Why is my Fitbit battery draining so fast?

You wake up feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the world, or at least your daily step goal. As you reach over to grab you’re fully charged Fitbit, a wave of horror washes over you. The battery icon stares back at you, tauntingly flashing an empty red bar. "No, Fitbit, please not today!" you exclaim, shaking your fist at the device on your wrist. With a sigh of defeat, you begrudgingly accept that your beloved fitness tracker has decided to go rogue on you at the worst time possible. The charging cable has been plugged in overnight, just as you always do, but today, it seems to have developed a taste for battery consumption that would put a Tesla to shame! Throughout the day, you find yourself constantly reaching for your phantom Fitbit, checking your empty wrist out of habit, every time, you're met with disappointment. Who needs validation and achievement badges anyway? You'll just have to rely on good old-fashioned self-awareness and self-motivation for the day. As the day progresses though, you realize that your Fitbit's battery woes have become a catalyst for further chaos in your life. Meetings run late, coffee spills on your freshly washed work shirt, and your lunch mysteriously disappears from the office fridge. It's almost as if the universe has conspired to make your day a comedy of errors, fuelled by the absence of your trusty Fitness Watch.

If you are an avid Fitbit user, you probably love to track your daily activities and monitor your health. If you have come to find yourself disappointed with your device's battery life all of a sudden, you’re not alone in this. Right from the first Fitbit screen device on the Fitbit Ionic, and right up to the new Fitbit Sense 2 models, this issue still persists for many users. It can be incredibly frustrating when your favourite fitness device starts to run out of juice faster than you have come to expect. If you've noticed that your Fitbit battery isn't lasting as long as usual, don't worry - there could be some simple solutions that could help get it back up and running. In this post, we are going to explore why your Fitbit battery might start draining quickly, what to expect in terms of battery life with various versions of Fitbits and how to avoid your battery draining quicker than it should. For the early models such as the Fitbit Flex, Fitbit Charge HR, Alta right up to the Versa 4 and Charge 5 models of today, our hope is with the help of this guide your device will last longer than ever before. 

Why is my Fitbit battery draining so fast? Could it be related to the Charging Cable? 

Are you tired of having to constantly charge up your Fitbit device as it doesn’t seem to hold its battery charge as well as it once did? We've all been there - you're out on your morning walk, happily tracking your steps and heart rate with your trusty Fitbit, when suddenly it dies. You plug it in to charge and realize that the battery only lasted half as long as it usually does. What could be causing this sudden decrease in battery life? Many Fitbit users have found that their battery life has started to decrease more quickly than expected — but why is this happening? The reality is, that there are a few reasons why your Fitbit battery could be draining faster than usual. The explanation is, that if you keep your device near an electronic device like a laptop or phone charger, the electromagnetic field (EMF) can affect your Fitbit’s battery life. Additionally, if you’re using certain features more often than usual or tracking intense workouts without taking breaks in between, it can contribute to quicker drain times as well. Another explanation for your sudden reduction in battery life is an outdated operating system. Just like smartphones and other devices that rely on software to function properly, your Fitbit requires updates to continue working optimally. If you haven't updated yours recently, then this may cause it to not run at its peak performance level and thus drain the battery faster than usual. To fix this issue, make sure you go into the Fitbit app or website for your device and check for any available updates. Another culprit that may also be draining your Fitbit's battery faster than expected could be power-zapping third-party apps that are installed on your device. Many users install games or other utilities on their Fitness watches, which is great but this can also take up a lot of power in the long run. So if you are looking to save your Fitbit's battery life, try uninstalling any nonessential apps that you don't use regularly and reap the rewards in your extra hours of battery life. From keeping your device away from EMF sources to limiting the usage of power-heavy third-party app features, there are plenty of measures that you can take to extend the life of your Fitbit’s battery. With a bit of proactive effort, you should be able to ensure that you get the most out of your Fitbit device and keep your battery churning out the power just as it once did! 

What battery life should I expect from different models of Fitbit Devices? Each Fitbit moderator has a different answer. 

So, we’ve looked at some ideas of what could possibly be causing a recent slowdown in your device, but before we get started on some tips on how to stop this from happening going forward, it may be a good idea that we look into how long should you expect your Fitbit device's battery life to last based on the model you own? Premium user or not, this will help you set your expectations realistically so you will know when you need to take action. Generally speaking, most Fitbit models give users about seven days of continuous use before needing a charge; however, this number may vary depending on which version you have or which community moderator you are hearing from in the Fitbit community forum. So, let's have a quick look at the most popular versions of Fitbit currently on the market today and what our expectations should be for each in terms of battery life. 

Fitbit Charge 4 Battery life

The Fitbit Charge 4 is the fourth instalment in the ever-popular Charge series and is currently at the time of writing Fitbit’s most worn fitness tracker in the UK, but how long does its battery last? According to Fitbit, the Charge 4 boasts up to four days of battery life when used in “smartwatch mode” with 24/7 heart rate monitoring enabled. When used in “activity tracking only” mode, the device is still able to last up to five days on a single charge.

This means that if you were just to use the device for basic step tracking, sleep tracking, and notification-type functions, you should get at least five days of battery life before having to recharge your device. However, if you are using its smartwatch-type features such as the GPS or constant heart rate monitoring, then the battery will drain more rapidly. In general, Fitbit support will recommend that users charge their devices every few days to ensure optimal performance and accurate tracking data. Fitbit also points out that, limiting notifications from your connected phone can help conserve battery life, which will lead to the Charge 4 hitting the battery times specified. Ultimately, how long you get out of one full charge depends on how much you use your device and what features you are using regularly. With proper use and care, the Fitbit Charge 4 can provide up to four days of battery life in smartwatch mode or five days in activity-tracking-only mode before needing to be recharged. 

Fitbit Versa 2 battery life 

When we are speaking about battery longevity in a Fitness Watch, for its respective age the Fitbit Versa 2 promises to deliver. With a battery life of up to 5 days, you won’t have to worry about charging your device every night. However, as we spoke about with the Fitbit Charge 4 there are a few factors that can have a large impact on the actual battery life of your watch.

Firstly, your personal usage habits and which functions you are using every day will determine how long your battery lasts on average throughout the week. If you use the more advanced features offered by the lightweight smartwatch such as GPS tracking or music streaming regularly, this will reduce the amount of time before you need to recharge your watch. Additionally, as we mentioned when speaking about the Charge 4 if you receive lots of notifications from apps such as email and social media, this can also affect the overall battery life of your smartwatch. If you are looking to maximize your Fitbit Versa 2 smartwatch in terms of battery life, be sure to adjust the settings of your watch and turn off features that you are not using regularly. Overall, with proper care and maintenance of your device, you should expect an incredible 5 days of battery life from your Fitbit Versa 2. With its long-lasting battery and advanced features, this device is great for those who want to track their fitness goals without having to constantly worry about recharging their device. 

Fitbit Versa 3 battery life 

When it comes to Fitbit's battery life, the Fitbit Versa 3 device also delivers really well for a smartwatch. With a strong and reliable battery that can last up to 6 days without needing to be recharged, you'll be able to keep tracking your favourite workout and activities without that constant worry of running out of juice before you do. Of course, as with any device, this estimate will vary depending on how much you use your Versa 3 device and what features you regularly take advantage of, if you are using your GPS mode to track running or playing music regularly this will drain the battery more rapidly than the more basic Fitness tracker type functions such as checking notifications or keeping track of your daily step total. Also, if you will be using your Fitbit Versa 3 device to track sleep (read more on Fitbit devices and sleep tracking in this article), you might then need to charge it up every 4-5 days instead of every 6. This is due to the fact that the sleep tracking feature uses up slightly more energy when it comes to battery life. With a variety of features available and an impressive battery life, it's easy to see why the Versa 3 is still one of the most popular smartwatches on the market here in the UK. If you're looking for a reliable lightweight smartwatch that doesn't require frequent charging, then the Versa 3 may just be the perfect choice for you. Switching up the look of the Versa 3 is also extremely simple with an amazing selection of replacement bands on offer here at Fitstraps. 

Fitbit Inspire 3 battery life 

If you own or are considering buying a Fitbit Inspire 3 device, as with any Fitness Watch purchase, battery life is one of the most important factors to consider. After all, your Fitness Watch could boast the fanciest features out there, but if it won't hold its charge then it's not worth investing in. The good news is that Fitbit devices generally perform well in terms of battery life; (you can read more on this in our UK Fitness Watch user habits article here) the Inspire 3 is no exception. Fitbit officially states that you can expect up to 5 days of use on a singular charge of the device. Bear in mind however that this number can vary greatly depending on your exact type usage and activity levels. If you're a more active user who puts their device through its paces, you may find that your battery life is much shorter than the 5-day mark. On the other hand, those who only use it for occasional tracking and monitoring can potentially get even better usage times. Overall though, given its entry-level price point, the Fitbit Inspire 3 should provide you with plenty of battery life to keep up with your fitness goals without having to worry about constantly plugging it in. 

How to prevent your Fitbit device's battery life from decreasing? Could the Fitbit app hold the key? 

If you’ve started to notice that your Fitbit device's battery life isn't what it used to be, don't worry, before you rush to your local retailer to purchase a brand-new watch - there are several steps you can take to ensure its longevity and have it firing on all cylinders all over again. First things first, keep an eye on the number of third-party apps you have installed onto your watch, as having too many of these can cause your watch battery to drain faster than it would otherwise. To ensure you are not overloading your Fitbit watch with too many apps, have a quick look through and remove any that you no longer use regularly. You will soon know if you need the app again and if you do, just reinstall it again. Another little trick to improve battery life is to reduce the frequency at which notifications appear on your device's display. Many mobile device users in particular report that their devices sometimes become sluggish or unresponsive when they receive too many notifications at one time. To avoid this issue happening to you, jump into the settings on your device or on the Fitbit App and adjust the frequency with which notifications come through to your watch. Another way to reduce unnecessary battery drainage is to double-check that your Fitbit watch is not constantly searching for Bluetooth signals or Wi-Fi networks. If your Fitbit device is constantly looking for connections this will drain your battery faster, so turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you do not need them. Finally, always make certain that you are charging up your device correctly; try not to leave your watch plugged in overnight or for excessive periods of time throughout the day as this could damage its battery life. 

If you’ve worked through the above with no success, here are 7 more quick tips to help you make sure your Fitbit's battery life doesn’t start draining faster than it should: 

1. Always make sure that the firmware on your Fitbit device is fully up-to-date. This will help ensure that all the latest bug fixes and security updates have been installed onto your device.
2. Close apps when you're done using them. This will help reduce the amount of processing power being used, which in turn will help conserve battery life.
3. Avoid extreme temperatures. Keeping your Fitbit away from extremely hot and cold temperatures can help prevent it from draining its battery too quickly.
4. Use the Low Power Mode setting on your device if available - this will help extend the life of your device’s battery by reducing power consumption to a minimum level.
5. Make sure you’re only charging your Fitbit when necessary; overcharging can cause heat buildup that can damage your battery and reduce its lifespan significantly.
6. Check the Fitbit app regularly for any updates or notifications that might affect battery life.

1. Wherever possible avoid exposing your device to Extreme heat. 

Why is my Fitbit device not charging? 

If you own a Fitbit device and it isn't charging up correctly, you're most likely feeling frustrated by this as you just want to get back to tracking your steps. Unfortunately, this is an issue that has been commonly experienced by many Fitbit users out there. The cause of your Fitbit not charging could be due to various reasons - from an incompatible charging cable to a faulty charging cable or connector. In order for us to identify the correct cause of the problem, it's important to do a systematic troubleshooting process and make sure you are doing everything correctly, to begin with. First of all, ensure that you are using the correct charger cable for your device model. Not all Fitbit chargers are compatible with all models - some only work with certain models, luckily at Fitstraps we take the hassle out of this as we have a charging cable for every model on the market today. If you are using the correct charging cable for your particular model but still have trouble getting it to charge properly, try a different charging cable to see if it makes a difference, as dust and pieces of micro dirt getting caught in the charger charging port can affect how well they perform. If that is unsuccessful, try resetting your Fitbit device. To do this, press the button on the back of the device down for a full 10 seconds and then release. 

The next morning you wake up, ready to face the day and conquer your Fitbit goals. As you reach over to strap on your trusty fitness tracker, you notice something amazingly brilliant: the battery icon is full, shining brightly like a beacon of hope. You start your new day, fuelled by the sheer excitement of having a seemingly everlasting power source on your wrist. The Fitness tracking possibilities seem endless. Will this newfound energy propel you to break personal fitness records? You dance your way through the streets, the rhythm of the city guiding your footsteps. Strangers join your impromptu dance party, their Fitbit devices pulsating in sync with yours, forming a collective bond of energy and enthusiasm. 

Having a Fitbit device should not be a cause of worry or frustration if the battery starts to drain more quickly. There are many reasons why this may start to happen and there are some useful tips that can prevent it from happening. It is important to make sure your device is charged correctly in order for it to last longer and function properly. Following these tips, you should be able to use your Fitbit device for a long time without having to worry about its battery running out too quickly. Thanks for reading! We hope this article has been helpful in understanding why your Fitbit's battery life may be draining faster and how you can prevent it from happening.