How to Set Up a Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Congratulations on your new Fitbit fitness tracker! This guide will walk you through setting up the companion app on your smartphone, to provide full and detailed overview of your stats to make getting, and staying, in shape more fun and rewarding!

It is recommended to fully charge your tracker before setting up the device.

2. Introduction

The Fitbit Alta is one of the many fitness trackers available today.

Fitbit Alta.

To begin setup, make sure your Fitbit has been charged.

  1. To charge your Fitbit, plug your USB connector into either a PC or a charger adapter.
  2. Line up the charging port with the pins on the bottom of the tracker. Secure the charger onto the tracker. 
Connecting the charger to the Fitbit.

  1.  
  2. When connected, a battery icon will appear on your tracker.
Fitbit Alta's battery charge progress screen.

3. Enable Bluetooth

  1. Swipe down on your screen (or up, if using a tablet) to access the menu.
  2. Hold down on the Bluetooth icon to bring up Bluetooth options.
Android pull down screen with Bluetooth icon highlighted. Screenshot.
  1. Ensure the Bluetooth switch is set to ON.
Android pull down screen with Bluetooth toggle highlighted. Screenshot.

4. Install Android App

  1. Open Play Store.
Play Store.
  1. Tap on the search bar and search for Fitbit.
Google play search bar. Screenshot.
  1. Tap on Fitbit.
Google Play store with Fitbit in search results. Screenshot.
  1. Tap Install to start downloading the app.
Landing page for Fitbit app with Install button highlighted. Screenshot.
  1. Once installed, tap Open to proceed to the setup.
Installed Fitbit app with Open button highlighted. Screenshot.

5. Joining Fitbit

  1. Launch Fitbit.
Fitbit app icon


  1. Tap Join Fitbit.
Fitbit app screenshot with Join Fitbit highlighted


  1. Scroll through the list and tap the Fitbit device you're using.
List of fitbit chargers with red arrows pointing up and down


  1. Tap on Set Up Your Fitbit.
Fitbit app screenshot with Set up your fitbit device is highlighted

6. Pairing

  1. Your tablet or phone will now try to find your tracker.
  2. Wait for it to connect.
  3. Type the code on your Fitbit into your phone or tablet.
Fitbit app with prompt for code displayed on Fitbit tracker's display. Screenshot.
  1. Your Fitbit is now connected!

7. Setting Up

  1. Tap Let's Go.
  2. Follow the prompts to fill in your personal information such as height, weight, and birthday. For example, swipe left or right to choose your weight.
Weight input screen.
  1. Type in your name, email, and create a password.
  2. Accept the Terms of Service.

8. Enable Bluetooth

  1. Open Settings on your phone or tablet.
Settings icon.
  1. Then tap Bluetooth.
iOS settings with Bluetooth selected.
  1. Make sure Bluetooth is set to On.
Bluetooth settings with Bluetooth switch in ON position.

9. Install iOS App

  1. Open the App Store.
App Store
  1. Tap on Search.
App store with Search selected. Screenshot.
  1. In the search bar, search for Fitbit.
App Store search bar. Screenshot.
  1. Find Fitbit in the search results and tap on GET.
App Store with the word Fitbit in search bar. Get button highlighted in lower-right corner. Screenshot.
  1. Tap on Install to start download.
Install.

10. Enable Bluetooth

  1. Click the Action Center icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Windows 10 screenshot with notification center highlighted


  1. Tap on the All Settings tile after that.
Notfication center with All Settings highlighted


  1. Then go to Devices.
Windows 10 Settings with Devices highlighted


  1. Select Bluetooth from the left-hand column and ensure the Bluetooth switch is in the On position to the right.
Devices settings with Bluetooth selected on left column and Bluetooth toggle highlighted

11. Install Windows App

  1. Open the Windows Store.
Microsoft Store.


  1. Search in the top-right for "Fitbit" and click the Fitbit App.
Microsoft Store with Fitbit in search bar and Fitbit app in search results. Screenshot.


  1. Click Get to download and install the app.
Microsoft Store with Fitbit app landing page and highlight on Get button. Screenshot.

12. Join Fitbit

  1. Launch the Fitbit app.
Fitbit app icon


  1. Click Join Fitbit.
Fitbit app with Join Fitbit highlighted


  1. Pick the tracker you are setting up from the list.
Fitbit app with a list of trackers


  1. Click Setup your [tracker].
Fitbit app with Setup your device highlighted


  1. Click Lets Go.
Fitbit app with Let's go highlighted


  1. Input your birthday and click the arrow to continue.
Fitbit app with birthday showing and arrow highlighted


  1. Input your height and click the arrow to continue.
Fitbit app with hight listed and arrow highlighted


  1. Select your gender and click the arrow to continue.
Fitbit app with geners listed with arrow highlighted


  1. Input your weight and click the arrow to continue.
Fitbit app with weight listed and arrow highlighted


  1. Input your name and choose an e-mail address / password, then click to agree to the Terms of Service, and click the check mark to continue.
Fitbit app with first and last name, e-mail, and password highlight and the agree to terms of service box is highlighted


  1. Click I Agree to agree to the terms and policies.
Fitbit app with I agree highlighted

13. Pairing

  1. Click on the arrow to proceed to pairing your device.
Meet your fitbit introduction screen
  1. Enter the 4 digit code displayed on your tracker.
Tracker found and 4 boxes for pairing

14. Enable Bluetooth

  1. Click the System Preferences icon.
System Preferences.
  1. Click the Bluetooth icon.
System Preferences window with Bluetooth selected. Screenshot.
  1. Bluetooth properties will open.
  2. Ensure that Bluetooth status reads Bluetooth: On. If it is off, click Turn Bluetooth On to enable it.
Bluetooth screen with list of nearby bluetooth devices. Highlight on the Bluetooth radio status. Screenshot.
  1. Your computer will automatically begin searching for Bluetooth devices that may be in range.

15. Install macOS App

Download the installer from the Fitbit website.

  1. Visit this page on your Mac: http://www.fitbit.com/setup
  2. Scroll down, and click the button labeled Download for Mac.
Download for mac highlighted
  1.  
  2. Open your Downloads, and double-click the Install Fitbit Connect.pkg file.
Install fitbit connect icon

Carefully follow the on-screen prompts to install Fitbit Connect.

  1. Click on Continue.
Installer introduction with continue button highlighted
  1. Read the license agreement and click Continue.
Installer lincense with continue buttonhighlighted
  1. Click Agree to accept the licence.
Installer lincense conformation with agree button highlighted
  1. Click on Install to continue.
Installer with space requirements and install button is highlighted
  1. Enter your computer's administrative username and password and click Install Software.
Installer with username and password highlighted and then install software button is highlighted
  1. After software is done installing click Close to exit the installer.
Installer finished with close button highlighted

16. Join Fitbit

  1. Open the Fitbit Connect app.
Fitbit Connect icon


  1. To setup a new account click on New to Fitbit.
Fitbit app with New to Fitbit highlighted


  1. Type in your e-mail address and preferred password, click to agree to Terms of Service, and then click on Sign Up.
Fitbit Sign up page with e-mail and password highlighted and then sign up is highlighted


  1. Enter in your personal information and then click Sign Up.
Tell us about yourself page with Full Name, Gender, Birthday, height, and weight with Sign Up highlighted

17. Pairing

  1. Click the Fitbit tracker that you're setting up.
Fitbit Connect software with list of Fitbit trackers. Screenshot.


  1. Click Next start the pairing process.
  2. Enter the code that appears on your Fitbit's display.
Fitbit Connect software prompting for code found on tracker's display. Screenshot.


  1. Accept the EULA and continue through the steps as the app walks you through the rest of setup.