Fitbit down no longer: Here's what happened during Fitbit's "major outage", Google's statement – and what to do if you're still having issues
What to do if you can't log into your fitness tracking app
We've received official word from Google
A Google representative has reached out to confirm the issue with the Fitbit app is now resolved. Everyone should now be able to log into their accounts and sync their fitness trackers again.
Here's what happened
- A few hours ago, reports began surging on Reddit and Downdetector that Fitbit users, regardless which Fitbit device or Google Pixel Watch they actually owned, were experiencing syncing problems with the app.
- Not only that, but when users followed Fitbit's 'help' steps by first uninstalling and reinstalling the app, they could not log back in to their accounts.
- This meant any information their fitness tracker was collecting was not being added to their existing pool of data.
- Fitbit's status page updated to let its users know there was a widespread issue, and irate users took to Reddit to express their displeasure.
- Fortunately, a fix was soon rolled out, and users are now able to log in. If you're still having problems, it's likely you'll receive a fix soon.
- There's no need to reboot or factory reset your Fitbit device, losing all your settings: the problem seems to be (or have been) with the Fitbit app, whether you access it on your phone or via a web API.
When a tool becomes a crutch
Months ago, a similar outage hit the best Garmin watches, lasting over multiple days, and we experienced an outcry of frustration from Garmin users.
As a Garmin user myself, I remember how much I relied on my Garmin during both marathon training and during the events themselves, as tools such as the virtual pacer and heart rate zones kept me on track to hit (or at least narrowly miss) my race-day goals. The thought of having my running watch crash out on me on race day, after working towards that moment for months, simply didn't bear thinking about.
Fitbit users are suffering a similar issue today, and I can't help but feel for people who rely on that stream of information from their wrist during big life events and competitions, not just daily users looking for sleep and step counts. As a runner, I used that information as a tool during my training: it's only now I realised that tool became a crutch.
Let this be a reminder to take your training watch off every so often and practice working by feel: running coach, author and regular TechRadar contributor Lily Canter penned an excellent piece on why running without a smartwatch – referred to as "naked running" in the community – can be such a useful practice.
How to fix your Fitbit app
Honestly? It seems as though the fix is "do nothing and try to log in later".
Fitbit is rolling out a fix, but it appears to be a slow process, with some users still left unable to log in. However, it is rolling out, so if you still can't sync your watch or fitness tracker, or you can't log into your app, don't worry – try an untracked workout for a change, and pick up where you left off once the fix has reached you. Who knows? You might enjoy the freeing lack of accountability that comes with taking off your fitness watch.
Incident closed – for some...
Fitbit's official status page is now reporting the incident as "closed", indicating the fix is rolling out to users and the outage has ended, which lines up with those decreasing Downdetector reports.
However, according to our email inbox and the reports on Reddit, many people can't get back into their accounts still. For those people, we have to assume a fix is imminent – but let us know if the problem persists.
Reader email: Some people are still affected
One reader, emailed in to tell us that they're still not back in the app, despite the fix that's apparently rolling out.
"Yes, I'm affected. Can't sync, reinstalled app, now can't login."
This is despite the plunging Downdetector reports shown below, which seem to indicate the worst is behind us. Hang in there!
We’re back! from r/fitbit
Are we back? One user just posted that they're able to log in once again with their regular details, with others chiming in that it's working.
However, other users are stating that they still can't access their app, so it's clear the fix is slowly being rolled out to the userbase.
That's reassuring news for Fitbit fans, but it's helpful to know how fast this fix is rolling out. If you're still being affected by the outage (or you missed recording an important event or workout), drop us an email at the address above.
Is there something wrong with my Fitbit?
Probably not. Whether you've got an ancient Fitbit Alta, a cheap-and-cheerful Fitbit Inspire 3, or a top-of-the-line Google Pixel Watch 3, don't panic: your actual device is likely fine, even if it's not syncing to your app. There seems to be no need to restart or tinker with your Fitbit device itself, at least until Google comes out with an official fix.
The issue, as mentioned in previous posts, seems to be from the Fitbit app. You may lose some of today's data as a result of this syncing issue, but it's too early to understand the full ramifications of a big outage like this. However, it's a relief that your best fitness tracker is likely just fine.
An email from a reader
A reader with the handle D.Z. emailed in to add their voice to our suspicions: "Neither my husband nor I have been able to sync our Fitbits this morning. We've tried on a phone and four different tablets."
It's interesting to note this is a problem occurring across devices: because it's affecting both mobile and web apps, something is going wrong with Fitbit on the back end.
Therefore, if you're reading this, switching devices and trying to log in on something else probably won't work: the problem is coming from your Fitbit account, not the device you're logging in on.
Fitbit's official status: "experiencing a major outage"
status.fitbit.com confirms the app and web API alike is experiencing a "major outage", with service disruption (not a complete blackout, however) across both channels.
However, it's interesting to note that Device Sync / Pairing is listed as "Available" with a green tick, which contrasts with the reports from users on Reddit in the previous post.
Reddit speaks out
Trouble Logging In from r/fitbit
Hopping over to the Fitbit subreddit, we found the post above with a barrage of comments all saying the same thing: their Fitbit devices wouldn't sync to the app, and when they tried uninstalling and reinstalling the app, they could no longer log in again. Here are a few examples:
Comment from r/fitbit
Comment from r/fitbit
Our first clue something was wrong came from a huge spike in Downdetector, which you can see above. At the time of writing, we're seeing over 2,000 reports of outages, with many more users turning to other sites like Reddit to voice their displeasure.