Use GPS on your Fitbit device or Pixel Watch

Capture GPS data with certain Fitbit devices or Pixel Watches. If your device doesn’t have built in GPS, record GPS data with the Google Health app.

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Device Name	GPS Type
Fitbit Charge 4 Fitbit Charge 5 Fitbit Charge 6	Dynamic GPS* Built-in GPS Phone (connected) GPS**
Fitbit Sense 2 Fitbit Versa 4	Dynamic GPS*
Fitbit Sense Fitbit Versa 3 Google Pixel Watch series	Built-in GPS
Fitbit Blaze Fitbit Charge 2 Fitbit Charge 3 Fitbit Inspire HR Fitbit Inspire 2 Fitbit Inspire 3 Fitbit Luxe Fitbit Versa Fitbit Versa 2 Fitbit Versa LE Google Fitbit Air	Phone (connected) GPS**

*If your phone is nearby, these devices use the GPS sensors on your phone to capture GPS data instead of the built-in GPS sensors on your device. This option preserves battery life on your device. For more information about your device’s battery life, go to Extend your Fitbit device’s battery life.

**Devices with phone (connected) GPS use the GPS sensors on your phone to capture GPS data. Keep your phone near your device during your workout.

Built-in GPS

Best practices

Charge your device to at least 80%, as built-in GPS can cause the battery to drain more quickly.
Go outside, then connect to GPS and start your exercise.
- To make sure the GPS connection is stable, you can wait up to 30 seconds after it shows "Connected" on your device's screen to tap Play 👁 Image
  and begin moving.
For Fitbit devices or Pixel Watches, sync your device regularly with the Google Health app (at least once every 24 hours) to reduce the time it takes for the built-in GPS sensors to connect to GPS satellites.
- Make sure the location permission for the Google Health app on your phone is always allowed.
- For iOS instructions, go to support.apple.com.
- Learn how to manage location permissions for apps.
Check that GPS is turned on for the exercise. Note that only exercises where you cover physical distance use GPS. For more information, go to Start an exercise with GPS on your Fitbit device or Pixel Watch.

Troubleshooting tips

If your device can’t connect to GPS satellites, or if gaps appear in the map of your route, try these tips:

Follow the recommendations for wearing your device for exercise. For more information, go to How do I wear my Fitbit device?
Try loosening the band one notch.
Make sure your device doesn't touch your wrist bone.
Wait until GPS is connected to start the exercise.
- If you’re using GPS for the first time in an area, connecting to GPS satellites might take several minutes.
- Heavily wooded areas and tall buildings can increase the time it takes to connect to GPS satellites.
If GPS didn’t connect the first time, wait 5 minutes before you start the exercise again.
For Charge 4, Charge 5, and Charge 6:
- If your tracker doesn’t connect to GPS satellites, end the exercise, change the GPS mode to Phone GPS, and start the exercise again.
- To learn how to change the GPS mode, go to Manage the GPS settings on your Fitbit device or Pixel Watch.
To reduce the time it takes for your device to connect to GPS satellites, hold your arm parallel to your body near your head. Keep it at least 2 inches away from you when you connect to GPS and start an exercise.
👁 Image

Phone (connected) GPS

Requirements

Make sure that your device can sync with the Google Health app. For more information, go to How do Fitbit devices sync their data?

Confirm that the Google Health app can use your phone's GPS sensors:

iPhones

Confirm that the Google Health app can use your location (Allow Location Access is set to Always and Precise Location is turned on). For instructions, go to:
1. Google Health Settings 👁 and then
  Location access 👁 and then
  Manage.
2. support.apple.com.
Confirm that Background App Refresh is turned on for the Google Health app. For instructions, go to support.apple.com.

Android phones

Confirm that the Google Health app can use your location:

Location permission is set to Allow all the time. For instructions, go to Manage location permissions for apps.
Precise Location is turned on.

Check that GPS is turned on for the exercise.
Tip: Only exercises where you cover physical distance use GPS. For more information, go to Start an exercise with GPS on your Fitbit device or Pixel Watch.
Make sure that your phone is within 30 feet of your device.
Tip: Heavily wooded areas and tall buildings can increase the time it takes to connect to GPS satellites.

Troubleshooting steps

Check if GPS connects after each step.

Force quit, and reopen the Google Health app to refresh the connection with your device.
- For instructions, go to:
  - support.apple.com.
  - Find, open & close apps on Android.
On your phone, go to Settings 👁 and then
Bluetooth.
Turn Bluetooth off and back on.
Restart your phone.

Device	Steps
Blaze	On your phone, in the Google Health app, tap Exercise Shortcuts. Tap the exercise you want to track. Make sure Connected GPS is turned on. If GPS doesn't connect, confirm GPS is enabled on your device: On your Blaze, open the Exercise screen. Find the exercise you want to track. Tap Settings 👁 Image . Make sure Use Phone GPS is on. For more information, go to How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device and Google Pixel Watch.
Charge 2	In the Google Health app, tap Exercise Shortcuts. Tap the exercise you want to track. Make sure Connected GPS is turned on. For more information, go to How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device and Google Pixel Watch.
Google Fitbit Air	In the Google Health app, tap Exercise Shortcuts. Tap the exercise you want to track. Make sure Connected GPS is turned on. For more information, go to How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device and Google Pixel Watch.
Charge 3 and Charge 4	On your Fitbit device, open the Exercise app 👁 Image . Swipe to find the exercise you want to track. Swipe up. Make sure GPS is on. Press the button to return to the activity screen.
Charge 5, Charge 6, Inspire 3, and Luxe	Swipe right or left to the Exercise app 👁 Image 👁 and then to find an exercise. Tap to choose an exercise. Swipe up through the exercise settings. Tap GPS to turn it on. Swipe down to return to the Exercise screen.
Google Pixel Watch series	Press the crown on your watch. Swipe up to the Exercise app 👁 Image . Tap the app to open it. Swipe up to Settings 👁 and then GPS. Make sure GPS is on. Tip: You can’t turn GPS on or off for individual exercises. Swipe right to return to the Exercise screen.
Inspire HR and Inspire 2	Open the Settings app 👁 Image . Make sure Phone GPS is on.
Versa, Versa Lite Edition, and Versa 2	Open the Exercise app 👁 Image . Swipe to find the exercise you want to track. Tap Settings 👁 Image . Make sure Connected GPS is on. Press the back button to return to the activity screen.
Sense series, Versa 3, and Versa 4	Open the Exercise app 👁 Image . Swipe to find the exercise you want to track. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the exercise settings. In the "GPS" section, turn GPS on . Swipe down to return to the Exercise screen.

Go outside, then on your device, open the Exercise app 👁 Image
.
Tap an exercise.
- Only activities where you cover physical distance offer GPS tracking.
- Wait a few moments for GPS to connect.
To start the exercise, tap Play 👁 Image
.
- If the GPS signal disconnects, your phone, Fitbit device, or Pixel Watch continues to search for a signal.
- If you previously turned off GPS for an exercise, turn it back on before you start the activity.

Turn GPS on or off for each exercise. For more information, go to How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device and Google Pixel Watch.

Certain Fitbit devices or Pixel Watches have additional GPS settings.

Charge 4

On your tracker, open the Settings app 👁 Image
👁 and then
GPS Settings 👁 and then
setting you want to update.

Important: GLONASS and Low Power Mode are for Built-in GPS only.

Setting	How It Works
GPS Mode	Dynamic: Charge 4 sets the GPS type at the start of the workout. If you take your phone with you, Charge 4 uses your phone’s GPS sensors to map your route. If your phone is nearby but not moving when you start the exercise, Charge 4 uses built-in GPS. Built-in GPS: Charge 4 uses built-in GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can reduce battery life on your tracker. Phone GPS: Charge 4 uses your phone’s GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can help preserve battery life on your Fitbit device or Pixel Watch. If the GPS signal is lost during the exercise, Charge 4 doesn't switch to a different GPS type.
GLONASS	For exercises with built-in GPS, this setting can shorten the time it takes for Charge 4 to find a GPS signal and enhance GPS performance. Turning on this option can reduce battery life on your tracker.
Low Power Mode	For exercises with built-in GPS that last more than an hour, this setting can preserve battery life on Charge 4. To enhance built-in GPS performance, turn off the Low Power Mode option. Turning off this option can reduce battery life on your tracker.

Setting

How It Works

GPS Mode

Dynamic: Charge 4 sets the GPS type at the start of the workout. If you take your phone with you, Charge 4 uses your phone’s GPS sensors to map your route. If your phone is nearby but not moving when you start the exercise, Charge 4 uses built-in GPS.
Built-in GPS: Charge 4 uses built-in GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can reduce battery life on your tracker.
Phone GPS: Charge 4 uses your phone’s GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can help preserve battery life on your Fitbit device or Pixel Watch.

If the GPS signal is lost during the exercise, Charge 4 doesn't switch to a different GPS type.

GLONASS

For exercises with built-in GPS, this setting can shorten the time it takes for Charge 4 to find a GPS signal and enhance GPS performance.

Turning on this option can reduce battery life on your tracker.

Low Power Mode

For exercises with built-in GPS that last more than an hour, this setting can preserve battery life on Charge 4. To enhance built-in GPS performance, turn off the Low Power Mode option.

Turning off this option can reduce battery life on your tracker.

Charge 5 and Charge 6

Swipe down from the clock screen.
Tap the Settings app 👁 Image
👁 and then
GPS 👁 and then
GPS.

Setting	How It Works
GPS Mode	Dynamic: Your tracker sets the GPS type at the start of the workout. If you take your phone with you, your tracker uses your phone’s GPS sensors to map your route. If your phone is nearby but not moving when you start the exercise, your tracker uses built-in GPS. Built-in GPS: Your tracker uses built-in GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can reduce battery life on your tracker. Phone GPS: Your tracker uses your phone’s GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can help preserve battery life on your Fitbit device or Pixel Watch. If the GPS signal is lost during the exercise, your tracker doesn't switch to a different GPS type.

Setting

How It Works

GPS Mode

Dynamic: Your tracker sets the GPS type at the start of the workout. If you take your phone with you, your tracker uses your phone’s GPS sensors to map your route. If your phone is nearby but not moving when you start the exercise, your tracker uses built-in GPS.
Built-in GPS: Your tracker uses built-in GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can reduce battery life on your tracker.
Phone GPS: Your tracker uses your phone’s GPS sensors to track your route, pace, distance, and other stats. This option can help preserve battery life on your Fitbit device or Pixel Watch.

If the GPS signal is lost during the exercise, your tracker doesn't switch to a different GPS type.

After you end your workout:

Open the Google Health app 👁 Image
.
To check a workout intensity map that shows your route, distance, heart-rate zones, and pace, tap Exercise days.
To check the detailed stats about your workout, tap the map.

If the GPS signal is lost during the exercise, a map might not appear in the Google Health app.

If your Fitbit device or Pixel Watch doesn't have GPS, use the Google Health app on your phone to capture your route, distance, pace, and more.

Confirm that the Google Health app can use your phone's GPS sensors:
- Confirm that the Google Health app can use your location
  - Android: Allow Location Access is set to All the Time. For instructions, refer to Choose which apps use your Android phone’s location.
  - iPhone: Allow Location Access is set to Always. For instructions, refer to support.apple.com.
- Confirm that Background App Refresh is turned on for the Google Health app.
  - Android: Open the Settings app on your phone. For instructions, go to Turn on background data.
  - iPhone: For instructions, go to support.apple.com.
Open the Google Health app 👁 Image
.
On the Today tab 👁 Image
, tap Add 👁 Image
👁 and then
Start Exercise.
Choose an activity such as run, walk, hike, or bike.
To hear cues during your activity, tap Cues.
Set the type, frequency, and volume.
Tap Start.
During the activity, swipe left to show the GPS map.
When you're done, tap Pause
Tap and hold Finish.
Review your workout summary.

For more information, go to How accurate are Fitbit devices?

For more information, go to How do I export my Fitbit data?

The Google Health Coach is an optional feature available to select users in certain jurisdictions that uses your health and wellness data, including information from your paired Fitbit and Google devices, your account profile, and third-party apps to provide a personalized experience.

If you choose to use the Google Health Coach and you have granted the Google Health app permission to access your device’s location, the coach can use your location to provide personalized, proactive guidance and insights such as tailored workout suggestions. For the Google Health Coach to use your location information, you must have both the Google Health Coach feature enabled and your phone's app-level location permissions turned on.

Turning on the Google Health Coach is entirely optional. If you want to use the Google Health app's GPS features to map your workouts, but you do not want the Google Health Coach to use your location, you can manage your consent for the Google Health Coach feature in your app settings.

For more information, go to How does coach use my location.

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URL: https://support.google.com/googlehealth/answer/14225688