Fitbit Altachat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Many users reported the Alta going completely dead or refusing to charge despite being plugged in for hours or days, causing panic that the device had broken. This was the most frequently repeated complaint across comments.

@HabibaElebiary-q5o

Omg thank you so much. My Fitbit was not charging at all despite plugging it in for more than an hour and it not showing me any signs of battery , logo , or vibration. I just clicked the button 3 times on the cable within the 4 minute window just as you said and it finally gave me a logo with the battery imagine and an exclamation mark indicating that it’s low battery. Great video 😊launch

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June 12, 2025

@alisongibson8775

I was just about to toss my Alta and order a new one when I decided on one last ditch pitch. I googled it and found your video. For the last couple of months it seemed like it needed to be charged more often, but once the screen started going blank it was hard to get it to charge at all. I left it plugged in once for 4 days, fearing all was lost but then it came back on, all on its own. Then it finally went completely blank & nothing would bring it back to life. I moved it to other usb ports, cleaned the contacts (charger & watch) wiggled & tapped it up the wazoo, left it on the charger for days and still nothing. When it died for the last time there was still 75% battery showing and when I used the reset button on the charger (I had NO idea it had one!) the screen instantly came back on (MIRACLE!) & it's still showing 75% charge. The jury's still out if this is but a short-term reprieve or the tracker's 2nd wind but I'll take it! Thanks so much!!launch

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July 30, 2022

@SlpBeauty333

THANK YOU!! I knew there was something wrong with my Fitbit but I couldn't quite work out what but the screen was unresponsive and I cleaned all the connections, as you do, and nothing. I thought it was dead for sure, but nope, that little button is right there and it fixed it right up! Thank you so much, nothing more irritating than starting a diet and having your trusty Fitbit almost die. Thank you so much!launch

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July 25, 2022

@roszdelmonte

I thought my device was dead and I’m looking into replacing it until I saw this video and it worked for me!\n\nScreen turned on and I think it is already charging.\n\nThanks for sharing this ☺️launch

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April 2, 2021

Multiple users described the device turning on only while connected to the charger, then going blank again the moment it's removed, even at full battery, indicating a persistent hardware/firmware issue.

@c3028040

I have a Question after I charge the alta fully it will turn on with the charger on but after take it off the won't turn on or activatelaunch

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January 17, 2024

@KatTheTurtle

It still doesnt work, it will be fully charged and I'll take it off the charger to wear it to school, itll not turn back on til I put it on the chargerlaunch

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January 23, 2022

@charissemanilay4391

while charging it can be opened but when I unplug the charger I cannot turn it on again unless I charge it. But it's already full, what should I do?launch

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October 7, 2020

@hhalleyy

Mine charges but the screen won't turn on and it said at the beginning of the video that it will help that but it didn't. I need help with my Fitbit Alta!!launch

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September 19, 2020

Several people tried the recommended reset button or cable-tapping method but it failed to fix their device, leaving them without a working tracker or requiring alternate workarounds.

@ChereesHomes

Unfortunately that did not work for my Fitbit Alta HR. I stopped wearing my Fitbit about a year ago and I can’t my original cable. I tried this with the cable I ordered from Amazon and it still shows the wrong date and day of the week. 😢launch

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March 18, 2023

@lindalee601

Thank you. I thought I fixed it after watching and following your video but it just wont turn on. Its fully charged, and I did the reboot but o ce its unplugged from the charger, it won't turn on. Thank you for your help.launch

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July 14, 2020

@88gezel

I tried clicking the button 3 times within 4 secs as instructed but the fitbit logo did not appear afterwards. any idea what went wrong? thanks.launch

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June 9, 2019

@boop5004

at 4:05 it repeats that it needs connected. which seems to be a lot of peoples problem. why skip that? that's why im watching these videos. no info anywhere! some awesome product! pfff yea right!! and we bought two!!launch

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April 5, 2016

Some Alta HR users reported the heart rate feature missing entirely despite being advertised, or failing to show HR/zones after workouts with a 'not enough data' error.

@v_mud

Thank you, i got a new alta hr and struggling with HR during exercise while otherwise its working normal, just after workout it doesnt show any heart rate or zones saying \"not enough data to show\" which is weird so kept looking for a way to restart and just found your video after many searches, thank you so muchlaunch

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November 3, 2022

@roxannelouise8482

When I got my Fitbit it didn’t have heart rate when it was supposed to already be on there. & on the app it told me what I wanted & I clicked heart rate & it’s still not there.launch

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September 12, 2020

@marcinlazpl5061

Thank you, actually helped a lot because i had an issue that caused it not to display the heart rate which made me think that i have broken it even though it was expensive. I was trying to figure out how to fix this for two weeks and this turns out to be a simple problem, thank youlaunch

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March 30, 2018

Users noted the Alta counts driving motion as steps unless a special app is used, and struggles to estimate calories for activities like cycling without manual input, plus hand shaking can be misread as steps.

@jmaf83

I just purchased this tracker and did some squats and it measured my heart rate at over 150, which I think is pretty accurate because my heart was pounding. I think it is not as accurate with steps because if you shake your hand too much it will detect it as steps. Overall I'm really happy with this device and I am happy I bought it.launch

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June 14, 2017

@dhaferbenmimoun7050

I've done some research and what i like about the Alta is appearance as am planing to wear it all day long and use it as a watch. I love The sms and call notification and The alarm/reminders too and yeah it counting steps accuratly. What i don't like about it is: it takes your movment when you are driving a car as if you were walking and marks them as steps ( no Alta i did not just run for 30 miles non stop) unless you use an app called fitbitdrive ( or somthing like that) to make it know that you are driving and not runing. And i do alot of cycling and fitbit Alta can't count how much calories i've burned unless i tell it that i did 20 min of cycling (for exepmle) and who knows how accurate its estimation of the calories burned in thoes 20 min will be. What do you think is there a better alternative for me or the Alta is the way to go despite thoes 2 issues am going to face using it.launch

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April 4, 2016

The device lacks a stopwatch or ability to start/stop workouts directly on the wrist, requiring users to pull out their phone for many functions, leading one reviewer to call it more of a 'glorified step counter.'

@technogi5222

So it does not give you the ability to start or stop a workout or have a stop watch? I am trying to figure out how you would use this as a fitness tracker. I think it is more of a glorified step counter.launch

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March 27, 2017

@edwinlo2004

i used this fibit alta for a week now and i decided to return it . As a fitness tracker this band does not have much functions. All of the function need to be set in the phone. I prefer a tracker that i could control some function ( like a timer, stop watch or heart rate tracker) on my wrist while i am working out instead of pull out my phone for some of the function.launch

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June 30, 2016

One user's strap began falling apart around six months of use, and another reported the screen looking dim and washed out instead of bright and blue as shown in reviews.

@juliecarrion2082

Hi Vince my Fitbit Alta HR works but it is so dim that it looks white not bright and blue like shown on your video. How can I fix this or what could be the problem? Any information would be appreciated. Thank you Julie.launch

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July 27, 2022

@kea8349

About 6 months in and my strap is already falling apart. The rubber band is coming off the but that clips on to the actual tracker. Anyone else?launch

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October 5, 2016

A commenter missed the physical button found on the Charge 2 HR and questioned why Fitbit hadn't made the Alta more water resistant, viewing these as design shortcomings.

@steveraycraft3455

It looks good, but I like the physical button the Charge 2 HR offers. Also, I wonder why they haven't jumped on making the devices more water resistant. Great job with the video! I love the various shots of the runner!launch

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April 27, 2017