If your Fitbit wont turn on, the most likely cause is a deeply discharged battery, especially if the device has been sitting unused for months. The fixes below are the official, documented steps from Google/Fitbit support, and they start with charging the device correctly and cleaning its contacts.
Why your Fitbit won't turn on
A Fitbit that appears completely dead is almost always suffering from a drained battery rather than a hardware failure. Google’s help pages state that a device left unused for several months may need at least 30 minutes on the charger before it will power on. The steps that follow are the only official recovery methods documented for this issue, so work through them in order.
Charge your Fitbit for a full hour
The critical first step is to plug the charging cable into a standard wall outlet, not a computer or USB hub, and leave the device on the charger for at least one full hour. If your Fitbit has been unused for several months, leave it plugged in for at least 30 minutes initially before checking whether it responds. A deeply discharged battery can take time to accept a charge, so resist the urge to unplug it early.
Inspect and clean the charging pins and contacts
After the hour is up, unplug the charging cable and gently push the gold pins on the cable with your finger to verify they spring back up immediately. If the pins are stuck or sluggish, that can prevent a proper connection. If charging still fails, use a pencil eraser to firmly rub the gold dots on the back of the Fitbit device. This removes any invisible buildup or debris that might be blocking the electrical contact. Wipe away any eraser residue before reconnecting the charger.
Use the button on your charging cable
For devices with a small button on the flat end of the charging cable, there is a verified step that can force the device to wake up. Press that button 3 times, pausing exactly 1 second between each press. This is a documented recovery action for specific Fitbit models, so if your cable has the button, try it after confirming the contacts are clean.
When to contact Fitbit support
If you have charged the device for a full hour, cleaned the contacts, and tried the cable button without success, the only remaining official path is to visit the Google/Fitbit support help pages for further assistance. Contacting support is the final step, and you should have your device model and the steps you have already tried ready when you do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a Fitbit charge before trying again?
Google documents at least 30 minutes for a device that has been unused for several months, and a full hour on a wall charger when troubleshooting charging problems. Leave it plugged in for the full duration before checking if it powers on.
What should be cleaned on a Fitbit that won't turn on?
The gold dots on the back of the device and the gold pins on the charging cable are the two contact points to inspect. Use a pencil eraser on the device contacts and verify the cable pins spring back when pressed.
Are there official app steps for iPhone or Android?
No. The retrieved help pages document only charging and contact-cleaning steps. There is no menu path in the Fitbit app, on iPhone, or on Android for reviving a device that will not power on.
Which Fitbit models are covered by these steps?
The steps apply to any Fitbit with the standard charging cable and gold contact points.
For the wider topic, see Fitbit troubleshooting.
