# How to set up and connect your Fitbit Nov 19, 2025 • 3 min read This guide will walk you through receiving your Fitbit, setting it up, and securely connecting it to your PicnicHealth account. If you have any questions, please contact our support team at [(415) 680-3085](tel:+1-415-680-3085) or [help@picnicresearch.com](mailto:help@picnicresearch.com). Let's get started! **Note**: If you are receiving a Fitbit as part of a study, you will not receive your Fitbit until your qualification into the study is confirmed and you complete any intake requirements. This involves collecting your medical records to confirm eligibility and ensuring the initial surveys were completed by you, and this can sometimes take a few weeks. This guide walks you through the process of setting up your Fitbit and connecting it to PicnicHealth. ## Receive and set up your Fitbit When your package arrives, open it up! Inside, you'll find your new Fitbit device, its charging cable, and a quick-start guide. Take everything out and make sure all components are present. Before you can connect your Fitbit to PicnicHealth, you'll need to set up the device itself. Follow the instructions included in the package to complete device set up. 1. **Charge your Fitbit** First things first, let's power it up! Connect your Fitbit to its charging cable and plug it into a USB power source. It usually takes a couple of hours for a full charge. 2. **Download the Google Health App** While your Fitbit is charging, download the Google Health app to your smartphone or tablet. You can find it in the Apple App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play Store (for Android devices). 3. **Create/Log In to Your Fitbit (Google) Account** Open the Google Health app. Log in with your Google or Fitbit account. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create an account first. 4. **Pair your device** Once logged in, the app will guide you to set up a new device. - Open the Google Health app on your phone. - Go to your Profile, or tap Connections / Devices at the top left of your dashboard. - Tap **Add device**, then select your Fitbit from the list (e.g., Inspire 3). - Make sure your Fitbit is charged and near your phone. - Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the pairing process using Bluetooth. During setup, a number may appear on your Fitbit screen. Enter this number into the app when prompted. - Continue following the on-screen instructions to finish setup, including accepting terms and conditions and allowing any necessary permissions. 5. **Install Updates (if prompted)** Your Fitbit may require a software update during setup and throughout the study. Please allow these updates to be installed. This ensures your device has the latest features and security. This can take some time, so please be patient. Once the setup is complete, you should see your Fitbit connected in the Google Health app! ## Connect your Fitbit (Google) account to PicnicHealth Now that your Fitbit device is set up and syncing with the Google Health app, it's time to connect it to PicnicHealth! 6. **Open Your PicnicHealth App** Navigate to the PicnicHealth app on your web browser, smartphone or tablet and log in to your PicnicHealth account. 7. **Find the “Connect Device” task on your Research Dashboard** On your research dashboard, you should see a task asking you to connect your Fitbit. Click into the task and follow the prompts. You will be redirected to a secure page. Here, you'll need to log in using the same Google account credentials (email and password) that you used when setting up your Fitbit device. You will be prompted to give permission to access your Fitbit data. If prompted, please select “Allow all” to share all data types – this authorizes PicnicHealth to access your data. Your connected Fitbit data will not be shared outside of PicnicHealth without your permission. That’s it! Once the connection is established, there’s nothing else you need to do. If it disconnects, we’ll email you with instructions to reconnect. If you have any questions about connecting your device, need a replacement device, or are experiencing difficulties using the device (such as issues with the band), please contact us at [help@picnicresearch.com](mailto:help@picnicresearch.com) or call [(415) 680-3085](tel:+1-415-680-3085). ## We know that every person's story is unique and deserves to be heard. Join our early breast cancer registry to be counted and share your story with research. [Learn More](/content/breastcancer?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic_search&utm_campaign=grace-ebc-treatment/index.html) ### Create a List List the names of all the doctors, hospitals, and other facilities your loved one visits regularly, along with those they have visited in the past. Try to go back as far as you can, striving for at least the last 5-10 years, but do your best. Even if you can’t remember them all, having a strong baseline can help you quickly identify gaps in records. #### Ensure You Have the Appropriate Legal Status It is important to make sure that you are fully empowered to make decisions on behalf of your loved one with Alzheimer’s. Your relationship status with the patient may not be enough to legally give you access to your loved one's medical information. It is a good idea to talk to an expert about securing special legal status, such as Power of Attorney (POA), a legal document that allows an individual to name someone as their decision maker should they no longer be able to make decisions on their own. #### Gather and Organize the Medical Records in One Place It’s important to have all of your loved one’s medical records together in one spot. This makes it much easier for you and your loved one’s physicians to accurately map the patient’s medical journey and more easily share information between doctors. Fortunately, tools exist to make record management and access simple. A free resource like PicnicHealth helps you collect and organize all of this information. PicnicHealth’s intuitive timeline allows you to pinpoint data across the medical history, eliminating your need for keeping heavy binders filled with paper records or keeping track of multiple software portal logins. #### Review the Medical Records to be an Informed Advocate The better you understand your loved one's medical history, the better you can advocate on their behalf. Access and understanding of this information will help you to ask informed questions with physicians. Through regular communication backed by the data in the medical records, you can help your loved one’s care team develop a more successful care plan.