You tap the screen on your Fitbit Charge 6, but nothing happens. The side button wakes the screen up, or maybe it's stuck on a single stat screen. Cleaning, charging, restarting, or updating the device can help get it responding again.
Clean the Screen and Edges
Dirt, oil, sweat, or moisture on the Charge 6 screen can interfere with touch sensitivity. Cleaning and drying the glass can help when taps aren't registering.
Wipe the screen with a clean microfiber cloth. Dampen the cloth slightly with water if the residue is stubborn, but squeeze out excess moisture first. Dry the screen before using it.
Pay attention to the edges of the screen too. Gently wipe away any dirt you can see there with the cloth, then check whether the screen responds to taps.
Force Restart the Charge 6
If cleaning doesn't wake the screen up, a force restart is the next best bet. This turns the device off and on without deleting your activity data and can help with an unresponsive or frozen screen.
Connect your Charge 6 to its charging cable. Press the button on the flat end of the charger three times within eight seconds, pausing one second between presses.
Wait 10 seconds or until you see the Fitbit logo. Once the device restarts, check whether the touch screen responds normally.
Charge It Back to Life
A deeply discharged battery can make the Charge 6 touch screen completely unresponsive. The watch might show the screen off and not react to taps or button presses.
Connect it to the included charging cable and compatible charging accessories. Make sure the device and cable are dry before charging, and leave it charging for at least one hour before trying to wake it up.
The screen may turn on before the battery has enough charge. Check the charging contacts for dirt, and dry them thoroughly after cleaning before reconnecting the charging cable.
Disable Water Lock If It's Active
Water Lock is a mode that specifically disables the touch screen to prevent accidental taps from water droplets. It's easy to turn on during a swim or a sweaty workout and forget about it.
Look for a water droplet icon at the bottom of the screen. If you see it, the touch screen is disabled by design.
To disable Water Lock, firmly double-tap the middle of the screen with your finger. The word Unlocked will appear, the icon will disappear, and your touch controls will come back. If nothing happens, tap harder, since this uses the accelerometer.
Is the Side Button Confusing You?
Charge 6 has a haptic side button. Place your thumb and index finger on either side of the tracker and squeeze to press it.
Try squeezing the side button to see if the device responds. If you feel a buzz and the screen wakes up, check whether taps and swipes still fail to register.
If you don't feel a buzz, the watch may be completely frozen or have a power issue. Go back to the force restart step and try again.
Update the Firmware via the Google Health App
Updating the device's firmware can help with screen problems. Before starting, charge your Charge 6 and make sure you have the latest version of the Google Health app installed on your phone.
Open the Google Health app on your phone. Tap Connections at the top left, then select your Charge 6. If an update is available, tap the pink Update button and follow the on-screen instructions. Keep the device close to your phone until it finishes.
Updates may take an hour or more to complete. After the update finishes, check whether the touch screen responds again.
Factory Reset the Device
If nothing else works, a factory reset wipes the device and requires a fresh setup. Use it as a last resort because it erases stored information, including data that hasn't synced.
Connect your Charge 6 to the charger. If the touch screen responds enough to navigate, open Settings > Device Info > Clear User Data on the device and follow the prompts. This erases stored information. If you can't access these settings, contact Google Health support.
After the reset completes, set up the Charge 6 as a new device. New users will need a Google Account to finish setup, standalone Fitbit accounts are no longer accepted. Sync it fresh and test the touch screen. If it still doesn't work after a reset, contact Google Health support with your model and serial number ready.