How to Solve Fitbit Not Tracking Sleep Stages

Finding your Fitbit consistently fails to track your sleep stages can certainly be frustrating when trying to analyze your sleep patterns. However, some troubleshooting and device settings adjustments can typically get sleep stage tracking functioning properly again.

It can be disheartening when your fitness tracker fails to provide complete sleep data due to issues detecting different sleep stages. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help your Fitbit restore accurate sleep cycle tracking and get a complete picture of your sleep quality.

Common Causes

There are a few typical reasons a Fitbit may fail to track sleep stages:

• Outdated firmware – Old device software bugs prevent accurate tracking. Updating firmware fixes issues.
• Incorrect settings – Disabled or incompatible settings prevent proper sleep stage detection. Adjusting them fixes it.
• Insufficient sleep data – Very short or fragmented sleep provides inadequate data for stage analysis. Improving sleep consistency helps.
• Faulty sensor – A hardware defect with the heart rate sensor prevents proper detection. Repair or replacement resolves it.
• Loosely worn band – A loose band shifts on the wrist, causing inconsistent readings. Tightening it fixes the tracking.
• Device compatibility – Very old Fitbit models lack the sensors required for detecting sleep stages. Newer devices are needed.

Understanding the potential causes will guide you toward the appropriate solutions to make sleep stage tracking work correctly.

Troubleshooting Procedures

Here are some of the troubleshooting procedures you can use to fix a Fitbit that’s not tracking Sleep Stages properly.

Update Firmware

Check if your Fitbit has any pending firmware updates, as the latest update may address bugs affecting sleep-tracking capabilities.

Here are the steps on how to update firmware in Fitbit:

1. Make sure your Fitbit device is charged to at least 50%.
2. Open the Fitbit app on your phone or tablet.
3. Tap the Today tab.
4. Tap your profile picture.
5. Tap the name of your Fitbit device.
6. If there is an update available, you will see a pink “Update Tracker software” button. Tap it.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions.

The update process may take a few minutes. Once the update is complete, your Fitbit device will restart.

Adjust Sleep Tracking Settings

Ensure the Sleep Tracking option is enabled under your Fitbit device’s settings, and turn on Detect Sleep Stages if available. Try resetting all device settings as well.

Here are the steps on how to enable sleep tracking on Fitbit:

1. Make sure your Fitbit device is turned on and synced with the Fitbit app.
2. Open the Fitbit app on your phone or tablet.
3. Tap the Today tab.
4. Tap the Sleep tile.
5. Tap the Settings gear icon in the top right corner.
6. Make sure that “Track Sleep” is turned on.
7. If you want to detect sleep stages, make sure that “Sleep Stages” is also turned on.

Once you have enabled sleep tracking and sleep stages, your Fitbit device will start tracking your sleep every night. You can view your sleep data in the Fitbit app the next morning.

Check Band Fit

Make sure your Fitbit band is worn snugly on your wrist during sleep. A loose band can shift positions and cause irregular motion tracking.
Here are some tips on how to make sure your Fitbit band is worn snugly on your wrist during sleep:

• Choose the right size band. Fitbit bands come in different sizes, so make sure to choose the one that fits your wrist snugly but comfortably. You should be able to slide two fingers under the band.
• Wear the band above your wrist bone. The Fitbit band should be worn above your wrist bone, not below it. This will help to ensure that the band stays in place during sleep.
• Tighten the band during the day. As your wrist swells throughout the day, the band may loosen. Make sure to tighten the band before going to bed.
• Use a hair tie. If the band is still too loose, you can use a hair tie to secure it in place.

Here are some things to avoid when wearing your Fitbit band during sleep:

• Do not wear the band too tightly. Wearing the band too tightly can cut off your circulation.
• Do not wear the band too loosely. Wearing the band too loosely can cause the band to slip off during sleep.
• Do not wear the band on your opposite wrist. The sensors on the Fitbit band are designed to work on your dominant wrist. Wearing the band on your opposite wrist can affect the accuracy of the sleep tracking data.

Practice Consistent Sleeping Habits

Fitbits rely on consistent sleep patterns to accurately detect sleep stages. Frequent waking during the night makes stage analysis difficult.

Try to maintain a steady sleep schedule and limit interruptions for at least a week to provide enough data for your Fitbit to properly detect sleep stages.

Contact Support for Assessment

If you still have issues with sleep stages after trying troubleshooting, contact Fitbit support online or by phone for assistance. They can assess the problem and determine if a replacement is needed.

Check your device warranty status and contact support via https://www.fitbit.com/global/us/support if under warranty. Provide details on the troubleshooting steps you performed.

Consider Replacement Device

For older Fitbit models without the necessary sensors for sleep stage detection, you may need to upgrade to a newer Fitbit device for this feature.

Newer models like the Fitbit Charge 5, Sense, Versa series, and Blaze contain updated sensors capable of detecting sleep stages. Check the product specifications before purchasing.

With some dedicated troubleshooting, you should be able to get your Fitbit sleep stage detection working accurately. Sensors and algorithms are continuously improving to provide richer sleep data. Maintaining the latest firmware and ideal device settings is key.

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