Clasping and switching your Alta wristband

[MatthewFitbit]

One of the trickiest parts of getting started with a brand-new wristband tracker is simply learning how to get it clasped properly. The following post can help you with that!

How do I clasp my Alta wristband more easily?

• Before putting the wristband on your actual wrist, you can clasp and unclasp your wristband repeatedly using both hands. This will help to loosen the holes in the band a little bit, and should make it a bit easier to clasp when it's actually on your wrist.
• As detailed in this help article, most people have success with "pinching" the clasp between two fingers when they go to put it on. This will usually be more effective than simply pushing hard against your wrist, which is both awkward and potentially uncomfortable.
• An awesome tip that has been shared by @Gmadiane is to place a drop of olive oil on the holes and push the clasp through. This seems to have worked for quite a few other users. Thanks for sharing!
  
• Once your wristband is clasped, make sure that both the metal prongs are securely in their holes, as shown below on the left. If one of the prongs is still loose, as shown on the right, then the band is not yet secure and may come off your wrist unexpectedly.
  

We're confident that you'll be able to get your alta clasped with just a little practice. Don't be discouraged if it's difficult at first - it definitely gets easier over time!

How do I change my Alta wristband?

Fitbit Alta's wristband is detachable from the top and bottom of the tracker, so that you can replace it with accessory bands of different color or material. For help with detaching your Alta's wristband, check the steps in this help article, or watch the video below. 

[cholly]

This may not make much sense, but I am right-handed and find it much easier to clasp the band if I first attach it to the Alta as though it was going to be worn by a left-handed person (the fastened clasp ends up being over my inner wrist instead of outer wrist).  For me this method makes it a little bit easier to see the clasp, align it with the holes in the band and fasten.  

[ErickFitbit]

Oil and even saliva may be cool for the first time but I personally think the best thing would be to clasp and unclasp your wristband repeatedly using both hands. The more you do it, the easier it gets.

[10M]

Thanks. Use the snap at the front is the only tip that worked for me.

[MaginB]

Welcome to the Community @10M! Thanks for sharing your tip I'd like to share this great post that  @MatthewFitbit shared. 

Let me know how it goes! 

[msjb]

I'm having the same issue. My daughters gave me an Alta for my birthday, and I'm disappointed that I can't get it fastened, even off my wrist.  Also, when I tap the screen, nothing happens, unless I really hit it hard. Also, how do I get it to show stairs?

[SandiSC]

Stairs don't show on the Alta😢😢 I was sad about that. I actually got a bruise trying to fasten my Alta band.

[africalover]

Ditto on the bruise for me too.  Try the olive oil.  Not sure about how accurate the "stairs count" really was on the charge.  My 7 miles everyday rarely saw a stair but maybe the hills counted as that ------sometimes.  Still love my fitbit and feel undressed when I don't have it on.  Obessive?  Maybe.

[tepia53]

The stairs on my ChargeHR wasn't very reliable. I found out it counted when you go up in elevation so just driving to a nearby town, which was higher than we are, counted as stairs. The Alta is much better for me. I don't live anywhere near a place to go climb flights of stairs.

[p1automation]

Based on experience, I highly suggest you do *not* do anything (olive oil for example as suggested) to make the stubs go through the holes more easily. That means they come out more easily. I've read dozens and dozens of posts both here and elsewhere about this poor band design. Basically, putting on or taking off a jacket for example, or snagging the band on anything may cause it to fall from your wrist. This happened to me. After 45 minutes of talking to support, they finally admitted the poor design and that engineering was working on it. What about us poor idiots who trusted the band and didn't take extra measure (like buying rubber o-rings at Home Depot as on person did) to secure the faulty band? They gave me a 25% discount on another which lowered the cost to $97 but I can get a brand new one just like it in a sealed box on eBay for $80 - to $90. So why would I pay $7 to $17 more to the people who engineered a bad band and now want me to buy another from their store at a cost higher than I can find it elsewhere? Answer: they want to profit from us even more from their bad design. I love the tracker itself. But they should stop selling the tracker with the defective band immediately. Then again, I think they know they have a great tracker and that when their customers almost inevitably lose the device because of the poorly designed band, they'll just buy another. Congratuations (sincerely) to FitBit for a great tracker. Shame on FitBit for the poorly designed band and their refusal to make good to us loyal customers.

[JoyfulP]

Can you please remove me from this post. I think someone added me accidentally, as I do not have this type of fitbit.

[Savysam]

Good point but, I simply stretched a couple of the holes that I use by pushing the tail end of a "rat tail" comb through them just before I put the tracker on. It holds well, & I didn't have to struggle to clip it on. Once you hear it snap into place I believe your good to go. So far so god anyway! I love my new tracker.

[pamelat3584]

The clasp on the Alta is terrible.  Mine falls off all the time, but it has always been in the house so we recovered it. My daughter got one that kept falling off and hers disappeared within the first 2 weeks.

It was very disappointing.

[SunsetRunner]

You can always look at third party sellers such as Amazon for bands with different types of closures. Naturally, they will not be covered by the Fitbit guarantee.

[scootrn2]

Hi
I can understand how you feel. The first 2 weeks I needed someone to help me with the clasping. Once I caught on, I was able to do it my self.  Make sure when you put it on you hear it snap. Without hearing the snap, it will fall off.  Please don't give up. The holes on the band widen just a very wee bit, which makes it easier.  I hope you love your "alta" as much as I love mine - happy stepping
Myra

Moderator edit: format

[SunsetRunner]

I'm going to try to explain this as best as I can so bear with me. The Alta band is almost like two parts. There's an strip inside the band. So the band we see is hollow. So the more you use the band the more you're going to wear it out. What happened to me is; in taking it off twice today (once to shower in the morning and once to go swimming in the evening.) The inner strip actually fell out. This made it so that the clasp would not stay in the holes any longer and it continued to fall off.
Therefore either; the strap is too tight because we can't close the strap, or after wear down and tear down the strap to loosen or use the Alta, it's becomes too loose and doesn't stay on at all. Note: I had mine for 5 months. In five months this should not happen. Why Fitbit chose to have this particular type of strap on the Alta and watch band strap on everything else is beyond me. The quality control is clearly off.

[ErickFitbit]

@SunsetRunner I'm sorry to hear of your experience with your Alta band. I recommend getting in touch with our Support Team and explaining this to them, along with a picture of the damage. I am confident that our team will be able to help get you back on track. Keep me updated.

[Dcartermn]

I bought my Alta in March 2016. I had read about the clasp issues and almost returned it. I should definitely have done that! It took forever to get the clasp to work and when the holes loosened up I kept loosing it. I have officially lost it for good and am so upset and disappointed. It

[ErickFitbit]

@Dcartermn I was able to reach out to our Support Team who informed me that they had been in contact with you and were able to reach a resolution. Can you please confirm that you were able to get back on track with their assistance? Thanks in advance!

[Vu2see]

Yes I too am facing the same problem , and my wrist has swollen and paining because of clasping it very hard . And having trouble clasping it back again. Me too going to return it back.

[Dcartermn]

Hi Erick! I am sooooo impressed with Fitbit's customer service! In a matter of hours the support team had my issue solved and I am a very HAPPY customer!!! Thank you!!!!