Fitbit Sense GPS Not Working? – (Here’s How to Fix!)

Encountering a Fitbit Sense GPS not working error can be frustrating, especially when you rely on the device for your outdoor activities.

However, resolving this issue is easier than you think, and it won’t take you more than 20 minutes to get it done. We’ll provide the most effective solutions to get your Fitbit’s GPS back on track.

Here’s how!

To ensure that your Fitbit Sense GPS is working, you want to verify that your tracker is charged up, as turning it on consumes a lot of power.

You also want to look at your device’s GPS settings and permissions, as these can affect how your data is saved and give you the impression that it’s not working.

Before diving into the solutions, let’s explore why the GPS on your Fitbit Sense isn’t working. 

Top Reasons Why GPS Not Working on Fitbit Sense

There are several factors that can cause this issue with your Fitbit. Usually, this happens because of a software glitch, hardware issue, or operational limitations.

You need to figure out the exact cause so you can apply the best solution.

Here are the top causes of why you’re experiencing this issue:

• Poor GPS signal strength due to obstructions
• Your devices are using incorrect GPS settings
• Fitbit Sense and the app don’t have the right GPS permissions
• Your tracker and the app are not in sync with each other
• Temporary software bugs and glitches causing GPS to stop working

If you are having problems with the GPS on your Fitbit Sense, there’s a good chance it’s because of one of the above reasons.

Now, let’s proceed to the troubleshooting steps.  

Complete Guide on Fixing Fitbit Sense GPS Not Working

If your Fitbit Sense GPS is not working properly, you can reboot your watch and phone simultaneously. Wait a few minutes, then turn them back on, which will flush out any software bugs and issues.

If you’re not getting a signal, go outdoors to an open area. Your device may need a clear sky view to acquire satellite signals. 

Another thing to keep in mind – don’t start a workout if your Fitbit has less than 80% battery.   

Here are a few more things you can do if you still have problems with your Fitbit Sense GPS. 

Solution #1: Make Sure to Enable GPS on Your Fitbit Sense

If the GPS of your Fitbit Sense is not working, you may need to look closely again.

Your Fitbit’s GPS activates automatically whenever you choose an exercise.

There are instances when it has not yet been switched on, and you continue your exercise and find out it was not recorded properly.

To ensure that GPS is enabled and saves your location data during your workout, you want to confirm that it’s switched on after verifying when you can start your workout.

Here’s how to make sure the GPS is enabled on your Fitbit Sense:

1. Open your Fitbit’s display.
2. Swipe up and navigate to the Exercise app.
3. Go to the Settings menu of the app.
4. Navigate to GPS.
5. Verify that it’s activated.

Note: You don’t have to do this every time, but it helps to check once in a while to ensure that your Fitbit’s GPS is activated and saves your data.

Solution #2: Turn On Location Services on Your Device

Now that you’re sure your watch’s GPS is enabled, you can switch on location service on your phone.

The GPS module on your watch can be a bit power-hungry, so you can rely on your phone to do most of the location tracking for you.

The GPS on your phone is also more accurate than the one found on your watch. So, if you have that choice, you’ll make that decision and turn on location services for your phone.

Here’s how to activate location services for your device:

iPhone:

1. Go to the Settings app of your phone.
2. Navigate to the Privacy option.
3. Select Location Services.
4. Tap on the switch to toggle it to the On position.

Android:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Security and Location.
3. Toggle the switch to On.
4. Select the Mode option.
5. Choose High Accuracy.

Note: As an additional step, you can locate the Fitbit app from the list and set GPS Access to While Using the App or Always.

Solution #3: Reset the GPS Data 

If you have been using your Fitbit Sense for some time now, you can be sure that it’s saved a lot of your data. To give you a detailed picture of your overall fitness, it just doesn’t save step and exercise data.

It also stores your location data from the GPS. The issue is when your Fitbit has so much of it that it has a hard time using them.

Resetting the GPS data on your tracker helps clear any of the stored data and allows your device to get fresh location information, resolving the error.

Here’s how to reset the GPS data on your Fitbit Sense:

1. Open the Exercise app on your Fitbit Sense.
2. Select an activity that requires it to connect to GPS, like running.
3. Wait for your tracker to acquire a signal.
4. Start the exercise and let it run for 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Stop the exercise.

Tip: There are instances when your GPS data is not reset after an attempt, repeat these steps a couple more times.

Solution #4: Update Your Fitbit to Resolve Software Incompatibilities

If the GPS on your Fitbit Sense suddenly stops working, it’s possible that you’re dealing with a software bug or glitch.

As you use your tracker, some files could get corrupted or go missing, which can cause some of your features to malfunction. As your Fitbit’s firmware becomes outdated, there are a lot of problems that can happen.

To fix this, you will need to check if an update is available for your Fitbit Sense.

Doing this will get your Fitbit in a fresh state with the latest software allowing it to use its modules more effectively.

Here’s how to update your Fitbit’s firmware:

1. Open the Fitbit app on the phone that’s paired with your device.
2. Go to the Today tab, then tap on your Profile.
3. Select your device.
4. Tap on the Update button.
5. Wait for the update process to complete.

Note: You want to ensure that your Fitbit is close to your phone during the update so it does not lose connection and cause more issues.

Solution #5: Sync Your Fitbit Sense with the App on Your Phone

To ensure accuracy and maximize storage capacity, it’s recommended that you sync your Fitbit tracker with the app on your phone.

Doing this links both devices together and lets your watch get location information from your phone.

This will also help maintain a more seamless connection and resolve any issues with GPS functionality on your Fitbit Sense.

Here are the steps to sync your Fitbit to the app:

1. Open the Fitbit app on your phone.
2. Tap on the Today tab on the app.
3. Select your profile picture and your device.
4. Swipe down to force the sync process.

Note: You want to ensure that your Fitbit and phone are connected via Bluetooth.

Solution #6: Check the GPS Permissions for the Fitbit App

Finally, you want to ensure your phone allows location access to the Fitbit app.

The GPS on your Fitbit Sense should work, but it may not be as accurate when paired with the phone. You want it to have all the data to track your activities and workouts accurately.

Here’s how to allow GPS permissions on the Fitbit app:

iPhone:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Go to Location Services.
3. Scroll down and tap on Fitbit.
4. Set it to While Using the App or Always.

Android:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings app.
2. Navigate to the Apps menu.
3. Scroll down to Fitbit and tap on it.
4. Select Permissions.
5. Toggle the switch on Location to On.

Note: You also want to activate the Precise Location setting for a more accurate reading.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you will be able to get your tracker’s GPS to start working again.

It’s not always that you’re going to have this issue with your Fitbit Sense.

However, we recommend contacting Fitbit customer support for assistance if it keeps recurring.

Bottom Line:

After learning about the reasons behind and solutions for your Fitbit Sense GPS not working, you can now take action to restore its functionality. Exercising without GPS information would render your fitness tracker useless, so implement these remedies and resolve the issue quickly.

Read Next: My Fitbit Sense Won’t Sync? – Complete Fix Guide