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Lifehacker has published a practical guide to 10 Fitbit Edge settings and workarounds, from changing watch faces and orientation to broadcasting heart-rate data to Strava. The advice is based on the guide’s reported device and app features; the source does not provide independent testing or explain whether every option appears on all app versions.
Lifehacker has published a guide to 10 ways to get more from Google’s Fitbit Edge, including changing its watch face, adjusting step-count behavior, saving tracker battery and sending heart-rate data to Strava. The article describes these as practical settings and workarounds for people who want a small-screen fitness tracker with more control over how it looks and records workouts.
In its guide, Lifehacker says users can browse and customize watch faces in the Google Health app, then switch among selected faces by pressing and holding the watch face. The guide also points to Device preferences for a tracker orientation setting that moves the side button to the opposite side, and a magnification option that enlarges the display after three quick taps.
For activity tracking, Lifehacker says users can change the wrist preference to dominant in an effort to reduce step counts produced by arm movements. The guide also describes choosing between the Edge’s built-in GPS and a connected phone’s GPS, depending on which device the user wants to preserve battery on and whether the phone’s GPS suits their needs.
For workouts, the article says the Edge can broadcast its heart-rate reading to Strava, where users can record a session with features such as lap timing and a map. Lifehacker also suggests disabling unsolicited AI Health Coach insights while keeping the option to ask the coach questions, and using multiple Fitbit devices, including the Fitbit Air, without repeating setup each time.
FIELD GUIDE / FITBIT EDGE
10 Hacks Every Fitbit Edge User Should Know
Lifehacker’s practical guide maps out ways to customize the tracker, adapt daily activity settings and add workout details through Strava. The tips cover comfort, readability and battery choices, with availability depending on your app and device version.
01 / MAKE IT YOURS
Four quick ways to tune the experience
The guide describes controls for the display, physical layout and step tracking. Some are changed on the tracker; others are found in Google Health’s device preferences.
Choose a watch face
Browse and customize faces in the Google Health app, then press and hold the watch face to switch among selected options.
Move the side button
Adjust tracker orientation in Device preferences to place the side button on the opposite side.
Magnify the display
Enable Magnification in Device preferences. Three quick taps enlarge the screen; move around the view with a finger.
Set wrist preference
Choosing dominant wrist may reduce steps attributed to arm movements. The guide gives no measured effect.
Select a GPS source
Choose built-in Edge GPS or a connected phone’s GPS based on battery priorities and your needs.
Use more than one Fitbit
The guide says the app can support multiple Fitbit devices, including Edge and Air, without repeating setup each time.
02 / ADD WORKOUT CONTEXT
From heart rate to a richer Strava session
Lifehacker says the Edge can broadcast its heart-rate reading to Strava. After selecting the tracker as a heart-rate sensor, Strava can record a workout with features such as lap timing and a map.
Enable broadcast
Turn on heart-rate broadcasting on the Edge.
Connect in Strava
Select the Edge as the heart-rate sensor.
Record a session
Use Strava’s workout tools, including laps and a map.
03 / MORE CONTROL, WITH TRADE-OFFS
Settings shape comfort and recorded data
These options offer ways to adapt a minimalist tracker, but the guide does not establish that a particular configuration is more accurate or better for every user.
Quiet unsolicited insights
Disable unsolicited AI Health Coach insights while keeping the option to ask questions.
Balance battery and tracking
GPS source can affect battery use and recorded distance or pace. The best fit depends on your phone and circumstances.
Sharing may vary
The writer reported a broken link to an older Fitbit website when using the share button. That is one reported experience.
04 / CHECK BEFORE YOU RELY ON IT
App versions and device behavior may differ
The guide does not list a publication date, app version, phone model or testing details. It does not quantify step-count changes or battery savings, and it does not confirm that every menu path appears for every user.
QUICK ANSWERS
Key questions
What is the guide about?
Ten settings and workarounds for customization, activity tracking and richer workout information through Strava.
Can the Edge work with Strava?
According to the guide, users can broadcast heart rate and select the Edge as a Strava sensor while recording a session.
How can I make the display easier to read?
Turn on Magnification in Device preferences, then tap the screen three times quickly to enlarge its content.
Can I change how steps are counted?
The guide suggests setting wrist preference to dominant to reduce arm-movement steps. It does not guarantee a specific result.
Can I switch between tracker and phone GPS?
The guide says GPS behavior can be chosen in Device preferences; the right choice depends on your device and battery priorities.
Was this independently tested?
The source presents its reported device and app features but provides no independent testing details.
More Control Over Daily Tracking
The tips matter because they address common trade-offs in a minimalist tracker: a small display can be hard to read, a prominent button can be pressed accidentally, and a basic workout interface may not show all the information some runners want. The settings described by Lifehacker offer ways to adapt the device without replacing it or relying only on its default configuration.
Several suggestions also affect how users interpret their activity data. Changing the wrist preference may alter step totals, while selecting a GPS source can affect battery use and recorded distance or pace. Those choices can make the tracker more comfortable for an individual, but Lifehacker’s guide does not establish that they will produce more accurate results for every person or phone.
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Settings Behind the Fitbit Edge
Lifehacker presents the Edge as a tracker with a screen for the time and workout data, alongside a companion app that provides additional controls. The guide says some changes are made on the wrist; others require the Google Health app’s Device preferences or coaching settings. Its instructions are therefore a route through the app, rather than a report of a new product launch or software announcement.
Lifehacker also notes a limitation in the watch-face feature: the writer’s share button appeared to send a broken link to an older Fitbit website. That observation is specific to the writer’s experience and does not establish how the feature behaves for every user. The guide says Google’s app supports multiple Fitbit devices, allowing users to set up an Edge and an Air and wear either one.
App Versions May Differ
Lifehacker’s guide does not give a publication date, app version, phone model, or testing details, so it is not possible to confirm whether every menu path remains the same across current devices. The reported broken watch-face sharing link is the writer’s observation, not a confirmed widespread fault.
The article does not quantify how much step counts change when wrist preference is set to dominant, or how much battery is saved by using phone GPS instead of built-in GPS. Its advice about GPS accuracy is conditional on phone age and circumstances, not a universal performance comparison. Users should check their own device settings and workout records before relying on a particular configuration.
Check the Settings on Your Device
Lifehacker’s guide includes no follow-up announcement or product change. Readers who want to try the tips can check the Fitbit Edge’s current settings in the Google Health app and confirm that the named controls are available on their device. For workout tracking, they can test the Strava connection and GPS choice on a routine session before relying on them for an event or a long outing.
The source does not say whether Google will repair the reported watch-face sharing link, change the app menus or update the Edge’s workout features. The immediate practical next step is to compare the tracker’s own options with Lifehacker’s instructions and assess how any changes affect comfort, recorded steps and battery use.
Key Questions
What is the Fitbit Edge guide about?
Lifehacker’s guide outlines 10 settings and workarounds for customizing the tracker, adjusting activity tracking and adding workout information through Strava.
Can the Fitbit Edge use Strava for workout tracking?
According to Lifehacker’s guide, users can enable heart-rate broadcasting on the Edge, then select it as a heart-rate sensor in Strava. Strava can then record the workout with features such as lap timing and a map.
How can users make the Edge easier to read?
Lifehacker says to turn on Magnification in Device preferences. Three quick taps on the screen enlarge the displayed content, which users can move around with a finger.
Can users change how the Fitbit Edge counts steps?
Lifehacker suggests setting Wrist preference to dominant in the app, including as a way to reduce step counts caused by arm movements. The guide does not provide a measured change or guarantee a particular result.
Can the Edge switch between its GPS and a phone’s GPS?
Lifehacker says users can choose GPS behavior in Device preferences, including using the tracker’s built-in GPS or the phone’s GPS. The better choice depends on the user’s device and battery priorities.
Source: Lifehacker
