Most Fitbit Watches and Fitness Trackers are water resistance up to 5 ATMs, which means that they can be used while swimming.
As Fitbit favors touchscreen interface over buttons, its device was at a disadvantage when it comes to interaction with water. This is because their touch AMOLED display was susceptible to accidental presses.
The company took a leaf out of Apple’s book. The Cupertino tech giant had already introduced water lock mode on its iconic Apple Watch. Fitbit jumped on the bandwagon with the introduction of Water Lock mode on its watches.
Water Lock on Fitbit is a mode that helps to prevent accidental button presses and touchscreens activation when your Fitbit is wet or in contact with water. The mode is especially useful when you’re swimming or doing another water-based activity.
In this post, we’ll show you how to activate and deactivate the water lock mode on your Fitbit. Also, we will discuss some frequently asked questions about the mode.
Table of Contents
Does Fitbit automatically Turn on the water lock?
Fitbit devices do not have an auto water lock feature. You will need to manually activate the mode each time you shower or enter a pool. However, if you have activated any water-based activity, your Fitbit will automatically turn on water lock mode.
How does the water lock work on Fitbit?
The water lock mode disables the touchscreen and button on your Fitbit. This means that you won’t be able to interact with your device while the mode is active. Once the water lock is turned on, you will see a ‘Lock’ icon on your Fitbit tracker’s or watch’s display.
Your device will be protected from unintentional swipes, button presses, and touches. However, your watch will still be able to track your heart rate, strokes, and laps. You can also view the time and your current stats on your device’s display. Also, the watch will still be able to receive notifications.
How to activate the Water lock on Fitbit?
Activating the water lock mode on Fitbit is quite easy if you know the right symbol and where to find it. The water lock is represented by a symbol of a drop of water inside a circle.
On Fitbit Watches, this can be easily found in the Quick access menu. All you have is to tap on a water droplet to activate this mode. A small droplet icon and vibration will notify you that the water lock mode is now active.
What most people don’t know is how to get out of the water lock on Fitbit. To remove the water lock mode, you will have to double-tap the screen of your Fitbit watch. You might have to do so multiple times, as the accelerometer on Fitbit has to register strong force to exit water lock mode.
After you have successfully double-tapped the screen, your Fitbit will vibrate and show the ‘Unlocked’ message on the display to confirm that the water lock mode has been removed.
| Product Name | How to Activate WaterLock on Fitbit | How to Deactivate WaterLock on Fitbit |
| Fitbit Inspire 2 | press and hold the buttons on your tracker >> tap Water Lock  >> firmly tap Screen twice | Double-tap the Screen in the Middle |
| Fitbit Versa 3 | If you use a Fitbit Versa 3 during your swimming session, the device will be locked automatically, There is no manually activating this Feature. | Press and Hold the side Button for about 8 to 10 seconds |
| Fitbit Versa 2 | Open Fitbit’s Quick Settings >> tap Water Lock icon >> firmly tap Screen twice | Press and Hold the side Button for about 8 to 10 seconds |
| Fitbit Sense | If you use a Fitbit Sense during your swimming session, the device will be locked automatically, There is no manually activating this Feature. | Press and Hold the side Button for about 8 to 10 seconds |
| Fitbit Ace 3 | press and hold the buttons on your tracker >> tap Water Lock  >> firmly tap Screen twice | Double-tap the Screen in the Middle |
| Fitbit Luxe | tap swipe down from the clock screen >> tap Water Lock  >> firmly tap Screen twice. | Double-tap the Screen in the Middle |
| Fitbit Charge 5 | tap swipe down from the clock screen >> tap Water Lock  >> firmly tap Screen twice. | Double-tap the Screen in the Middle |
Fitbit water lock won’t turn off?
There are times when Fitbit water lock mode doesn’t turn off, even after multiple attempts. If you’re facing this issue, there are a couple of troubleshooting steps you can try.
- Completely dry the Fitbit Watch by removing any moisture or water. Water can sometimes pool inside the band, especially if it’s made of silicone. Use a lint-free cloth to dry your watch. Now, try to double-tap the screen to get rid of the Water lock.
- You might have to tap the screen 3-5 times before the water lock mode is removed. Tap firmly and consecutively. On some Fitbit Fitness trackers (Fitbit Inspire 2) you might have to press the side buttons right after you double-tap the screen.
- Take off your Fitbit and put it on the charging dock. Wait for a few minutes and then check if the water lock mode has been removed.
- Change the Clock face through Fitbit App on your smartphone. This will instantly do the trick on Fitbit Versa or Sense.
- You might have to force restart your Fitbit if the above troubleshooting steps don’t work. To do so, press and hold the button on your watch for about 5-10 seconds. Restarting the watch most often fixes this problem.
If your Fitbit device keeps activating the water lock mode automatically, it’s likely because you inadvertently activate any water-based activity. Or it can be a software glitch. Update your Fitbit to the latest software version to see if the problem is fixed.
Final Words:
Fitbit Water Lock feature is a great way to prevent accidental button presses while you’re sweating it out or swimming.
To activate the water lock mode, you will have to find the water drop or droplet inside a circle in the quick access menu of most devices, usually watches. And to get out of the water lock mode, you have to double-tap the screen of your Fitbit device (sometimes 3-5 times).
The water lock feature might not work as intended sometimes. In that case, you can try out the troubleshooting steps mentioned in the post.