How do I add an exercise on new Fitbit app?

[Margie44]

The Fitbit app has just been updated today. I'm extremely disappointed that it is actually a downgrade rather than an upgrade in that I can no longer record my actual activity, such as yoga, pilates or aqua aerobics, which I could do prior to this latest versionof the app. The only activities available are the auto recognised ones. Can this be rectified as soon as possible please? It is a key feature I use on my Fitbit and so I'm not al all happy!

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[LZeeW · Accepted solution]

Hello @Margie44 and welcome to the Community.  I apologize if I'm misreading your post.  It sounds like you are manually logging these activities.  Please tap on the green "+" sign in the lower right, then Activity in the Manually log section.

You don't say what model Fitbit you use.  All of the current Fitbits have an Exercise app on the device.  There are specific shortcuts to track yoga and Pilates.  There isn't a specific shortcut for aqua aerobics, but there is a generic Workout shortcut that is recommended.  You might be able track your exercises as you do them and you don't have to do it after the fact.

[DonJ101]

Wonderful...! I get back from a swim to find your new app has downloaded and now I can't find my swim stats. This Fitbit app was pretty crap before and was hit or miss on recording data on sleep, swim etc etc. now it seems to be completely useless for my needs.... Of course no warning of this, no explanation just a load of waffle about "wonderful new features", which are of no interest to me. How about making some of the old ones work reliably. So, well done another unhappy customer.

[Margie44]

Thank you so much for your advice! It worked! Shame the helpdesk chat conversation I had didn't tell me about this. 

[DonJ101]

Hi Margie44, sounds like you should be thanking Laurie at LZeeW as that msg did include some help. Mine was just joining you in the frustration of yet another FitBit software update that seems to override all the things we learned to do to make their product acceptable..

[Redpage7]

Thanks for clarifying ! I got too used to doing things a certain way and didn’t even see the green plus sign until I read this.. reminds me to try and be more mindful 😁

[Dah57]

I think whoever designed this new app is working for the competition 

[Cindiwilson99]

It's so awful! I actually cried in frustration, not being able to evaluate the important metrics. Grrrrr!

[Jenjen72wn]

You can't groom the home page any more. You have to click on exercise, then click at exercise. Two clicks now. Weird UI.

[Jenjen72wn]

TBH I did too. I come from an eating disorder background and got confronted with weight and food diary information that I had switched off. It took any 20 minutes to figure out how to turn these off. 

[Chanel7]

THE NEW APP IS WORTHLESS GARBAGE.  WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP HAVING TO CHANGE THINGS WHEN THEY AREN'T BROKEN.  YOU HAD A REALLY GOOD THING GOING.  NOT NOW!

[Ovidia]

I have the same problem since the last update. I'm on a Charge 5 and had programed a shortcut for yoga which is no longer an option. Yes, I can manually add time, but previously I didn't have to once I personalised my exercise shortcuts. Now, though my fitbit still monitors my practice, the app on my phone no longer shows the data. Is this a bug or was it a decision?

[DonJ101]

Yes, my charge 5 used to track my swimming automatically (well mostly - always a bit of a chance whether it would or not) but now ????? If I have to push buttons on the watch - no chance - I don't wear glasses while swimming and I need them to see the tiny screen and if its some button on a phone app - well I don't take my phone swimming - I don't want to risk "loosing" it.

Also my charge app now wants me to turn on location tracking before it will even try to sync with the watch - I don't want to tell Google where I am all the time - its none of their business what I do and they use too much of my data already. No, its time for something new to replace FitBit - its pretty rubbish on its tracking anyway - If I really was sleeping only the times it said I would be dead years ago through lack of sleep.

[Owen79]

When I click the + symbol I don't have an Activity tab/option. Mine only has Sleep and Weight options. What's the story here?