Buzz
Fitbit's Charge 6 is a sleek, minimalist fitness tracker that works seamlessly with little effort. However, there are ways to enhance its functionality and tailor it to your needs. Here are some helpful tips and tricks for newcomers to the device.
Charge it up and begin the setup (as expected)
As with any gadget, the first step is to charge it, power it on, and follow the prompts (either on-screen or in the quick start guide) to pair it with your phone and ensure your Fitbit account is activated.
New Fitbits come with a six-month premium membership, so set a reminder for May to check if you want to cancel or continue your premium subscription.
Establish your charging routine and setup
The battery life of the Fitbit Charge 6 will typically last through most of the week, meaning by next week, you’ll notice the battery getting low and wonder, where did I leave that charger? Decide now where your charging cable will stay, and when you’ll incorporate charging into your daily routine. The two ideal times and spots for most users are:
Charge your device during your shower (so keep the charging cable in the bathroom; grab a USB adapter that plugs into the wall).
Charge it while working at your computer, especially if you’re at the keyboard for long stretches. (For this, keep the cable on your desk. Grab an adapter if your computer only has USB-C ports.)
Choose a stylish watch face
When you first unbox your Charge 6, it will appear just like every other Charge 6, complete with the default parallel lines font. While this is nice, you have many other choices. Open the Fitbit app, tap the device icon in the upper left (where the battery percentage is displayed), then tap Charge 6. Next, tap on Gallery and pick a new watch face that suits you.
Keep in mind that some watch faces can show a rotating array of metrics. With a tap, you can view your daily step count, tap again for your active minutes, and so on. For certain faces, like Rise Up, these taps will also alter the color of the watch face.
If you want to personalize your Fitbit even more, you can change the band. Consider getting a multi-pack of bands in colors that match your outfit or mood, a fabric band if you prefer something other than silicone, or even a selection of stylish, trendy bands to add extra flair.
Disable notifications you don’t need.
You may love receiving notifications on your watch—or perhaps you don't. When you first set up your Fitbit, you chose whether you wanted your phone's notifications to appear on the device. If you wish to change that decision, simply tap Charge 6 in the Fitbit app and go to Notifications to make adjustments.
However, the Charge 6 has its own buzzing alerts that aren't included in those options. During exercise, you might experience continuous buzzing to let you know when you've entered or exited a heart rate zone. While some might appreciate this, it’s likely not for everyone. To turn this off, select an activity like Run, swipe up for settings, and deactivate 'Heart Zone Notifications.' You can also swipe up from the main clock screen and tap Settings to disable 'AZM Notifications.'
Set up the Google features (Music, Wallet, and Maps).
The Charge 6 can control the music playing on your phone, which is perfect for workouts when you want to skip tracks without reaching into your pocket or bag. Keep in mind, however, that the music still plays from your phone, so it needs to be within range. The good news is that you don’t need to pair headphones directly to the Fitbit, just ensure they’re paired to your phone.
To control music on your Charge 6, you'll need to be a YouTube Music subscriber (or take advantage of the free trial it offers). A great perk is the automatic playlists that adapt to your preferences, so you can select a workout mix and start exercising right away.
The Charge 6 also supports navigation if you’ve set up Google Maps on your phone, and there’s a Wallet feature that allows you to tap and pay directly from your Fitbit. Of the three, Fitbit Pay is the only one that doesn’t require your phone to be nearby.
To set up Music, Wallet, or Maps in the Fitbit app, go to the Charge 6 icon and tap the relevant tile.
A troubleshooting tip: the connection process may not always go as planned. For instance, I kept receiving a message saying YouTube Music couldn't find my phone. If you’ve tried everything and still can’t connect the Music app (or another app) to your phone, try these instructions, which worked for me when nothing else did. This process involved having my phone “forget” the Charge 6’s Bluetooth settings, force quitting the Fitbit app, restarting my phone, hard-resetting my Fitbit using that tiny button on the charging cable, and then “replacing” my device in the Fitbit app. I didn’t lose any data, and when it was over, I finally got the Music app to play some Chappell Roan.
