Fitbit Black Screen & Won’t Turn On? Fix It In Minutes

Is your Fitbit screen dark and unresponsive, leaving you disconnected from your fitness goals? Don’t worry, this is a common issue with a simple solution for most people. Despite having full charge, the screen often turns black and it does not turn on despite repeated attempts. You might think that the watch has died. But, your Fitbit is collecting data even after its pitch-black screen.

A Fitbit with a black screen will not help you much. You need a fully functional Fitbit watch with a working screen. This article will help you with a few ideas to turn the screen from its pitch-black state to its normal state!

What Causes Fitbit Black Screen?

There are several reasons why your Fitbit screen is black:

• Low Battery: This is the most common culprit. Like any electronic device, a Fitbit with a depleted battery won’t be able to power its display.
• Software Glitch: Occasionally, a temporary software issue can cause the screen to malfunction. A restart can often clear this up.
• Water Lock Mode: Some Fitbit models have a water lock mode to prevent accidental touches while swimming. If accidentally activated, it might appear like the screen is off.
• Physical Damage: A cracked screen or internal damage from a drop or impact can cause display issues.
• Outdated Firmware: In rare cases, outdated firmware might cause display problems.

Fix “Fitbit Screen Black And Won’t Turn On”?

1. Charge it Full

If your Fitbit screen black, the first thing that you can try is to charge the watch to its full potential. Often a Fitbit screen turns pitch black in case the battery is down. While charging, always try to use a proper charging cable without any damage.

• Always try to charge the watch from a wall plug point. If you tend to charge your Fitbit from your computer or a power bank, try charging it from a wall connection. It can help a lot.
• Once connected to power, your Fitbit should display a charging icon on the screen.
• If the screen remains black, look for a small LED light on the Fitbit itself that might indicate charging (color and behavior may vary depending on the model).
• After your Fitbit has charged for some time, you can try restarting it (usually holding the button for a few seconds).

2. Clean Your Fitbit

Fitbit screen may turn pitch black if it has accumulated dust and dirt. Hence, try cleaning it if you are experiencing a black screen more often! Give your watch a thorough cleaning with a dedicated smartwatch or gadget cleaning solution and a soft and clean microfiber cloth.

First, take some cleaning solution on the cloth and gently wipe the changing pin area using this cloth. Next, properly clean the screen with the microfiber cloth. At last, using a microfiber cloth or a tip, clean the smartwatch band.

3. Restart Your Fitbit (For Software Glitches)

If charging and cleaning your Fitbit didn’t solve the black screen issue, the next step is to try a restart. A temporary software glitch could be the reason for why is your Fitbit screen black, and a Restart can often clear it up.

Here’s how to restart your Fitbit, This works for most Fitbit models:

1. Connect your Fitbit to the charging cable (even if the screen is black).
2. Locate the button on your Fitbit (it might be on the side or back).
3. Press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds. You may feel a slight vibration during this time.
4. Release the button.
5. Wait a few seconds. The Fitbit logo or smiley face icon may appear on the screen, indicating a successful restart.

For specific models with different button configurations, consult the Fitbit website for your model’s specific restart instructions.

After Restarting:

• If the screen turns on after the restart, great! You’re good to go.
• If the screen remains black, proceed to the next troubleshooting step in your article.

For Specific Models:

If you have a smartwatch belonging to the sense series, Versa series or Blaze series, press and hold the power button for ten seconds or until the Fitbit logo appears on the screen and then release.

If you are using a Fitbit model from the Charge, Ace, Inspire, or Alta Series, attach the watch to its charger. Next, press the power button a few times (for Luxe and Charge five models) or long-press the power button (for other models) till the smiley logo appears on the watch screen. Now, wait till the watch restarts.

If you are using Fitbit 2 or Fitbit 3, press the [power button after connecting the watch with its charger. Now, remove the watch from the charger and wait for a few seconds. After that, again plug in the watch to its charger and wait till the smiley logo appears on the screen to restart it.

4. Check if the Fitbit watch is in “water lock mode.”

Fitbit watched some with a specialized “Water Lock Mode” to protect it from accidental touches and swipes during swimming or other activities. If the watch has this mode turned on, Fitbit won’t turn on and the screen may sometimes turn black.

Check the Fitbit screen. It may display the water lock icon once or twice, even if black.

If you find the water lock mode is turned on, it is better to turn that off to ensure the watch comes back to its regular mode. Here is how to turn off the water lock mode-

• If you have a Fitbit belonging to either the Luxe or the Inspire collection, double tap the screen to turn the water lock mode off.
• If you have a Versa 3+ Fitbit or any model from the Sense series, press the power button to turn off the water lock mode.

Try doing this a few times to check if the screen returns to its normal state. Otherwise, try the next methods.

Also Read: Is Fitbit Waterproof?

5. Remove or Change the Case or Screen Protector.

Is it the watch or the screen protector? Many Fitbit users prefer a watch case or screen protector to prevent any unnecessary damage to the watch. A screen protector or case can block the Fitbit light sensor. If the sensor is blocked, the screen will automatically turn into a dimmed version or the Fitbit screen is black.

Hence, try changing the protector case or screen protection cover once. This might solve the issue.

6. Check the Display Brightness Settings

If your Fitbit display not working, then check the display brightness settings? The screen may often appear pitch black if the brightness level is too low! You may not even see anything on the screen during daylight or outdoors if the brightness level is set at the minimum level!

Try going indoors or in an area where you can find enough light to see the screen. If you find something appearing on the black screen, the screen brightness needs some improvement. Here is how to do this-

• First, open the “Settings App” from the
• Next, select “Screen Brightness.”
• From here, adjust the brightness level. Adjust it to the maximum level!
• Now, check the sleep mode status. You can find it in this direction: Settings >Quiet Modes>Sleep Mode. If the sleep mode is turned on, turn it off! The sleep mode can also turn the screen black sometimes!

Also Read: How Does Fitbit Track Your Sleep?

7. Change the Clock Face to a Standard Face

One of the easiest ways to solve the Fitbit screen problem is to change the Fitbit clock face. If you use the Fitbit app, you can change the clock face through this app.

• First, connect the watch to your computer or smartphone using Bluetooth and open the Fitbit or Fitbit Connect app.
• Next, click on the “Today Tab.”
• Open “Your Profile picture or icon” to select your Fitbit watch model.
• Next, tap on “Gallery” to change the clock face. Click “Clocks,” and you will see multiple watch faces of clocks and digital clocks appearing on your smartphone or computer screen. Select anyone you desire.
• Next, click on “Install” to download it.
• Finally, click “Sync now” to sync this new watch face. Wait for a few seconds, and you will see that your watch has the same face you chose a few seconds ago.

8. Reset Fitbit

If nothing happens even after trying out all the previously mentioned hacks, the last resort is to reset your Fitbit watch.

Resetting will transform the watch into its factory mode, and you can start afresh with the watch. But resetting will also delete all the stored data in the device. Hence, back up the stored data on the Fitbit app before resetting.

Here is the resting guidance for you for different Fitbit models-

1. If you are using a Fitbit Iconic range smartwatch, here is the resetting procedure-

• First, remove the paring
• Next, disconnect the Bluetooth connectivity and delete the device from your Bluetooth history

2. After that, press and hold the buttons of your Fitbit watch till the smiley Fitbit logo appears and release the bottom right button.

• Your watch will shut down with vibration, and you need to release the other buttons.
• The watch will turn on after a few minutes with the message “fitbit.com/setup.”Now. Set up the watch and you are ready to go.

3. If you are using a Fitbit Versa series tracker, follow these steps to reset the tracker-

• Long press the watch button for hardware reboots.
• Wait till the Fitbit logo appears on the screen and release the bottom right button only.

4. Keep holding and pressing the other buttons till you feel a vibration.

• Wait till the watch turns on and complete the setup procedure.

9. Does The Watch Display Error Code 001?

This problem can happen if you use a Fitbit charge series device. Your black screen often blinks and displays the numeric code “001”. In such cases, you can try restarting the tracker. But, if the starting method does not work, you may need to update the Fitbit app as updating the app solves this error code.

If that also does not work out, you can shut down the watch by using these steps-

• First, connect the watch to your charging cable and check if the watch is charging.
• Next, press the side button for fifteen seconds and release it.
• Now, disconnect the watch from the If a smiley face appears, repeat the previous steps. If not, you can proceed.
• After a few seconds, reconnect the watch to the charging cable.
• Wait till the smiley logo appears on the screen

10. Contact Fitbit Support

If nothing works out, it is best to connect with the Fitbit support team. If the watch is within the warranty period, connecting with Fitbit support can even help you to get a replacement for free. Even if you do not have a warranty, always reach out to the Fitbit help support team. You will get the best solution from the Fitbit technical team to ensure this issue doesn’t happen again.

Conclusion

A Fitbit watch with a black screen is problematic, and it renders the watch a non-functional gadget. But, fortunately, some methods can help you to solve this issue, including manual resetting or restating the tracker. In case nothing works, you can get in touch with the Fitbit Support team for the best possible solution to solve the issue of the black screen on your Fitbit tracker.

FAQs: Fitbit Display Won’t Turn On

Why is my Fitbit screen isn’t working after swimming?

Your Fitbit might be in water lock mode. Disable water lock mode by swiping up and tapping the water droplet icon (refer to manual for exact location).

My Fitbit is still black after restarting. Any other options?

Yes, check if water lock mode is on or update firmware (if available). See guide for details.

My Fitbit is old, could outdated software cause a black screen?

In rare cases, yes. Check for firmware updates in the Fitbit app (if available for your model).

Why can’t I see my Fitbit screen in the sunlight?

Most Fitbits have screens with adjustable brightness. Check the Fitbit app or your device settings to ensure it’s not set to dim.

Why my Fitbit Luxe screen isn’t working?

The troubleshooting steps are similar to other models. Charge it, then restart it following Fitbit’s instructions for the Luxe model.

Why is my My Fitbit Versa 2 won’t turn on?

Fitbit Versa 2 troubleshooting follows the same approach: Charge it for at least 30 minutes, then attempt a restart using the specific instructions for Versa 2 on Fitbit’s website.