To adjust the time on a Fitbit, change the time zone in the Fitbit app or sync it with your phone so the tracker updates automatically.
Why Fitbit Time Goes Wrong
When a Fitbit shows the wrong time, it usually comes down to a mismatch between the tracker and the account settings in the Fitbit app. The watch does not hold a totally independent clock. Instead, it follows the time zone, clock format, and daylight saving rules stored in your profile and on your phone or computer.
This design keeps your daily activity logs lined up with real world time, but it also means small glitches can throw things off. A missed sync, a manual time zone change on your phone, or a recent trip can leave your Fitbit an hour or more behind. Once you learn how to adjust time on a Fitbit, those gaps become quick fixes instead of frustrating mysteries.
Quick Guide: How to Adjust Time on a Fitbit
This section walks through the fastest path to correct time on most Fitbit models using the Fitbit app on a phone or tablet.
- Make sure Bluetooth is on and your Fitbit is close to your phone.
- Open the Fitbit app and tap the Today tab.
- Tap your profile picture, then open App Settings or Date, time & units.
- Check the Time Zone setting. Turn on Set Automatically if you want the app to follow your phone, or turn it off and choose a time zone yourself.
- Go back to the Today tab, then pull down on the screen to start a manual sync.
- Wait for the sync to finish, then check the watch face.
Common Time Problems And Fixes
| Problem | Likely Cause | What To Try First |
|---|---|---|
| Time off by one hour after a flight | App time zone did not change with your phone | Open App Settings, pick the new time zone, then sync |
| Time off by one hour at home | Daylight saving change not applied | Toggle Set Automatically off and on, then sync again |
| Time off by several hours | Wrong region set in Fitbit account | Pick the correct region or city in Time Zone settings |
| Time correct on phone, wrong on Fitbit | Tracker has not synced for a while | Pull down on the Today tab to force a manual sync |
| Time flips between two zones | Tracker paired to more than one phone | Only keep Bluetooth on for one main phone when you sync |
| Clock stuck in 24 hour format | Clock display set to 24 hour in the app | Change Clock Display Time to 12 hour, then sync |
| Clock face shows odd time after install | New clock face installed before a full sync | Wait for the install to finish, then run another sync |
Understanding How Fitbit Handles Time
Fitbit treats time as part of your account, not as a setting hidden deep inside each device. The tracker reads your chosen time zone and clock style when it syncs with the app. That single timeline then feeds all your stats, badges, and sleep logs so steps at 7 a.m. always line up with sleep you tracked at midnight.
Fitbit’s own help article on changing the time explains this flow in detail and shows screens for current versions of the app, which is handy when the menu names change slightly after an update. You can read those instructions in the Fitbit Help Center guide on changing the time to double check anything you see here.
Adjusting Fitbit Time Settings Across Devices
These steps show how to correct Fitbit time on iPhone, Android, and the Fitbit dashboard in a browser.
Change Fitbit Time On An iPhone Or iPad
- Open the Fitbit app and stay near your tracker.
- On the Today tab, tap your profile picture in the top left corner.
- Tap Fitbit settings, then tap Date, time & units.
- Tap Time Zone. Turn Set Automatically on if you trust your phone’s clock, or turn it off and pick a time zone from the list.
- Check Clock Display Time in the same menu and pick 12 hour or 24 hour.
- Return to the Today tab and pull down to sync until you see a check mark or a synced message.
Change Fitbit Time On An Android Phone
- Open the Fitbit app and tap the Today tab.
- Tap your profile picture, then pick Fitbit settings.
- Tap Date, time & units under App Settings.
- Tap Time Zone, then decide whether Automatic time zone should stay on. Many users see fewer problems when it matches the phone settings.
- Pick the correct region if you turn automatic time off.
- Choose a 12 hour or 24 hour clock under Clock Display Time.
- Return to the Today tab and pull down to sync the tracker.
Change Fitbit Time From The Web Dashboard
You can also correct time on a Fitbit through the Fitbit dashboard in a browser.
- Go to fitbit.com and sign in to your account.
- Click the gear icon, then choose Settings.
- On the Personal Info page, scroll to the section that holds time zone controls.
- Pick the correct Time Zone from the list and click Submit.
- Open the Fitbit app on your phone and run a sync so the tracker picks up the new time zone.
Fixing Time Problems When Sync Fails
Sometimes the steps above look perfect, yet the watch stubbornly holds on to the wrong time. In that case the core problem tends to be a failed sync instead of the time settings themselves. Fitbit and independent tech writers both stress that you should clear any sync issues before you chase rare time bugs.
A recent guide from Lifewire on Fitbit syncing issues walks through common Bluetooth and app problems that block sync. The short version is simple: keep Bluetooth on, keep only one phone paired at a time, and avoid letting the Fitbit app sleep in the background while you sync.
When you suspect a sync problem, use this pattern:
- Turn Bluetooth off and back on.
- Restart the Fitbit tracker.
- Restart your phone or tablet.
- Open the Fitbit app and sit on the Today tab until the sync completes.
- If needed, sign out of the Fitbit app, sign back in, then try again.
Troubleshooting Checklist For Wrong Fitbit Time
| Step | What To Do | When To Use It |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm phone time and time zone | Any time you see a mismatch between phone and watch |
| 2 | Check Time Zone in Date, time & units | After travel or when daylight saving changes |
| 3 | Switch automatic time zone off, then on | When automatic time seems stuck in an old zone |
| 4 | Force a manual sync from the Today tab | Any time the tracker lags behind account settings |
| 5 | Restart the tracker and phone | When sync fails or the app hangs on syncing |
| 6 | Sign out and back into the Fitbit app | If your account data looks out of date on the phone |
| 7 | Reinstall the Fitbit app as a last step | When nothing else clears time or sync errors |
Daylight Saving And Travel Time Tips
Time changes around travel and daylight saving can make a Fitbit feel unreliable, even when it tracks steps and heart rate just fine. A few small habits keep your stats lined up with local time and prevent gaps in your history.
- Before a long trip, double check that automatic time zone is on in the app if you want the watch to follow your phone.
- If you prefer manual control, set the new time zone in the app as soon as you land, then run a sync in the airport or hotel.
- On days when clocks change for daylight saving, sync once in the morning and once at night so your sleep and workout logs sit in the right place.
- Avoid pairing the same Fitbit to several phones during travel, since each phone can push a different time setting.
- If the watch ends up off by exactly an hour after a time change, go straight to Time Zone in the app instead of changing anything on the tracker.
These habits keep the tracker aligned with your day so alarms, step streaks, and sleep scores stay accurate wherever you go.
Final Checks Before You Sync And Go
By this point you know that Fitbit time depends on the account settings in the app, a healthy Bluetooth connection, and a clean sync to your tracker. You also know how to adjust time on a Fitbit from an iPhone, Android phone, or the Fitbit web dashboard without hunting through every menu.
When the clock looks wrong, walk through a simple checklist. Confirm that your phone shows the right time, open Date, time & units in the Fitbit app to check the time zone and clock style, then run a manual sync. If the tracker still lags, restart both devices and try again before you dig into more complex fixes.
Once you build the habit of checking those three areas, wrong Fitbit time stops feeling like a glitch and turns into a quick task. You spend less time tweaking settings and more time using the data from your tracker to plan workouts, track sleep, and hit your goals.