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.

Note: To use connected GPS with your iPhone, make sure that Allow Location Access is set to Always for the Fitbit app.
Device Name GPS Type
Fitbit Charge 4

Dynamic GPS*

Built-in GPS

Phone GPS

Fitbit Ionic

Fitbit Sense

Fitbit Versa 3

Built-in GPS

Fitbit Blaze
Fitbit Charge 2
Fitbit Charge 3
Fitbit Inspire HR

Fitbit Inspire 2
Fitbit Versa series

 Connected GPS**

*If your phone is nearby, Charge 4 uses the GPS sensors on your phone to capture GPS data. This option preserves battery life on your tracker. If you don’t take your phone, Charge 4 uses built-in GPS.

**Devices with connected GPS use the sensors on your nearby phone to capture GPS data. Keep your phone close to your device during an activity.

  • On Charge 4, keep your phone nearby for activities with a longer duration, such as golf or a hike, to ensure your entire workout is recorded with dynamic GPS or phone GPS. For more information, see How do I manage the GPS settings on Charge 4?

  • Charge your device to at least 80%, as built-in GPS can cause the battery to drain more quickly.
  • Start your exercise and connect to GPS in an area where you have a clear view of the sky.
  • Sync your device with the Fitbit app. The more you sync your device, the faster your device can connect to GPS.
  • If you are using GPS for the first time in an area, connecting may take longer than usual.

  1. Open the Exercise app Icon used for the Exercise app on many Fitbit smartwatches, which looks like an orange stick figure running on your device, and tap an activity. Only activities where you cover physical distance, such as walk, run, bike, golf, or hike, offer GPS tracking.
  2. Wait a few moments for GPS to connect. You can begin the activity as your device tries to find a signal. (Note that your device uses your step count to calculate distance until GPS is connected).
  3. Tap the play icon Play icon inside a gray circle to start the activity. If the GPS signal disconnects, your phone or device searches for a signal while the activity is in progress.

Note: If you previously turned off GPS for an exercise, turn it back on before you start the activity. For more information, see How do I turn on GPS for an exercise on my Fitbit device?

Manage the GPS settings on Charge 4 to preserve your tracker's battery life or to enhance GPS performance.

Settings 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.

On Charge 4, open the Settings app The settings app icon used on many Fitbit trackers, which looks like three horizontal sliders > GPS Settings > tap to update a setting.

Note: GLONASS and Low Power Mode are for built-in GPS only.

After you end your workout, open the Fitbit app and tap the Exercise tile Icon of a stick figure running inside a partially-filled gauge to see a workout intensity map that shows your route, distance, heart-rate zones, and pace. Tap the map to see detailed stats about your workout.

Screenshot of a GPS-tracked workout in the Fitbit app, where the color of the route corresponds to the user's heart rate intensity

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

  1. In the Fitbit app, open Exercise Shortcuts. For more information, see How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?
  2. 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:

  1. On Blaze, tap the Exercise screen, and find the exercise you want to track.
  2. Tap the gear icon, and make sure Use Phone GPS is on.
  1. In the Fitbit app, open Exercise Shortcuts. For more information, see How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?
  2. Tap the exercise you want to track, and make sure Connected GPS is turned on.
  1. Open the Exercise app Icon used for the Exercise app on many Fitbit smartwatches, which looks like an orange stick figure running and swipe to find the exercise you want to track.
  2. Swipe up, and make sure GPS is On.
  3. Press the button to return to the activity screen.

Open the Settings app Icon of a gear and make sure Phone GPS is On.

  1. Open the Exercise app Icon used for the Exercise app on many Fitbit smartwatches, which looks like an orange stick figure running and swipe to find the exercise you want to track.
  2. Tap the gear icon Icon of a gear and make sure GPS (Connected GPS for Versa series) is On.
  3. Press the back button to return to the activity screen.
  1. Open the Exercise app Icon used for the Exercise app on many Fitbit smartwatches, which looks like an orange stick figure running and swipe to find the exercise you want to track.
  2. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the exercise settings.
  3. In the GPS section, tap the switch icon Icon of a toggle switch with the toggle in the far-right position to turn on GPS.
  4. Swipe down to return to the exercise screen.

If your Fitbit device doesn't have GPS, you can capture your route, distance, pace, and more using the GPS sensors on your phone. Your Fitbit device calculates other stats, including steps taken and calories burned, during the activity.

  1. Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your phone's GPS sensors. For more information, see How do I allow my Fitbit device to use my phone's GPS sensors?
  2. Tap the Today tab Fitbit logo in black, which looks like 13 circles in the shape of a diamond, where the circles are larger from left to right and tap the gray + icon on the Exercise tile.
  3. Tap Track at the top.
  4. Choose an activity: run, walk, or hike.
  5. To hear cues during your activity, tap Cues and set the type, frequency, and volume.
  6. To control music during your activity, tap Music Control and choose a playlist.
  7. Tap Start. During the activity, swipe left to see a GPS map.
  8. When you're done, tap Pause, then tap and hold Finish.
  9. Review your workout summary.
  1. Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your phone's GPS sensors. For more information, see How do I allow my Fitbit device to use my phone's GPS sensors?
  2. Tap the Today tab Fitbit logo in black, which looks like 13 circles in the shape of a diamond, where the circles are larger from left to right then tap the gray + icon on the Exercise tile.
  3. Tap Tracking at the top.
  4. For Android (OS 7.0+), make sure you grant the Fitbit app access to the requested features of your phone. For more information, see What should I know about using the Fitbit app on my Android phone?
  5. Choose an activity: run, walk, or hike.
  6. To hear cues during your activity, tap Cues and set the type, frequency, and volume.
  7. Tap Start. During the activity, swipe left to see a GPS map.
  8. When you're done, tap Pause, then tap and hold Finish.
  9. Review your workout summary.
  1. Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your phone's GPS sensors. For more information, see How do I allow my Fitbit device to use my phone's GPS sensors?
  2. From the Fitbit app dashboard, tap the + icon.
  3. Tap Track Exercise.
  4. Choose an activity: run, walk, or hike.
  5. To hear cues during your activity, tap Cues and set the type, frequency, and volume. Note that cues won't work if music is playing.
  6. Tap Start, then tap Start again. During the activity, swipe left to see a GPS map.
  7. When you're done, tap Pause, then tap and hold Finish.
  8. Review your workout summary.
  1. Confirm your phone can track your location when you're out of Wi-Fi range:
    1. Open Settings > Cellular.
    2. Make sure Cellular Data is turned on.
  2. Confirm that your phone can continue tracking your location when your phone is locked:
    1. Open Settings > General.
    2. Tap Background App Refresh, find the Fitbit app, and make sure it's turned on.
  3. Confirm that your phone can identify your location:
    1. Open Settings > Privacy.
    2. Tap Location Services and make sure it’s turned on.
    3. Find Fitbit in the app list, and make sure that Allow Location Access is set to Always.

Steps to verify these requirements depend on your phone model. If you're not sure how to complete a step, see the instructions provided by your phone's manufacturer.

  1. Confirm that your phone can track your activity (usually by making sure that Cellular Data use is turned on).
  2. Confirm that your phone can continue to track your location while it's locked.
  3. Confirm that your phone can identify your location (usually by turning on Location Services in your privacy settings).

For more information, see How accurate are Fitbit devices?

For more information, see How do I export my Fitbit account data?

  • Confirm that the exercise type uses built-in GPS. For more information, see How do I start a workout with GPS on my Fitbit device?

  • Make sure that you have a clear view of the sky when you start the exercise. Environmental factors, including tall buildings, dense forest, steep hills, and thick cloud cover, can interfere with your device’s ability to connect to GPS satellites. If the signal is blocked—either because you're indoors, underground, or due to another reason—GPS won't work.

  • Check that GPS is turned on for the exercise. For more information, see How do I turn on GPS for an exercise on my Fitbit device?
  • Make sure that your device is charged to at least 80%.
  • Confirm that your device is syncing with the Fitbit app. The more you sync your device, the faster your device can connect to GPS.
  • Avoid trying to start an exercise with GPS several times in a row, which can prevent your device from connecting to GPS.
  • Note that Charge 4 vibrates and a notification appears if the tracker can’t connect to GPS after 10 minutes. You can choose to end the exercise, change the GPS mode, and start the exercise again. To change the GPS mode, see How do I manage the GPS settings on Charge 4?

Requirements

Verify the following requirements; then try the troubleshooting steps if necessary.

  • Make sure that you have a clear view of the sky when you start the exercise. Environmental factors, including tall buildings, dense forest, steep hills, and even thick cloud cover, can interfere with your phone’s ability to connect to GPS satellites. If the signal is blocked—either because you're indoors, underground, or due to another reason—GPS won't work.
  • Confirm that Bluetooth on your phone is turned on, and your device is connected under your phone’s Bluetooth settings.
  • Make sure that phone is within 30 feet of your device.
  • Make sure that your device can sync with the Fitbit app. For more information, see How do Fitbit devices sync their data?
  • Confirm that the Fitbit app can use your phone's GPS sensors. For more information, seeHow do I allow my Fitbit device to use my phone's GPS sensors?

Troubleshooting steps

See if GPS connects after each step

  1. Force quit, and reopen the Fitbit app to refresh the connection with your device.
  2. On your phone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth off and back on.
  3. Restart your phone.