If your Fitbit Charge 5 has stopped recording both sleep and heart rate, first check whether the tracker itself can show a live heart-rate reading. A reading on the band but not in the app points toward syncing or account trouble; a blank reading on the band after charging, checking its settings, and restarting it makes a device or sensor fault more likely. Missing sleep data alone does not prove the tracker is broken.
What the symptoms can tell you
The Charge 5 estimates sleep stages using signals that include heart rate and movement. Google says sleep stages apply to Fitbit devices with heart-rate tracking, and a sleep score depends on having sleep-stage data. A tracker may therefore record a basic sleep interval but omit stages or a score when usable heart-rate data is missing. A missing sleep record can also result from low battery, fit, incomplete wear, or delayed syncing; it is not proof of a failed sensor. Google’s sleep-stage guidance also advises syncing after waking and waiting for the app’s progress indicator to finish.
- Heart rate appears on the Charge 5 but not in the app: suspect a connection, sync, or account-display issue first. Google notes that a device reading absent from the app may mean the tracker is disconnected from the app.
- Heart rate is blank or shows “–” on the tracker: check fit, the Heart Rate setting, charge, and restart before concluding the sensor has failed.
- Sleep duration appears without stages or a score: the device may have recorded an interval without enough data for stages, or the score may still be processing.
- Neither sleep nor heart rate appears, and the band also freezes, shuts down, or fails to charge: a battery or hardware problem becomes more plausible.
- Steps still record but heart rate does not: some tracking can continue even if the optical heart-rate system is not producing readings.
Repeated reports of Charge 5 owners losing both sleep and heart-rate tracking appear in the Fitbit Community. Those reports establish a recurring complaint, not a measured failure rate, a common root cause, or a confirmed Charge 5-wide defect. The available sources do not establish a universal outage or an officially acknowledged update-related cause.
Try these fixes in order
1. Charge the tracker and check its contacts
Charge the Charge 5 before testing it overnight. Google says the battery needs enough charge to cover the intended sleep session. If charging is unreliable, inspect the cable and contacts. Google suggests a pencil eraser for stubborn buildup on the gold charging contacts; this may help with charging contact problems, but it will not repair a failed heart-rate sensor. Sleep and battery guidance · Charging guidance
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2. Check the Heart Rate setting and wear position
On the tracker, open Settings → Heart Rate and confirm tracking is enabled. Menu wording can vary slightly with firmware and interface language. A Fitbit Community moderator has also recommended checking this setting when heart-rate sensor activity and sleep stages are missing. Fitbit Community discussion
Wear the band about two to three finger widths above the wrist bone, secure enough not to slide but not so tight that it restricts circulation. Keep the sensor against clean, dry skin; try the other wrist if needed. Google identifies placement, physiology, activity, and band fit as factors in heart-rate readings. Heart-rate fit factors · Heart-rate tracking guidance
3. Restart the Charge 5 normally
From the clock face, swipe down and choose Settings → Restart Device → Restart. Google lists this path for the Charge 5 and Charge 6. A normal restart reboots the device without deleting fitness data. Google’s restart instructions
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4. Use the charger restart if it is unresponsive
- Connect the Charge 5 to its charging cable.
- Press the small button on the flat end of the charger three times, pausing about one second between presses.
- Wait about 10 seconds, or until the Fitbit logo appears.
This is a restart, not a factory reset. Google documents the procedure on the same restart instructions page.
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5. Test the tracker, then sync
After restarting, wear the tracker securely and check whether it shows a live heart-rate reading. If it does, open the current Fitbit/Google Health app, start a manual sync, and let the progress indicator finish. Check the sleep timeline and heart-rate or Vitals area in the app; labels and locations can vary. If you slept for a short period, give the app time to process the record. Fitbit support guidance in a community thread says sessions shorter than roughly three hours may not produce the expected sleep information; treat that as guidance, not a guaranteed cutoff. The same thread advises allowing automatic sleep detection rather than manually starting a sleep session. Fitbit Community troubleshooting guidance
6. Check the phone and account connection
If the band shows heart rate but the app does not, force-close and reopen the app, toggle Bluetooth off and on, and restart the phone. Confirm the tracker and app use the same Google Account. Only remove and re-add the device after noting the account being used and the current sync status.
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There is also an account-transition complication: Google’s support page says access with a Fitbit account ended after February 2, 2026, and directs users to the Google Account migration path. A missing app record after a phone, account, or app change is not the same as proof that the tracker failed to record it. Check the current login and app location before treating unseen data as lost. Google Health support
7. Update the app and install any offered firmware
The Charge 5 manual says a firmware update requires at least 20% battery. Charge the tracker above that level, update the app through your phone’s app store, and install a Charge 5 update if one is offered. Keep the phone near the tracker until installation finishes, then restart and test heart rate. Do not force an update that is not offered or use unofficial tools to downgrade firmware. Charge 5 user manual
8. Clear app data or reinstall only when the tracker works
If the tracker displays heart rate and its other on-device functions work, but the app alone is stuck, community support guidance suggests logging out, clearing app cache or cookies where available, restarting the phone, and logging back in. Reinstalling the app may address an app-side problem; it cannot repair a dead optical sensor. Fitbit Community troubleshooting guidance
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9. Reserve factory reset for a last resort
Sync first and make sure you know which account the app uses. A reset can remove locally stored device data and require complete re-pairing, so do not begin with it. If you have already charged, corrected the fit, checked the setting, restarted, updated, and re-paired without success, contact support rather than repeating resets. Follow Google’s official reset instructions for your device’s firmware state.
Decide whether it is sync trouble or a likely fault
- The tracker shows heart rate, but the app does not: focus on completed syncs, Bluetooth, app state, and the Google Account. If the app catches up, watch the next few nights before taking further action.
- Heart rate returns, but sleep is still missing: check battery, overnight fit, session length, processing time, and account or app changes. Wear it for a full night and sync in the morning.
- The tracker itself has no heart-rate reading: verify Heart Rate is enabled, charge it, clean and position the sensor, and perform both restart procedures. If readings remain absent after several attempts, the tracker may have a sensor, power, or other hardware fault.
- The green sensor light is not visible: treat that as a clue, not a diagnosis. Sensor activity may vary with wear, lock, idle, or power-saving state. Consistently absent heart-rate readings during normal wear matter more than a light check alone.
A Bluetooth “connected” status does not prove the optical sensor is collecting data; the useful test is whether the tracker itself can show a live reading. Likewise, the tracker and app may not show the same sleep detail on their small screens, so check the app after a completed sync before assuming a record was never made.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to contact support or make a warranty claim
Contact Google support if the Charge 5 still cannot produce a heart-rate reading after the recovery steps, or if it has persistent charging, shutdown, or freezing problems. Before contacting support, collect the purchase receipt, serial number, firmware version if available, dates of failed nights, and screenshots of the app and tracker symptoms. This gives support a clearer account of what fails on the device versus what is missing only in the app.
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Google’s warranty guidance says devices purchased on or after July 11, 2023, should be checked through the Google Hardware Warranty Center; devices purchased before that date should be checked under the Fitbit Limited Warranty. Coverage depends on country or region and the defect, and accidental damage is not covered. Out-of-warranty support or service may be offered, but eligibility is not guaranteed. Confirm the terms for your location with Google’s warranty guidance.
Should you keep or replace the Charge 5?
If charging, restart, fit, or sync fixes the problem, keep the tracker and monitor it over several nights. If the device remains unable to show heart rate and also has battery or charging trouble, repeated resets are unlikely to be a good use of time; seek warranty service if eligible, otherwise compare replacement cost with the tracker’s condition and the features you actually use. The Charge 5 launched in August 2021 at a historical US launch price of $179.95, with a six-month Fitbit Premium promotion for eligible new or returning customers; that is not a current price. Age makes battery degradation plausible, but does not establish the cause of any individual failure. Google’s Charge 5 launch announcement
- Want to stay with Fitbit: the Charge 6 is the closest successor in the same ecosystem. Check current availability and terms on the Google Store Charge 6 page.
- Want a smaller, simpler Fitbit: consider the Inspire 3 if core tracking matters more than a larger display, built-in GPS, or advanced exercise features. See Google’s watches and trackers category.
- Want to move away from Fitbit: Garmin’s tracker range is an option, but its sleep and recovery presentation differs from Fitbit’s. Browse Garmin fitness trackers.
- Want a feature-heavy alternative: the Amazfit Active 2 is a watch-style option with a different app and ecosystem; compare its support and data presentation at Amazfit’s product page.
- Prioritize sleep and recovery in a ring: Oura Ring 4 changes the form factor and workout experience, has no wrist display, and uses a subscription model. Review the details at Oura’s official page.
Current prices and availability can change, so check the linked official product pages before deciding. A wearable’s heart-rate and sleep figures are wellness estimates, not medical diagnoses. If you have chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, or sustained palpitations, seek medical care rather than relying on wearable troubleshooting.
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