Introducing the Fitbit Stopwatch Charge 3

The Charge 3 tracks your workouts, monitors your heart rate, and records your daily activity levels, making it an ideal companion for fitness enthusiasts. With its sleek design, water-resistant build, and customizable clock faces, the Charge 3 blends functionality and style. Whether you're timing your runs, tracking your sleep, or managing your stress, the Fitbit Stopwatch Charge 3 provides all of the tools you need to keep on track with your health objectives. 

General Info and Specifications

Sensors

Fitbit Charge 3 contains the following sensors and motors:

• A MEMS 3-axis accelerometer, which tracks motion patterns
• An altimeter, which tracks altitude change
• An optical heart-rate tracker

Materials

The housing and buckle on Charge 3 are made of anodized aluminum. While anodized aluminum can contain traces of nickel, which can cause an allergic reaction in someone with nickel sensitivity, the amount of nickel in all Fitbit products meets the European Union's stringent Nickel Directive.
The Fitbit Charge 3 classic band is made of a flexible, durable elastomer material similar to that used in many sports watches.

Wireless technology

Charge 3 contains a Bluetooth 4.0 radio transceiver and Fitbit-Pay enabled trackers contain an NFC chip.

Haptic feedback

Charge 3 contains a vibration motor for alarms, goals, notifications, and reminders.

Battery

Charge 3 contains a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery.

Memory

Charge 3 stores your data, including daily stats, sleep information, and exercise history, for 7 days. For best results, sync your tracker daily.

Display

Charge 3 has an OLED display.

Wristband size

Wristband sizes are shown below. Note that accessory wristbands sold separately may vary slightly.

• Small wristband 
  Fits a wrist between 5.5 - 7.1 inches (140 - 180 mm) in circumference
• Large wristband 
  Fits a wrist between 7.1 - 8.7 inches (180 - 220 mm) in circumference

Environmental conditions

• Operating Temperature 14° to 113° F (-10° to 45° C)

• Non-operating Temperature -4° to 14° F (-20° to -10° C) 113° to 140°F (45° to 60° C)

• Maximum Operating Altitude 30,000 feet (9,144 m)

Get started

Get a deeper understanding of your body, your health, and your progress with Fitbit Charge 3.

What’s in the box

Your Charge 3 box includes:

The detachable bands on Charge 3 come in a variety of colors and materials, sold separately.

Set up Charge 3

For the best experience, use the Fitbit app for iPhones and iPads or Android phones. You can also set up Charge 3 on Windows 10 devices. If you don’t have a compatible phone or tablet, use a Bluetooth-enabled Windows 10 PC. Keep in mind that a phone is required for call, text, calendar, and smartphone app notifications.
To create a Fitbit account, you’re prompted to enter your birthdate, height, weight, and sex to calculate your stride length and to estimate distance, basal metabolic rate, and calorie burn. After you set up your account, your first name, last initial, and profile picture are visible to all other Fitbit users. You have the option to share other information, but most of the information you provide to create an account is private by default.

Charge your tracker

A fully-charged Charge 3 has a battery life of up to 7 days. Battery life and charge cycles vary with use and other factors; actual results will vary.
To charge Charge 3:

1. Plug the charging cable into the USB port on your computer, a UL-certified USB wall charger, or another low-energy charging device.

2. Clip the other end of the charging cable to the port on the back of Charge.
   The pins on the charging clip must lock securely with the gold contacts on the back of the tracker. Charge 3 vibrates, and a battery icon appears on the screen.

   

3. Charging fully takes about 1-2 hours. While the tracker charges, you can press the button to check the battery level. A fully-charged tracker shows a solid battery icon with a smile.

Set up with your phone or tablet

Set up Charge 3 with the Fitbit app. The Fitbit app is compatible with most popular phones and tablets.
To get started:

1. Find the Fitbit app in one of the locations below, depending on your device.
   • Apple App Store for iPhones and iPads
   • Google Play Store for Android phones
   • Microsoft Store for Windows 10 devices
2. Install the app.
3. When the app is installed, open it and tap Join Fitbit to be guided through a series of questions that help you create an account.
4. Continue to follow the on-screen instructions to connect Charge 3 to your Fitbit account.

When you’re done with the setup, read through the guide to learn more about your new tracker and then explore the Fitbit app.

Set up with your Windows 10 PC

If you don’t have a compatible phone, you can set up and sync Charge 3 with a Bluetooth-enabled Windows 10 PC and the Fitbit app.
To get the Fitbit app for your computer:

1. Click the Start button on your PC and open the Microsoft Store.
2. Search for "Fitbit app". After you find it, click Free to download the app to your computer.
3. Click Microsoft account to sign in with your existing Microsoft account. If you don't already have an account with Microsoft, follow the on-screen instructions to create a new account.
4. Open the app and log in to your account, or click Join Fitbit to be guided through a series of questions that help you create an account.
5. Continue to follow the on-screen instructions to connect Charge 3 to your Fitbit account.

When you’re done with the setup, read through the guide to learn more about your new tracker and then explore the Fitbit app.

See your data in the Fitbit app

Sync Charge 3 to transfer your data to the Fitbit app, where you can view your activity and sleep data, log food and water, participate in challenges, and more. 

Each time you open the Fitbit app, Charge 3 syncs automatically when it's nearby. Charge 3 also syncs with the app periodically if All-Day Sync is on. 

To turn on this feature:

• From the Fitbit app dashboard, tap the Account icon ( ) > Charge 3 tile > All- Day Sync.
• You can also use the Sync Now option in the app at any time.

Wear Charge 3

Place Charge 3 around your wrist. If you need to attach a different size band, or if you purchased another band.

Placement for all-day wear vs. exercise

When you’re not exercising, wear Charge 3 a finger’s width above your wrist bone.

For optimized heart-rate tracking while exercising:

• Try wearing Charge 3 higher on your wrist during exercise for an improved fit and more accurate heart-rate reading. Many exercises, such as bike riding or weight lifting, cause you to bend your wrist frequently, which can interfere with the heart-rate signal if the tracker is lower on your wrist.

  

• Make sure the tracker is in contact with your skin.
• Don't wear your tracker too tight; a tight band restricts blood flow, potentially affecting the heart-rate signal. However, the tracker should be slightly tighter (snug but not constricting) during exercise than during all-day wear.
• With high-intensity interval training or other activities where your wrist is moving vigorously and non-rhythmically, the movement may limit the sensor's ability to provide a heart-rate reading. If your tracker doesn't show a heart-rate reading, try relaxing your wrist and staying still briefly.

Change the wristband

Charge 3 comes with a small wristband attached and an additional large bottom band in the box. Both the top and bottom bands can be swapped with accessory bands, sold separately. For wristband measurements, see "Wristband size" on page 54.

Remove a wristband

To remove the wristband:

1. Turn over Charge 3 and find the wristband latches.

2. To release the latch, press down on the flat button on the wristband.

   

3. Gently pull the wristband away from the tracker to release it.

   

4. Repeat on the other side.

Attach a new wristband

• To attach a new wristband, press it into the end of the tracker until you feel it snap into place.

  

• If you have trouble attaching the wristband or if it feels loose, gently move the wristband back and forth to make sure it's attached to the tracker.

Fitbit Stopwatch Charge 3 Description

Perfect for daily usage, the Fitbit Stopwatch Charge 3 is a stylish and functional fitness tracker. You can quickly review your measurements and easily follow your progress thanks to the high-resolution touchscreen display. Additionally, the Charge 3's battery lasts up to seven days, so you can stay connected and busy without constantly recharging. The Charge 3 offers 24-hour heart rate tracking, sleep tracking and analysis, and female health monitoring in addition to a stopwatch. Moreover, guided breathing exercises might support your ability to remain composed and concentrated all day. For swimmers and other fans of water sports, the Charge 3 is perfect because it is water resistant for up to 50 meters.

Basics

Learn how best to navigate, check the battery level, and care for your tracker.

Navigate Charge 3

Charge 3 has an OLED touchscreen display and 1 button.
Navigate Charge 3 by tapping the screen, swiping side to side and up and down, or pressing the button. To preserve the battery, the tracker’s screen turns off when not in use.

Basic navigation

The home screen is the clock.

• Swipe down to see notifications.
• Swipe up to see your daily stats.
• Swipe left to scroll through the apps on your tracker.

To open an app, swipe to find the app and then tap it.

Quick settings

Press and hold the button on Charge 3 for a faster way to access certain settings. Tap a setting to turn it on or off. The icon dims when the setting is turned off.

On the quick settings screen:

• When Screen Wake is on, turn your wrist towards you to turn on the screen.
• When the Notifications setting is turned on, Charge 3 displays notifications from your phone when your phone is nearby.

Adjust settings
Manage basic settings including brightness, heart rate, and button sensitivity directly on your tracker. Open the Settings app and tap a setting to adjust it. Swipe up to see the full list of settings.
Check battery level
Check your battery level at any time: from the clock face, swipe up. The battery level icon is in the top-left corner of the screen. Your tracker continues to track your activity until your battery runs out.
Care for Charge 3
It's important to clean and dry your Charge 3 regularly. For instructions and more information, see fitbit.com/productcare.

Change the clock face

A variety of clock faces are available in the Fitbit Clocks Gallery. To change your clock face:

1. With your tracker nearby, from the Fitbit app dashboard, tap the Account icon () > Charge 3 tile.
2. Tap Clock Faces > Pick a New Clock.
3. Browse the available clock faces. When you find one you want to install, tap it.
4. Tap Select to add the clock face to Charge 3.

Notifications

Charge 3 can display call, text, calendar, and app notifications from your phone to keep you informed. The phone and tracker must be within 30 feet of each other to receive notifications.
Set up notifications
Check that Bluetooth on your phone is on and that your phone can receive notifications (often under Settings > Notifications). Then set up notifications:

1. With your tracker nearby, from the Fitbit app dashboard, tap the Account icon () > Charge 3 tile.
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to pair your tracker. Charge 3 appears in the list of Bluetooth devices connected to your phone. Call, text, and calendar notifications are turned on automatically.
4. To turn on notifications from apps installed on your phone, including Fitbit and WhatsApp, tap App Notifications and turn on the notifications you want to see.
5. Tap Notifications > Charge 3 in the top left corner to return to device settings.

Note that if you have an iPhone, iPad, or Windows 10 device, Charge 3 shows notifications from all calendars synced to the Calendar app. If you have an Android phone, Charge 3 shows calendar notifications from the calendar app you choose during setup.
See incoming notifications
When your phone and Charge 3 are within range, a notification causes the tracker to vibrate. If you don't read the notification when it arrives, you can check it later by swiping down on the clock screen.

Manage notifications
Charge 3 stores up to 10 notifications, after which the oldest are replaced as you receive new ones.
To manage notifications:

• From the clock, swipe down to see your notifications and tap any notification to expand it.
• To delete a notification, tap to expand it. Then swipe to the bottom and tap Clear.
• To delete all notifications at once, swipe to the top of your notifications and tap Clear All.

Turn off notifications
Turn off all notifications in the quick settings on Charge 3 or turn off certain notifications with the Fitbit app.
To turn off all notifications:

1. Press and hold the button on your tracker to reach the quick settings screen.
2. Tap Notifications to turn them off.

To turn off certain notifications:

1. With your tracker nearby, from the Fitbit app dashboard, tap the Account icon () > Charge 3 tile > Notifications.
2. Turn off the notifications you no longer want to receive on your tracker.
3. Tap Notifications > Charge 3 in the top left corner to return to device settings. Sync your tracker to save your changes.

Note that if you use the Do Not Disturb setting on your phone, notifications are disabled until you turn off this setting.
Answer or reject phone calls

• If paired to an iPhone or Android (8.0+) phone, Charge 3 lets you accept or reject incoming phone calls. If your phone is running an older version of the Android OS, you can reject, but not accept, calls from your tracker.
• To accept a call, tap the check mark on your tracker's screen. Note that you can't speak into the tracker—accepting a phone call answers the call on your nearby phone. To reject a call, tap the X icon on your tracker's screen.

Respond to messages
If paired to an Android (7.0+) phone, Charge 3 lets you respond directly to text messages and notifications from certain apps on your tracker with preset quick replies.
To use quick replies:

1. Tap the notification on your tracker. To see recent messages, swipe down from the clock face.
2. Tap Reply. If you don’t see an option to reply to the message, quick replies aren’t available for the app that sent the notification.
3. Choose a text reply from the list of quick replies or tap the emoji icon to choose an emoji.

Timekeeping

Alarms vibrate to awake or alert you at a time you set. Set up to 8 alarms to occur once or on multiple days of the week. You can also time events with the stopwatch or set a countdown timer.
Enable or disable an alarm
After you create an alarm, you can disable or re-enable it directly on Charge 3 without opening the Fitbit app. You can only create an alarm in the Fitbit app.
To enable or disable alarms:

1. On Charge 3, open the Alarms app.
2. Swipe until you find the alarm you want to enable or disable.
3. Tap to enable or disable the alarm.

Time events with the stopwatch

To use the stopwatch:

1. On Charge 3, open the Timers app.

2. If you used the countdown timer previously, swipe right and tap the stopwatch icon.

   

3. Tap the play icon to start the stopwatch.

   

4. Tap the pause icon to stop the stopwatch.
5. Swipe up and tap the reset icon to reset the stopwatch, or press the button to exit..

Dismiss or snooze an alarm

• When your silent alarm goes off, the tracker vibrates.
• To dismiss the alarm, press the button. To snooze the alarm for 9 minutes, tap the ZZZ icon.
• Snooze the alarm as many times as you want. Charge 3 automatically goes into snooze mode if you ignore the alarm for more than 1 minute.

Set a timer
To use the countdown timer:

1. On Charge 3, open the Timers app.

2. If you used the stopwatch previously, swipe left to choose the countdown feature.

   

3. Tap the timer icon.
4. Tap the numbers and scroll to set the timer.

5. Press the button to return to the countdown screen.

   

6. Tap the play icon to start the timer. Charge 3 flashes and vibrates when the time allotted is done.
7. Press the button to dismiss the alert.

Troubleshooting

If your tracker isn't working properly, review our troubleshooting guidance below. Visit help.fitbit.com for more information.
Heart-rate signal missing
Charge 3 continuously tracks your heart rate while you're exercising and throughout the day. Occasionally, the heart-rate sensor on your tracker may have difficulty finding a good signal. When this happens, you see dashed lines where your current heart rate usually appears.

If you're not getting a heart-rate signal, first make sure heart-rate tracking is turned on in the settings app on your device. Next, make sure you're wearing your tracker correctly, either by moving it higher or lower on your wrist or by tightening or loosening the band. Charge 3 should be in contact with your skin. After holding your arm still and straight for a short time, you should see your heart rate again.
GPS signal missing
Environmental factors including tall buildings, dense forest, steep hills, and even thick cloud cover can interfere with your phone's ability to connect to GPS satellites. If your phone is searching for a GPS signal during an exercise, you'll see "connecting" appear at the top of the screen.

Troubleshooting

If you're experiencing any issues with your Fitbit Stopwatch Charge 3, try the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify the charge of your Charge 3. A low battery could prevent the device from working properly.
2. If there are any software updates, make sure you install them.
3. Holding down the side button of your Charge 3 for ten seconds will restart it.
4. In case you're facing difficulties establishing a connection between your smartphone and Charge 3, consider rebooting both devices and then trying to connect again.

Pros & Cons about Fitbit Stopwatch Charge 3

Pros

• Stylish and functional design
• Long battery life
• Advanced fitness tracking features
• Water-resistant
• Smartphone notifications and music control

Cons

• No built-in GPS
• Some users may find the touchscreen display to be unresponsive at times
• Limited customization options for clock faces and bands

Customer Reviews

"I love my Fitbit Stopwatch Charge 3! It's so easy to use and the stopwatch feature is really convenient for my runs. The battery life is also amazing - I only have to charge it once a week. Overall, I would highly recommend this fitness tracker to anyone looking to stay active and on top of their fitness goals." - Sarah, verified buyer

Common Complaints

Some users have reported issues with the touchscreen display being unresponsive at times. Additionally, some users have noted that the Charge 3 does not have built-in GPS, which may be a drawback for serious runners and athletes.