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    How to Get More From Your Fitbit: Reminders, Sleep Tracking, and App History

    Set hourly movement reminders, improve sleep tracking accuracy, and use the Fitbit app to see your health trends over time.

    5 min read 6 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Open the Fitbit app and tap your device profile

    ~16s
    Open the Fitbit app on your phone. Tap the profile icon (your picture or initials) in the top-left corner. Under "Devices," tap your Fitbit device name. This opens the settings for your specific device, where you can control reminders, goals, and display options.
    2

    Turn on hourly movement reminders

    ~30s
    In your device settings, look for "Reminders to Move" or "Activity & Wellness" > "Reminders to Move." Turn the toggle on. You can set which hours to receive reminders (for example, 8 AM to 6 PM). During those hours, your Fitbit will buzz if you haven't taken 250 steps in the last 50 minutes of each hour. You'll see a message on the screen prompting you to keep moving.

    Quick Tip

    Start with a few hours if you're not sure about reminders. You can always expand the window later once you get used to them.

    3

    Improve sleep tracking accuracy

    ~28s
    Wear your Fitbit snugly (but not tightly) on your non-dominant wrist when you sleep. The band should sit about one finger-width above your wrist bone. Loose wear can cause your Fitbit to misread your sleep or heart rate. In the Fitbit app, go to your device settings and make sure "Heart Rate" is set to "Auto" or "On" — heart rate data significantly improves sleep stage detection.

    Warning

    If your wrist feels uncomfortable during sleep, try the smaller or larger band size. Fitbit replacement bands are inexpensive and available online.

    4

    Check your sleep data each morning

    ~22s
    Open the Fitbit app and tap "Sleep" on the today screen (or tap the moon icon in the app's Today tab). You'll see last night's sleep total time, a Sleep Score (0–100), and a chart showing your sleep stages. Swipe left to see previous nights. A Sleep Score above 80 is generally considered good. Tap "More" for a detailed breakdown of your sleep stages.
    5

    Explore your health trends in the app

    ~29s
    Tap any metric on the Today screen (steps, heart rate, active minutes, sleep) to see a detailed history. Switch between daily, weekly, and monthly views using the tabs at the top. The weekly and monthly views are especially useful for spotting patterns — like noticing you sleep worse on weekends, or that your step count drops on rainy days.

    Quick Tip

    You can generate a health report PDF from the Fitbit app to share with your doctor. Go to the app's Account section > Health Metrics > Share with Doctor.

    6

    Sync your Fitbit for up-to-date data

    ~21s
    Your Fitbit syncs automatically when your phone is nearby and Bluetooth is on. If data isn't showing up, open the Fitbit app and pull down on the Today screen to manually sync. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your phone's settings. If syncing consistently fails, try turning Bluetooth off and on, or restart your Fitbit by holding its button for 10 seconds.

    You Did It!

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    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    Fitbit devices are popular fitness trackers, but most people only use a fraction of what they can do. Beyond counting steps, your Fitbit can remind you to move every hour, track how long and how well you slept, and show you charts of your activity, heart rate, and sleep trends over weeks and months — all through the free Fitbit app on your phone.

    Hourly movement reminders are one of the most useful features for people who sit a lot during the day. Your Fitbit can buzz your wrist if you haven't taken at least 250 steps in a given hour — typically 10 minutes before the hour ends. Getting up for a short walk each hour has real health benefits, and the reminder takes the guesswork out of staying consistent.

    Sleep tracking is automatic — your Fitbit detects when you fall asleep and wake up, and estimates how much of that time was light, deep, or REM sleep. The accuracy improves if you wear your Fitbit during sleep with a comfortable, snug fit. The Fitbit app shows your sleep score each morning and tracks your sleep trends over time.

    The Fitbit app is where all this data comes together. It syncs with your device automatically when your phone is nearby. Inside the app you can see daily step counts, active minutes, sleep history, resting heart rate trends, and more — all presented in clear, visual charts. You can even share specific data summaries with your doctor.

    Setting up these features takes a few minutes in the Fitbit app, which is available free for iPhone and Android. Your Fitbit and phone need to be connected via Bluetooth for syncing to work.

    These three areas — movement reminders, sleep tracking, and app history — turn a basic step counter into a much more useful health awareness tool.

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    Official Resources

    Medicare.govMedlinePlus — Health InfoAARP Health & Technology

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    How to Get More From Your Fitbit: Reminders, Sleep Tracking, and App History — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure