Fitbit Alta Set Up and Unboxing: How to Get Going

Note: This unboxing is for the original Alta, which has been discontinued and replaced with the Alta HR. Some of the accessories and information discussed in this article will be different for the Alta HR.

I recently received a Fitbit Alta as a gift, and let me tell you, it is even better than I imagined. Easy to use and quite stylish, I am amazed at how much more I’m moving and how fitness minded I’ve become. I was even more amazed at how simple and quick it was to set up, which I’m now going to share with you.

For those of you who plan to get one, or just bought one, I’m going to help you get started. My Fitbit Alta Set Up and Unboxing Guide will take you step-by-step through the process. From charging to programming, I’ll tell you everything you need to know so you can spend more time getting fit and less time figuring things out.

Unboxing: What Comes with Your Fitbit Alta

Unboxing your Alta is an exciting time! It is your first look at your gadget and what it comes with. Here is a look at what the Alta looks like as I unboxed it, along with a list and brief description of each component.

The Box

As you can see, the outer box gives you a glimpse of what your device looks like, along with how it can help you. It also lets you know the size- mine was a large. The packaging is secure and everything is packed neatly, as you’ll soon see.

The inner box is a pretty teal color, and snugly holds the Alta and its accessories.

The Alta & Accessories

This is everything that comes in your Alta box. The first picture shows you the set-up book, charge, doggle and the Alta. You should know that even though the small book says set-up, it has no instructions or pictures to help you set up your Alta. It is actually a book telling you about dangers and warnings associated with the device.

To set up your device, you need to go to a website, which I will get to in a few. First, let’s go over what each component does:

• Charger: The charger has a USB plug, so you can attach it to your PC or an adapter to charge the Alta. It is easy to attach, which I will show you during set up.
• Doggle: The doggle us the most important piece next to your Alta. It goes into the USB port of your computer and recognizes your device so you can set it up properly.
• Alta: Your device, or as I like to call it, your new best friend. It will track calories, distance and pace, along with sleep tracking and call/text notifications. As you can see, it fits comfortably and can be adjusted. Just so you know, I’ve found it very comfortable to wear– even when sleeping.

Setting Up Your Alta

Once you unpack your Alta, it’s time to get to the fun part: setting it up. Set up is simple, and what I love most is that you can completely customize your device, from the clock face to the apps that appear. Here is how to set it up right:

Step 1: Got to the Fitbit website: www.fitbit.com/setup Once you get there you will be asked to either download the app to your phone or download to your PC. I did both, and suggest you do to so you have access to your stats wherever you go.
Once it downloads, it will ask what type of device you have. Select Alta and it will take you to the main set up screen, asking a few questions.

Step 2: Insert the doggle, then attach your Alta to the charger and insert that into another USB. It is important to connect the doggle before you connect your Alta and charger. If you connect the Alta first, it will not be recognized.

Attaching your charger to your Alta is quick. There are 2 prongs on your charger and 2 holes on the underside of your Alta. Just line them up and it will latch on. Below is a picture of how to attach your charger to your Alta.

Step 3: Once the doggle recognizes your device, which can take a minute or 2, the main screen will pop up, and you can begin to customize and program your device. You should leave your device charging as you set it up, because it can take up to 2 hours for it to fully charge.

Your will be asked basic questions, including your height and weight, and will also be given several clock face options.

Programming Your Alta

Programming your Alta is lots of fun, but you need to pay attention because there is a lot to see and learn. The main screen, which you can see above, has 5 tabs across the top to alternate between: dashboard, challenges, friends, notifications and account. This is how you will program your Fitbit and interact with it and others. Here are the basics for each screen:

Dashboard: the dashboard is the main screen, and has small squares to show various stats. These squares include: steps for the day, including calories and minutes, food logging, water calculation, sleep number, weight and badges. Click on any square to view in-depth stats or get tips. You can log what you eat and drink and record sleep, for a complete body overview.

Challenges: on this screen, you can see various challenges for you to join. Challenges are great because you can invite family and friends and “compete”. It is a great way to motivate and make exercising more fun.

Friends: use this tab to add friends and family so you can compare stats and help each other.

Notification: you will see an alert when you reach a goal, earn a badge or get a message from someone.

Account: in addition to your basic account information, on this screen you can set up daily, weekly or monthly goals, alerts, nutrition needs and more.

I hope My Fitbit Alta Set Up and Unboxing Guide gave you better insight on how to set it up and all the great benefits of owning one. As you can see, it is simple to get started, as the packaging and steps are simple and straight forward. In mere minutes, you can have your Alta programmed and ready to go. This device is worth every minute, so if you don’t have one, go out and get one today.

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