How do I navigate my Fitbit device's screen?

Learn how to navigate your Fitbit device.

The screen on Fitbit Ace, Fitbit Alta, and Fitbit Alta HR is dimmed when not in use. It wakes up automatically when you turn your wrist towards you (known as Quick View), or you can double-tap your tracker where the display meets the band as shown below.

To advance between screens and see your stats, give your device a tap. Note that Ace, Alta, and Alta HR don't respond to swipes.

Ace 2 and Inspire series devices have an OLED touchscreen display. Navigate your device by tapping the screen, swiping up and down, or pressing the button:

Use the clock and apps

The home screen is the clock. On the clock:

  • Swipe down to scroll through the apps on your tracker. To open an app, tap it.
  • Swipe up to see your daily stats.

Use the button

Ace 2 and Inspire series devices have 1 button.

Quick settings

Press and hold the button to access certain settings. Tap a setting to change it. When you turn off a setting, the icon appears dim with a line through it.

Check battery level

Check your battery level at any time: press and hold the button. The battery level is at the top.

Adjust settings

Manage basic settings directly on your device. Open the Settings app and tap a setting to adjust it. Swipe to see the full list of settings.

Use the Clock and Menus

The starting screen is the clock. On the clock:

  • Swipe up to see any notifications.
  • Swipe down to use shortcuts for controlling music or turning notifications on and off.
  • Swipe left and right to see menus.
  • (Some clock faces) Tap to see your all-day stats.

To browse different clock designs, see How do I change the clock face on my Fitbit device?

Tap to open a menu:

Use the Buttons

Blaze has three buttons: Action, Select, and Back.

Use the Back button to return to the previous screen. The behavior of the Action and Select buttons depends on the screen, but usually these buttons are an alternative to tapping. For example, during an exercise you can tap the pause icon in the lower right or tap the Select button next to it instead.

Use the Clock and Menus

The default or "home" screen is a clock. On the clock you can:

  • Tap to see your steps taken, heart rate, distance, calories burned, floors climbed, and active minutes.
  • Press the button to move to specialized menus.
To browse different clock designs, see How do I change the clock face on my Fitbit device?

Press the button to open a specialized menu:

  • Heart rate— Shows your current heart rate. Tap to see your resting heart rate.
  • Exercise—Tap to move through your exercise choices, then press and hold the button to start the selected exercise. Press and hold the button again to end the exercise. For more information, see How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?
  • Alarms—Tap to scroll through any alarms you’ve set. Press and hold the button to disable or enable any alarms. For more information, see How do I manage alarms on my Fitbit device?
  • Stopwatch—Press and hold the button to start the stopwatch. Press the button to stop and resume the stopwatch. Press and hold the button again to reset the stopwatch.
  • Relax—Tap to choose a guided breathing session. Press and hold the button to start the session.

To get the basics on Fitbit Charge 3, choose a section below.

Use the clock and apps

The home screen is a clock:

On the clock you can:

  • Swipe down to see notifications.
  • Swipe up to see your stats in Fitbit Today.
  • Swipe left to see the apps installed on your device. To open an app, swipe to find the app and then tap it.
  • (Some clock faces) Tap to see your all-day stats.

To browse different clock designs, see How do I change the clock face on my Fitbit device?

Use the button

Your device has an OLED touch screen and one button.

Press and hold the button on your tracker for a faster way to use Fitbit Pay (on Fitbit Pay-enabled devices), and access certain settings.

Quick settings

Press and hold the button, and swipe left to access the quick settings screen. Tap a setting to turn it on or off. When you turn off the setting, the icon appears dim with a line through it.

DND (Do not disturb)

When the do not disturb setting is on, notifications, goal celebrations, heart zone alerts, and reminders to move don't cause the tracker to vibrate or the screen to turn on.

You can't turn on do not disturb and sleep mode at the same time.
Sleep Mode

When the sleep mode setting is on:

  • Notifications don't cause the tracker to vibrate or the screen to turn on.
  • The screen's brightness is set to dim.
  • Turning your wrist won't cause the tracker’s screen to turn on.

Sleep mode doesn't automatically turn off unless you set a sleep mode schedule. To schedule sleep mode to automatically turn on during certain hours:

  1. Open the Settings app and tap Sleep Mode.
  2. Tap Schedule to turn it on.
  3. Tap Sleep Interval and set your sleep mode schedule. Sleep mode automatically turns off at the time you schedule, even if you manually turned it on.

You can't turn on do not disturb and sleep mode at the same time.
Screen Wake When the screen wake setting is on, turn your wrist toward you to turn on the screen.

Settings app

Open the Settings app and swipe up to see the full list of settings. Tap a setting to adjust it.

Brightness Change the screen's brightness.
Vibrations Adjust your tracker's vibration strength.
Heart Rate Turn heart-rate tracking on or off.
Do Not Disturb Turn off all notifications. Choose to receive alerts about your workout in the Exercise app even if Do Not Disturb is on.
Sleep Mode Adjust sleep mode settings, including setting a schedule for the mode to automatically turn on and off.
Screen Time Out Choose how long your screen stays on before it turns off.

Turn off the screen

To turn off the screen when not in use, push the button.

Navigate your tracker by tapping the screen, swiping side-to-side and up and down, or pressing the button:

Use the clock and apps

The home screen is the clock:

  • Swipe down from the top of the screen at any time to see notifications.
  • Swipe up from the clock face to see your stats in Fitbit Today.
  • Swipe left from the clock face to see the apps on your device. To open an app, swipe to find the app, and tap it. For more information, see How do I install and manage apps on my Fitbit device?
Choose a different clock face in the Fitbit Clock Gallery. For more information, see How do I change the clock face on my Fitbit device?

Use the button

Your tracker has a PMOLED touch screen and 1 button. Press and hold the button to access quick settings and Fitbit Pay.

For more information about quick settings, see Adjust settings. For more information about Fitbit Pay, see What should I know about Fitbit Pay?

Check battery level

To check your battery level, swipe up from the clock face. The battery level icon is in the top left.

Adjust settings

Manage basic settings on your device.

Quick settings

Press and hold the button, and swipe left to access the quick settings screen. Tap a setting to turn it on or off. When you turn off the setting, the icon appears dim with a line through it.

DND (Do not disturb)

When the do not disturb setting is on, notifications, goal celebrations, heart zone alerts, and reminders to move don't cause the tracker to vibrate or the screen to turn on.

You can't turn on do not disturb and sleep mode at the same time.
Sleep Mode

When the sleep mode setting is on:

  • Notifications don't cause the tracker to vibrate or the screen to turn on.
  • The screen's brightness is set to dim.
  • Turning your wrist won't cause the tracker’s screen to turn on.

Sleep mode doesn't automatically turn off unless you set a sleep mode schedule. To schedule sleep mode to automatically turn on during certain hours:

  1. Open the Settings app and tap Sleep Mode.
  2. Tap Schedule to turn it on.
  3. Tap Sleep Interval and set your sleep mode schedule. Sleep mode automatically turns off at the time you schedule, even if you manually turned it on.

You can't turn on do not disturb and sleep mode at the same time.
Screen Wake When the screen wake setting is on, turn your wrist toward you to turn on the screen.

Settings app

Open the Settings app and swipe up to see the full list of settings. Tap a setting to adjust it.

Brightness Change the screen's brightness.
Vibrations Adjust your tracker's vibration strength.
Screen Timeout Choose how long the screen stays on after you stop interacting with your tracker.
Heart Rate Turn heart-rate tracking on or off.
Do Not Disturb Turn off all notifications. Choose to receive alerts about your workout in the Exercise app even if Do Not Disturb is on.
Sleep Mode Adjust sleep mode settings, including setting a schedule for the mode to automatically turn on and off.
Heart Zone Minutes Notifications Turn on or off the Active zone Minutes Notifications you receive during everyday activity. For more information, see What are Active Zone Minutes or active minutes on my Fitbit device?
GPS Settings Choose the GPS type and manage other settings to enhance GPS performance. For more information, see How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device?

Turn off the screen

To turn off the screen when not in use, briefly cover the clock face with your opposite hand, press the button, or turn your wrist away from your body.

Navigate your watch by tapping the screen, swiping side-to-side and up and down, or pressing the button:

Use the clock and apps

The home screen is the clock:

  • Swipe down from the top of the screen to open your notifications.
  • Swipe down from the top of the screen at any time to see notifications and access shortcuts to music controls, Fitbit Pay (on supported devices), and quick settings. The shortcuts disappear after 2 seconds. Swipe down to see them again. For more information, see Use the control center.
  • Swipe up from the clock face to see your stats in Fitbit Today.
  • Swipe left from the clock face to see the apps on your watch.

Choose a different clock face in the Fitbit Clock Gallery. For more information, see How do I change the clock face on my Fitbit device?

To open an app, swipe to find the app, and tap it. For more information on how to manage apps on your watch, see How do I install and manage apps on my Fitbit device?

Use the button shortcuts

Left button

Press and hold the left button for 2 seconds to quickly access a feature such as Fitbit Pay, Alexa, music controls, notifications, or certain apps. To change which feature activates when you hold the button, open the Settings app and tap the Left Button option. The possible shortcuts vary based on your device.

Top and bottom buttons (Versa and Ionic only)

From the clock screen, press the top and bottom buttons on the right side of the watch to quickly access your favorite apps.

  • Top button—opens the app located in the top left of the first app screen.
  • Bottom button—opens the app located in the bottom left of the first app screen.

Customize your watch by reordering your apps. For more information, see How do I install and manage apps on my Fitbit device?

Use the control center

Swipe down from the top of the screen to access certain shortcuts. The shortcuts you see vary based on your device.

Music controls Control music playing on your phone or watch. For more information, see How do I listen to music and podcasts on my Fitbit watch?
Fitbit Pay Make contactless payments from your watch. For more information, see What should I know about Fitbit Pay?
Quick settings Adjust certain settings such as screen brightness and screen wake. For more information, see Quick settings

Check battery level

To check your battery level, swipe down from the top of the screen. Wait 2 seconds for the control center to disappear. You see the battery level icon in the top left.

Adjust settings

Manage basic settings on your watch.

Quick settings

Adjust notification and display settings. Swipe down from the top of the screen, and tap the quick settings icon .

Do Not Disturb

When you turn on the do not disturb setting:

  • Notifications, goal celebrations, and reminders to move don't cause the watch to vibrate or the screen to turn on.
  • You see a do not disturb icon at the top of the screen when you swipe down to see your notifications.

You can't turn on do not disturb and sleep mode at the same time.

Sleep Mode

When you turn on the sleep mode setting:

  • Notifications don't cause the watch to vibrate or the screen to turn on.
  • The screen's brightness is set to dim.
  • The Always-On Display clock face is turned off (on watches that support it).
  • Turning your wrist won't cause the watch's screen to turn on.
  • You see a sleep mode icon at the top of the screen when you swipe down to see your notifications.

To schedule sleep mode to automatically turn on during certain hours, open the Settings app and tap Sleep Mode > Schedule. Sleep Mode automatically turns off at the time you schedule, even if you manually turned it on.

You can't turn on do not disturb and sleep mode at the same time.

Screen Wake
  • When you set Screen Wake to Auto (Motion), the screen turns on each time you turn your wrist.
  • When you set Screen Wake to Manual (Button), press the button to turn on the screen.

You can't set Screen Wake to Auto (Motion) if you turn on always-on display or sleep mode.

Brightness Adjust the screen brightness.
Always-On Display (Versa 2 only)

Keep the screen on, even when you’re not interacting with the watch. For more information, see How do I see the time on my Fitbit device?

Note that turning on this feature impacts your watch's battery. When always-on display is turned on, Versa 2 has a battery life of up to 3 days.

Settings app

For a full list of settings, open the Settings app . Swipe up to see the full list of settings, and tap a setting to adjust it.

Brightness Change the screen's brightness.
Screen Timeout Choose how long the screen stays on after you stop interacting with your watch.
Always-On Display (Versa 2 only)

Adjust always-on display settings, including the information you see on the clock face.

Note that turning on this feature impacts your watch's battery. When always-on display is turned on, Versa 2 has a battery life of up to 3 days.

Sleep Mode Adjust sleep mode settings, including setting a schedule for the mode to automatically turn on and off.
Do Not Disturb Adjust do not disturb settings, including whether the mode should turn on automatically when you use the Exercise app.
Screen Wake Change whether the screen turns on when you turn your wrist.
Vibrations Adjust your watch's vibration strength.
Microphone (Versa 2 only) Choose whether your watch can access the microphone.
Left Button Choose the feature the button activates.
Alexa (Versa 2 only) Turn Alexa notifications on or off.
Bluetooth (not available on Versa Lite Edition) Manage connected Bluetooth devices.
Heart Rate Turn heart-rate tracking on or off.

Turn off the screen

To turn off the screen when not in use, briefly cover the watch face with your opposite hand, press the button, or turn your wrist away from your body. If you use the always-on display setting on Versa 2, the screen won’t turn off.