tap the play icon

to start the exercise. If the GPS signal disconnects, your phone or Fitbit device continues to search for a signal. Note: If you previously turned off GPS for an exercise, turn it back on before you start the activity.

How do I manage the GPS settings on my Fitbit device?

Turn GPS on or off for each exercise. For more information, go to How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?

Certain Fitbit devices have additional GPS settings.

Charge 4

On your tracker, open the Settings app GPS Settings tap to update a setting.

GLONASS and Low Power Mode are for Built-in GPS only.

Setting	How It Works
GPS Mode	Dynamic: Charge 4 sets the GPS type at the start of the workout. If you take your phone with you, Charge 4 uses your phone’s GPS sensors to map your route. If your phone is nearby but not moving when you start the exercise, Charge 4 uses built-in GPS. Built-in GPS: Charge 4 uses built-in GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can reduce battery life on your tracker. Phone GPS: Charge 4 uses your phone’s GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can help preserve battery life on your Fitbit device. Note: If the GPS signal is lost during the exercise, Charge 4 doesn't switch to a different GPS type.
GLONASS	For exercises with built-in GPS, this setting can shorten the time it takes for Charge 4 to find a GPS signal and enhance GPS performance. Note: Turning on this option can reduce battery life on your tracker.
Low Power Mode	For exercises with built-in GPS that last more than an hour, this setting can preserve battery life on Charge 4. To enhance built-in GPS performance, turn off the Low Power Mode option. Note: Turning off this option can reduce battery life on your tracker.

Setting

How It Works

GPS Mode

Dynamic: Charge 4 sets the GPS type at the start of the workout. If you take your phone with you, Charge 4 uses your phone’s GPS sensors to map your route. If your phone is nearby but not moving when you start the exercise, Charge 4 uses built-in GPS.
Built-in GPS: Charge 4 uses built-in GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can reduce battery life on your tracker.
Phone GPS: Charge 4 uses your phone’s GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can help preserve battery life on your Fitbit device.

Note: If the GPS signal is lost during the exercise, Charge 4 doesn't switch to a different GPS type.

GLONASS

For exercises with built-in GPS, this setting can shorten the time it takes for Charge 4 to find a GPS signal and enhance GPS performance.

Note: Turning on this option can reduce battery life on your tracker.

Low Power Mode

For exercises with built-in GPS that last more than an hour, this setting can preserve battery life on Charge 4. To enhance built-in GPS performance, turn off the Low Power Mode option.

Note: Turning off this option can reduce battery life on your tracker.

Charge 5 and Charge 6

Swipe down from the clock screen and tap the Settings app to open it, then tap GPS GPS.

Setting	How It Works
GPS Mode	Dynamic: Your tracker sets the GPS type at the start of the workout. If you take your phone with you, your tracker uses your phone’s GPS sensors to map your route. If your phone is nearby but not moving when you start the exercise, your tracker uses built-in GPS. Built-in GPS: Your tracker uses built-in GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can reduce battery life on your tracker. Phone GPS: Your tracker uses your phone’s GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can help preserve battery life on your Fitbit device. Note: If the GPS signal is lost during the exercise, your tracker doesn't switch to a different GPS type.

Setting

How It Works

GPS Mode

Dynamic: Your tracker sets the GPS type at the start of the workout. If you take your phone with you, your tracker uses your phone’s GPS sensors to map your route. If your phone is nearby but not moving when you start the exercise, your tracker uses built-in GPS.
Built-in GPS: Your tracker uses built-in GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can reduce battery life on your tracker.
Phone GPS: Your tracker uses your phone’s GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can help preserve battery life on your Fitbit device.

Note: If the GPS signal is lost during the exercise, your tracker doesn't switch to a different GPS type.

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

After you end your workout, open the Fitbit app and tap Exercise days to see a workout intensity map that shows your route, distance, heart-rate zones, and pace. Tap the map to check the detailed stats about your workout.

If the GPS signal is lost during the exercise, a map might not appear in the Fitbit app.

How do I use the Fitbit app to capture GPS data?

If your Fitbit device doesn't have GPS, use the Fitbit app on your phone to capture your route, distance, pace, and more.

iPhones

Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your phone's GPS sensors:
1. Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your location (Allow Location Access is set to Always). For instructions, check the Apple help article.
2. Confirm that Background App Refresh is turned on for the Fitbit app. For instructions, check the Apple help article.
Tap the Today tab and tap Add .
Tap Start Exercise.
Choose an activity: run, walk, hike or bike.
To hear cues during your activity, tap Cues and set the type, frequency, and volume.
Tap Start. During the activity, swipe left to show the GPS map.
When you're done, tap Pause, then tap and hold Finish.
Review your workout summary.

Android phones

Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your phone's GPS sensors:
1. Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your location (Allow Location Access is set to All the Time). For instructions, refer to Choose which apps use your Android phone’s location.
2. Confirm that Background App Refresh is turned on for the Fitbit app. Open the Settings app on your phone. For instructions, go to Turn on background data.
Tap the Today tab then tap Add .
Tap Start Exercise.
Choose an activity: run, walk, hike or bike.
To hear cues during your activity, tap Cues and set the type, frequency, and volume.
Tap Start. During the activity, swipe left to show the GPS map.
When you're done, tap Pause, then tap and hold Finish.
Review your workout summary.

How accurate is GPS data?

For more information, go to How accurate are Fitbit devices?

Can I download GPS data?

For more information, go to How do I export my Fitbit data?

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