question regarding FitBits!

[cms9798ece]

my mother is looking into getting a fitbit, however she doesn't have an iphone or an android cell phone or a tablet or ipad. She does have a laptop computer though. She was told by a co-worker that you don't need a cell phone or tablet/ipad to download the app and that this co-worker just gets her stuff emailed to her. Is this true? She doesnt want to spend the money on a fitbit and not be able to use it! Thanks in advance!!! 

[SteveH]

You can use fitbits with just a laptop. If it's running Windows 10 then there is an app available from the Windows app store. For other versions of Windows there is some fitbit software to download and install.

Fitbit uses bluetooth to connect to the fitbit. If the laptop has bluetooth built in then the Windows 10 app will use it but the downloaded software will want to use fitbit's own wireless dongle. This only comes with certain fitbit models but is available as an optional extra.

There is further information on setting up a fitbit with a PC in this help file:

http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1873/

[cms9798ece]

Thank you so much! 

[Dominique]

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@SteveH wrote:

If the laptop has bluetooth built in then the Windows 10 app will use it but the downloaded software will want to use fitbit's own wireless dongle. This only comes with certain fitbit models but is available as an optional extra.

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Unless @cms9798ece’s mother has a very recent laptop and is tech-savvy, she would probably want to purchase the wireless dongle. As @SteveH said, that dongle is included with some models (usually, the older/simpler ones like the Fitbit One), but not with the newer/fancier ones.

Syncing with Fitbit’s own dongle and any Fitbit tracker is dead easy, even with an older laptop and/or an older version of Windows (or Mac OS).

[USAF-Larry]

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@Dominique wrote:

Syncing with Fitbit’s own dongle and any Fitbit tracker is dead easy, even with an older laptop and/or an older version of Windows (or Mac OS).

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...or Linux OS (with Galileo utility). 

[dragonpupps]

My Fitbit (the Alta) came with a little USB chip that you can plug into your computer in order for your tracker to synchronize the data if you have to use a computer instead of a mobile device. I'm sure that most trackers have one, since Fitbit would have to assume that not everyone has a smartphone or mobile device that can download the app.

[USAF-Larry]

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@dragonpupps wrote:

I'm sure that most trackers have one, since Fitbit would have to assume that not everyone has a smartphone or mobile device that can download the app.

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The newest tracker, the Charge 2, does not ship with the Dongle. The Windows 10 Fitbit App can use the PC's bluetooth without need the Dongle, so the Charge 2 does not come with one. But, the Dongle can be ordered from the Fitbit Store if it is needed.