You wake up, open the app to check your sleep score, and nothing has updated since yesterday. If your Fitbit is not syncing, the cause is usually a Bluetooth hiccup, a phone setting that stops the app working in the background, or an account that still needs moving to Google. Start with a manual sync in the Google Health app, check Bluetooth and battery saver, then restart both your phone and your Fitbit.
Wait, Google Health? Yes. The Fitbit app was renamed in 2026, and that change explains a lot of the sync problems people are running into. Let’s walk through every fix, step by step.
| Quick fact | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| The Fitbit app is now Google Health | The switch started on May 19, 2026, so older guides show menus that no longer exist |
| A Google Account is required | Fitbit account logins stopped working after May 19, 2026 |
| Android 11 or iOS 16.4 | The minimum phone software for the Google Health app |
| Up to 48 hours | How long migrated historical data can take to appear |
| Battery saver blocks syncing | Fitbit data may not sync until it’s turned off |
Why your Fitbit stopped syncing
Your Fitbit tracker or watch talks to your phone over Bluetooth Low Energy, and the Google Health app then sends that data to your account. So there are three links in the chain, the device, the phone and your account. Break any one of them, and the sync stops.
Here are the most common reasons, based on Google’s own help pages.
- Distance. Google says your Fitbit must stay near your phone to sync.
- Battery saver or Bedtime mode. Both limit background connectivity, and data only syncs once they’re off.
- Missing permissions. On Android, the app needs Location and Nearby devices permissions. On iPhone, it needs Bluetooth access and Background App Refresh.
- Too many connections. Another phone or tablet signed into your account, or another Fitbit paired to your phone, can grab the connection first.
- The account move. If you never moved your Fitbit account to a Google Account, the app can’t sync your data at all.
The key takeaway here is simple. Most sync failures aren’t hardware faults. They’re settings and connections, and you can fix those in minutes.
First, check the Google Health app switch
Let’s back up a little, because this is the part most older guides miss.
According to Google, the Fitbit app became the Google Health app starting May 19, 2026, with most people updating automatically between May 19 and May 26. The app was redesigned around four tabs, Today, Fitness, Sleep and Health. If you’re following a guide that tells you to tap a Fitbit app icon or an old account menu, that’s why the steps don’t match your screen.
The bigger issue is your login. Google says that after May 19, 2026, you can no longer access Fitbit with a Fitbit account, so you need to move it to a Google Account. Google also began processing data deletions on July 15, 2026, though it notes some users may still be able to migrate during that period.
“If your Fitbit stopped syncing around the time the app changed its name, check your account before you blame your tracker.”
One more detail. Google says you can’t link your Google Health account to a Google Workspace account, so use a personal Google account instead.
How to fix a Fitbit that’s not syncing
Work through these in order. Each one takes a minute or two, and the early fixes solve most problems.
1. Force a manual sync
Your Fitbit syncs automatically throughout the day, and every time you open the Google Health app with your device nearby. Sometimes it just needs a nudge.
- Keep your Fitbit close to your phone.
- Open the Google Health app and go to the Today tab.
- Pull down on the screen and wait for the progress bar to fill.
You can also tap Connections at the top left and use the sync option there. To see when your device last synced, open Connections and tap your device to find the last synced time.
2. Turn off battery saver and Bedtime mode
Here’s the catch. The features that save your battery overnight also stop your Fitbit from syncing.
Google says battery saver mode and Bedtime mode limit background data connectivity, and Fitbit data may not sync while either is on. Turn them off, or simply interact with your device, and try syncing again.
3. Toggle Bluetooth off and on
Google recommends turning Bluetooth off for 3 seconds, then back on. It sounds basic, but it clears a stuck connection more often than you’d expect.
While you’re there, make sure your phone has a working connection over WiFi or mobile data. The app needs internet access to send your data to your account.
4. Check app permissions on Android
On Android, open the Settings app, go to Apps, then Google Health, then Permissions. Make sure Location and Nearby devices are both allowed. Nearby devices applies to Android 12 and later.
Without those permissions, the app can’t find your tracker in the background, even when Bluetooth is on.
5. Check Bluetooth access and background refresh on iPhone
On an iPhone, the settings live in two places.
- Go to Settings, then General, and turn on Background App Refresh for Google Health.
- Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Bluetooth, and make sure Google Health is allowed.
If background refresh is off, your iPhone will only sync while the app is open on screen.
6. Charge your Fitbit
Google suggests putting your Fitbit on its charger and trying to sync once it starts charging. It’s a simple step, and it rules out one more variable.
7. Restart your phone and your Fitbit
Restart your phone first, then open Google Health and try again. If that doesn’t work, restart your tracker or watch, wait for the clock face to appear, and sync from the app.
The restart steps differ by model, so check Google’s instructions for your specific Fitbit if you’re not sure which buttons to press.
8. Update everything
Out-of-date software causes plenty of strange sync bugs. Google suggests checking for updates on all three pieces.
- Your phone. Install any pending system update.
- The Google Health app. Update it from the Google Play Store or the App Store.
- Your Fitbit. Install any pending device update.
Remember the minimum requirements too. Google says the Google Health app needs Android 11 or later, or iOS 16.4 or later. If your phone is older than that, it may be time to look at an upgrade, and our guide to the Pixel 6 end of life explains what happens when updates stop.
9. Remove other phones and Fitbits from the picture
You see, if a tablet or old phone signed into your account is nearby, it may be grabbing the sync.
- Uninstall the Google Health app on other nearby devices signed into your account, or unpair your Fitbit from them in Bluetooth settings.
- In Google Health, tap Connections and disconnect any other Fitbit trackers you no longer use.
- In your phone’s Bluetooth settings, forget any extra Fitbit devices listed there.
Then open Google Health on your main phone and try again.
10. Disconnect and reconnect your Fitbit
If the connection itself is corrupted, start fresh. Google’s steps go like this.
- Open Google Health, tap Connections, tap your device and choose Disconnect device.
- Open your phone’s Bluetooth settings and forget the Fitbit.
- Back in Google Health, tap Connections, then Add device, and follow the setup steps.
This rebuilds the link between your phone and the tracker from scratch.
11. Reinstall the Google Health app
Still stuck? Uninstall Google Health, reinstall it from your app store, sign in with your Google Account and try to sync. A fresh install clears cached data that sometimes trips up the connection.
12. Contact Google support
If none of this works, reach out to Google’s support team through the Google Health help center. Note down the error message you see, such as the Error Code 2 message Google lists as a sign of a connection issue, before you get in touch.
Fitbit syncing but your stats are missing
Sometimes the sync works, but your history looks empty. That’s a different problem.
Google says that if you recently moved your account to the Google Health app, historical data might not appear immediately, and large transfers can take up to 48 hours. So if you just migrated, give it a couple of days before you panic.
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No new data since last night | Bluetooth, battery saver or permissions | Manual sync, then check settings |
| Old history missing after migration | Data transfer still in progress | Wait up to 48 hours |
| Error Code 2 message | Connection issue between phone and device | Restart both, then reconnect |
| Can’t sign in at all | Fitbit account not moved to Google | Move your account to a Google Account |
| Notifications stopped on your wrist | Connection lost with phone | Toggle Bluetooth, restart, reconnect |
Using a Fitbit with a new phone
Got a new phone? Google says you can sync your Fitbit with any compatible phone or tablet. However, if you get notifications on your Fitbit, forget the device in the Bluetooth settings on your old phone before you switch.
You can also sync more than one Fitbit to the same account, which is handy if you swap between a tracker and a watch. Just keep the one you’re not wearing away from your phone while syncing, so they don’t compete.
How to keep your Fitbit syncing
A few habits prevent most future headaches.
- Open the app daily. Each time you open Google Health nearby, your Fitbit syncs.
- Watch battery saving modes. Remember to turn them off once your phone is charged.
- Keep everything updated. Phone, app and device updates fix many sync bugs.
- Stick to one main phone. Fewer paired devices mean fewer connection fights.
- Keep your phone’s battery healthy. Aggressive battery saving on a tired phone makes background syncing worse, and our tips on iOS 27 battery drain and why your phone gets hot can help.
Wondering how Google’s assistants fit into all this? Our guide on how to switch back to Google Assistant covers the other big Google app change this year.
Sourced from Google’s Fix syncing issues with Google Health guide and Google’s guide to moving your Fitbit account.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common causes are Bluetooth glitches, battery saver or Bedtime mode, missing app permissions, or another device grabbing the connection. If it stopped around May 2026, your account may also need moving to a Google Account for the Google Health app.
Keep your Fitbit nearby, open the Google Health app, go to the Today tab and pull down on the screen. You can also tap Connections at the top left and sync from there.
Not always. Fitbit devices sync automatically throughout the day when background access is allowed. On iPhone, Background App Refresh must be on for Google Health, or syncing may only happen while the app is open.
Yes. Google says Fitbit accounts can no longer be used after May 19, 2026, and you need a Google Account to use the Google Health app. A Google Workspace account won’t work for this.
Google says historical data might not appear right away after a migration, and large transfers can take up to 48 hours. Give it time before trying anything drastic.
You can sync with any compatible phone or tablet, but only one should connect at a time. If you get notifications on your Fitbit, forget it in the old phone’s Bluetooth settings before switching.
Google lists Android 11 or later and iOS 16.4 or later as the minimum requirements. Older phones may not install or sync with the app.
Get your stats flowing again
A Fitbit that won’t sync can make all those steps and sleep hours feel wasted, but the fix is usually a setting or a connection, not a broken tracker. Start with a manual sync, clear the battery saver and permission blockers, restart everything, and make sure your account made the jump to Google.
Do that, and tomorrow morning your sleep score should be waiting for you, right where it belongs.
