Bike activity not tracking distance

[R.J.]

Gps does not track distance in biking....the icon of the cell phone comes on ....on the screen of the fitbit but it keeps on searching....bar goes back and forth the time im biking....time, calories burnt,heart rate are all tracked.....even on the map i can see my all roads ...streets i biked in red....but no distances....in the past it would track full distance....even give me a time per Km....BUT distance is tracked  if i use the run or hike??

Ive updated ghe app...its a Fitbit charge 2

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity and format 

[knyberg]

I am on iOS and just checked, already have location access set to always.

[Almeidathais270]

Does anyone got this working?? Mine never worked properly. When it autorecognize that I am cycling does not shows distance and when I select bike mode the same thing, it does shows in the map my percurse. 

[NAM1]

Oddly mine worked today and tracked 15 miles of riding on the watch (Charge 2) and the FitBit App.

I was gave up on the Fitbit entirely as I reset as per the moderators guide on this thread and it caused it to go haywire.  It would toggle between notifications on and off constantly after a charge and then drain the battery in 5 mins.  I threw it in a drawer and gave up on it.

I thought I'd call Fitbit one time to see if they had a fix.  As I tried to call them, I put the Fitbit to charge in case they asked me to do something with it.  This time my Fitbit did not go crazy after a recharge.  I think letting it sit in my drawer for months completely drained the battery and possibly reset the pushbutton by releasing the tension that may have caused it to stick during the reset process.

Anyway, here is some tips you may try to see it tracks.

1) I did start tracking by manually selecting biking from the watch.

2) I had updated the Fitbit App to the latest version.

3) Make sure if you have powersaver on for your phone, it excludes the GPS (Google Maps for me) and the Fitbit app so they keep running in battery powersaver mode.

Good luck and I'll let you guys know if it keeps tracking in the future.

P.S. One downside after my my Fitbit was not used for months is that it is not tracking heart rate any longer.  The green flashing light on the backside no longer works.

[LongTrailHiker]

Nope
--
Deb 

Moderator Edit: Personal info removed

[Rich_Laue]

@Almeidathais270 an auto recognized bike ride without GPS will not be able to measure distance.

For distance you will need ro use thre manual tracking mode with GPS turned on. 

[NationalService]

Sad to see it's been over a year and they still havent done anything about this problem.

I bought a charge 3 back in july and it was amazing at first and then suddenly it cant figure out how to track a bike ride, which is my main form of exercise.

I'm going to ask for a refund if this isnt fixed soon. I dont have the money to be buying non-functional products that dont work as advertised. 

[Rich_Laue]

I haven't been able to get mine to fail. With the Versa line or Charge line. 

Also the Charge 4 can use the phones gps or its built in gps. 

[Andy1899]

I’m having this issue as well. Crazy how they still haven’t fixed this problem.

[Rich_Laue]

@Andy1899 what issue are you getting? Do you get a map of your ride? If not, th eff n it is a problem obtaining a GPS lock. 

If you her a map, them the problem is in calculation with coordinates.

[LongTrailHiker]

My Fitbit is essentially a step tracker. Not really worth the $$$ I spent
for the 4 with GPS - GPS doesn’t work --

Moderator Edit: Personal info removed

[Andy1899]

With my Charge 2, I manually selected Biking on the watch. Opened the app on my phone and went for a ride. The app has location access to always. When I completed my ride, the watch registered exercise, but didn’t notice it was a bike ride, nor did it provide the map with my route. My app and watch are upto date on software/firmware.

[Rich_Laue]

@Andy1899 then you probably did not choose bike. You day it registered an exercise but failed to mention what type of exercise?

When using the manual mode, fitbit will not try and "detect the exercise" it simply will use the type of exercise chosen. 

As for GPS, several manual exercises have the option to enable or disable this option. Try swiping up when the up arrow is visable to gain access to the settings

[Andy1899]

I am manually selecting bike from the watch. GPS for biking is turned on. This isn’t the first time this has happened. 

[Rich_Laue]

Did your watch ever say that GPS was acquired/connected. 

Has their ever been a map displayed? 

[Morrisog]

Mine show 0 miles when riding.  It worked earlier in the summer just fine.

[Sushil_Chauhan]

Yes, you are correct . I also faced the same problem. But as suggested by some fellow writer (missing his name), juss open setting-> App -> Fitbit-> permission-> allow GPS for all time.

I did above thing, and my Tracker started working properly. But before that juss update Ur Fitbit app to the latest version.

Bust of luck !!!

Happy running !!! N Happy biking !!!👍✌️

[Rich_Laue]

Interesting since most android phones, under the phone setting - App - Fitbit - Permissions - the option is Location not GPS  I wonder what phone model the above are?

Also because of Androids requirements the Fitbit app needs permission to location services in order to do a sync of the tracker. 

[missperu]

I am presuming for the bike app to work on my fitbit watch I always have to take my phone with me?

[Rich_Laue]

Hi @missperu that would depend on which model tracker you have and if you want a map of your ride, or to know what distance was ridden. 

[missperu]

I have a fit bit charge 2. If I want to know the distance i have ridden I
have to take my phone with me, is this correct?