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. 

[Azluch]

Just got the Alta for christmas, takes me 20 min to put on and makes ne cry of frustration. I can not ask the person who gave me the recipt to return.. its a shame..i can not put it on and i feel bad for person who spent money on this useless thing.

[nonfatlatte]

I feel your pain!  I felt the exact same way!  I did two things- first I stretched out the holes with a chop stick- AND I watched the YouTube video on how to put on the Alta the other way!  Google it! I love my Alta! 

[Arkiegma]

I have been putting a wide nail in the band to open it up a little more.
Adding a little oil or petroleum jelly to the opening may make it a
little easier.
I have also been putting the band together and apart while it is off my
wrist to loosen it.
It's too bad that as a gift, you are so frustrated.

Fitbit didn't do its job in test marketing this style.
--

Eileen Miller

[Azluch]

I guess I can try that, thanks!
But stiill, we shouldn't need to do this,finding a way around it does not
fix the flaw. People should not have to poke the holes larger or open and
close by the changing bend snap part. In fact makes me still angry at the
company for not replacing these bands .I would not give a fitbit Alta as a
gift, do not wish the person to have to agonize over the bend like me,
unless company change these bands .
Thanks again
Azluch

[Imatq]

Tried the 'fix' and ti worked like a charm!

[AnnieFitbit]

Hi there @SunsetRunner @kpsmith @Tennisactive @starklaker @SusieW! Thank you very much for joining us! 

@SunsetRunner, thank you for sharing your experience and let us know you got a buckle band! Also, thank you for sharing your tips for clasping @SusieW @Tennisactive! 

I appreciate your feedback in this matter @starklaker. I'll make sure to pass it along! 

@kpsmith, in your case, you can try out submerging the band in warm water for a couple of minutes, and that would help the holes loosen up a little. Also, some of our users have recommended using a few drops of oil, and it has helped them out. 

I'll see you all around!  

[jack758]

Serioiusly FitBit, can't all the bands have a buckle closure? This prong crap is for the birds on the alta.  HATE IT when fingers are cold

[Rachaknits]

I have had my fitbit alta for less then a week. In that week it has fallen off 4 times, this is very annoying, but when I am at home, it is not a probelm, I just look where ever I last was and usually within 10 min I find my fitbit. However, when I am out and about, and my fitbit just comes undone, this is a issue. This fitbit was expensive and I do not like knowing that at any second it could fall off, and I will probably never find it again. This happened today, right as I felt home, my fitbit fell off. However, I throught that I lost it when I was out, that I dropped it on the street or something. I was so upset all day. 

I have had the fitbit zip, which stopped working after months of use, and then I upgraded to the one, I loved the one, I almost never lost of missed placed it. I loved the decreateness of it, that I would just stick it to my pocket, but after running it through the washing machine, I decided to upgrade again to the fitbit alta, which I think is ever better, but it falls off! 

Any recomendations for other bands? 

Moderator edit: format

[ErickFitbit]

@Rachaknits Sorry to hear that your Alta is continuously falling off of your wrist as that is definitely not expected behavior. It sounds like you may have a faulty Alta which I recommend exchanging for a new one with the original retailer.

If you continue to experience issues or just don't feel that the Alta is the right tracker for you, I recommend returning it for a full refund and giving another one of our trackers a try. I'd suggest the Blaze or the Charge 2 with their buckle and tang style clasps.

[Eilene2]

Thank you!  I was ready to throw it on the floor and stomp on it.  You saved my Fitbit!! 

Ineedsun wrote:

I found it impossible to clasp so here's my solution. I remove the fitbit normally by pulling on the strap to open it. When I am ready to put it back on, I disconnect the band from one side, wrap the device around my wrist then reconnect the band to the Fitbit face. Much easier and way less painful!

---

[KEV23]

This is ridiculous! Design flaw?! Press wrist hard against a surface?! Yeah, right, I'll bruise my wrist to put a flawed product on. I CANNOT clasp this Alta! Returning it for my money back. Unbelieveable. They can't even design a fastener correctly and I'm expected to believe in this product? 

[rdytolose]

the band is one of the reasons I wanted the alta.  i previously had the flex which I loved and that had a similar closure.  I haven't traded out the band yet or cleaned it so we'll see what happens with that.

[Azluch]

I tried poking the holes with a knitting needle and it is still hard to
clamp, it hursts my wrist and thumb trying to press hard,still takes time
to do it. So how much more should I loose the hole?i don't want to make it
too loose. Point is, we should not have to do this, fitbit is not easy to
clamp, it is agravating...

[Carolyn299]

*Hey... you are right. It is a design flaw. But easy to get around. Use
the joiner where the band connects to the watch. Easy peasy. Good luck.*

[70nana]

Totally unable to fasten band.  Very frustrating. 

[ErickFitbit]

@70nana Sorry to hear of the frustration. I recommend checking out the tips here for clasping your Alta more easily. Hoping this helps.

[JimMcA]

II bought my wife and daughter the Alta for Christmas. They are having a fit trying to get the dopey band to work, like a lot of you.  This seems like a clean miss for FitBit - I mean, the Timex I got when I was 6 (long ago) had a band that, well, a 6-year-old could use.  You put all this great technology into these products, and develop a 5-star app, so this usability miss is quite a surprise.

I have the Charge 2 which has a buckle like every other sports watch ever sold.  And it's great so far.  So... I am not down on FitBit but need a solution for the Alta. (Tried the olive oil, tried the pins in and out and in and out, read the other tips, etc.) 

Is the buckle band you mentioned a cost-free option for Alta or will these need to go back to the store?    

[SunsetRunner]

Hi @JimMcA. If you want a band other than what came with the Alta, you must purchase it. Have your wife and daughter look at the buckle type bands available at Amazon. I suspect that like me, they will be excited to be able to order several, low cost bands in different colors and patterns. My current favorite has a pink/green flower pattern.     

[Sophie2017]

Hi.. I had this problem as well. To fix it I took a fork and inserted one fork prong slideways in the hole and slid the hole up and down on the fork prong . Did it again on second hole on the band. Worked great!

[ErickFitbit]

@JimMcA Sorry to hear of the issues your wife and daughter have experienced with clasping the Alta. As alternative bands, we sell a leather option which is a bit softer and easier to initially clasp. In addition, there are metal options and a paracord designer option.