Pixel Watch 3 – Elliptical workouts no longer contributing steps after March 2026 update

[nathanmillson]

I’m looking for clarification and possibly reporting a bug related to Pixel Watch 3 step tracking after the March 2026 update.

Before the update, my elliptical workouts were clearly contributing steps to my daily step count.

Example (before update):

• 27 Feb

  • Elliptical workout: 1h 01m

  • Daily steps recorded: 21,229

• 2 Mar

  • Elliptical workout: 1h 03m

  • Daily steps recorded: 17,544

These workouts normally occur around 4:30am, and the step graph clearly shows a large spike during the workout window. My elliptical sessions typically contributed around 9,000 steps toward the daily total.

During these workouts I am actively rowing the moving handles on the elliptical for the entire session. My arms are continuously moving with the machine handles. This motion has always been detected by the watch in the past and recorded as steps.

After the latest Pixel Watch 3 update (March 2026) this behaviour has changed.

Example (after update):

• 6 Mar

  • Elliptical workout: 1h 03m

  • Calories, heart rate and zone minutes recorded correctly

  • Daily steps recorded: 11,904

The step graph no longer shows the large spike during the workout period. The elliptical activity appears to be excluded from the daily step count.

Troubleshooting already performed:

• Factory reset of the Pixel Watch 3

• Repaired and set up from scratch

The manual elliptical workout still records:

• heart rate

• calories burned

• cardio load

• zone minutes

But steps are no longer added during the workout.

To further investigate this, I contacted Fitbit support.

Support case reference: 1-8039000040697
Date: 7 March

During the support chat I was told that:

• Elliptical and spinning workouts are not designed to track steps

• However, if arm movement is detected by the accelerometer, steps can still be calculated during the workout

This aligns with what my historical data shows. My previous workouts clearly added thousands of steps while using the elliptical.

Because the only change between my previous working workouts and current behaviour is the March 2026 Pixel Watch update, I suspect something may have changed in the step detection algorithm.

My question for a Fitbit specialist:

Can someone officially confirm whether steps generated from arm movement during a manual Elliptical workout are expected to be included in the daily step count?

My historical screenshots show that these steps were previously counted, but after the March update they no longer are.

If this behaviour has changed, was it an intentional change in the update?
Or could this be a bug introduced in the latest Pixel Watch update?

I would appreciate confirmation from a Fitbit specialist, and I’m also interested to hear if other Pixel Watch users have experienced the same change.

Kind Regards,

Nathan.


Before


After

[noerudesu]

Hi thank you for posting this. I don't get as many steps on the elliptical as you, but definitely miss on the 4K steps I get in the morning before starting the day.

I just had the issue happen this weekend after the update. I have a definite workout with my heart rate up but no steps logged during the entirety of the workout.

I wonder if logging vs auto detect would make a difference. I went to Google, then Fitbit support, who asked me to disconnect then reconnect within the Fitbit app then it messed up and I had to factory reset. I am not confident this will solve the issue.

I have a Pixel Watch 4 Wifi. Hopefully this gets solved soon.

[Mpham1]

Also experiencing this now after the update as well. PW3 Wifi.

[Jacvid]

Pixel watch 3 & 10Pro and I was searching for the same thing.  Since the March 2026 update, elliptical is not counting to my step count. I typically hit 1.5 to 2 miles each morning on the elliptical around 5500 to 6000 steps.  Since the update, nothing.  I sometimes workout using "workout" exercise on the watch (so I can bounce between elliptical and weights), but started using "strength training" and "elliptical" specifically to see if that helps.  Did not.  I use the elliptical's moving arms to hold onto (not the steady ones since I've seen that listed as causing tracking issues).  It's picking up under cardio load, but not steps.  I have rebooted,  sync'd, unpaired/paired - everything shy of full factory reset.  I also still had Fit installed and thought maybe that was an issue - uninstalled, no difference.
I am glad to know I am not going crazy or doing something wrong - what I am experiencing at least others are, too.  

[toubap]

I experience the same issue with "Workout" training. I don't think the support would use the same excuse...

Thats very annoying. I saw on reddit ppl recording treadmill instead

---

Got both watch and phone Fitbit updates today. Nothing changed.

[Jacvid]

Same. Updated Fitbit and Health Connect this morning and no difference on the elliptical. Rebooted both after the gym so I was hoping for tomorrow would be different, but not holding my breath.

[noerudesu]

I tried "treadmill" tracking and I had some steps show up finally during my workout. However, the workout mode keeps asking me "are you still working out", which is weird with my HR in the moderate/vigorous zones. 

[nathanmillson]

Crushed a workout this morning. I'm on an agressive cut so that's why the intensity is high.

Received the Fitbit (Wear OS) 3.55.1.1.880974436.release update yesterday. (I have a feeling this could be addressing the SpO2 switched off permission issues). 

Same steps issue still persists.

Elliptical this morningSteps for today.
Evidence

[Bladejjpr]

I'm experiencing the same problem here. I just finished a 40 min elliptical session, 3.5 miles per the machine and pixel watch reported 0 additional steps. Hopefully this will be fixed on the next update. I'm going to try the treadmill workout setting next time instead. I have Pixel Watch 3 WiFi with Pixel 10 Pro XL. 

[Jacvid]

I started using Treadmill after the update that didn't correct this. At least it's getting about 90% of the steps I would have when Elliptical tracked steps.  When you look at the activity under Fitness in the app, Steps does not show.  Treadmill does show so it has Steps as an attribute for that exercise.  We need the Steps attribute added back to Elliptical exercise.

---

Since Treadmill has the Steps attribute, it will add the steps to your daily count.  It doesn't seem to count as many as Elliptical did when using the Elliptical, but it's better than none.

[JoeyKInWJ]

I am experiencing the identical problem. I will add that my problem didn't begin until today though with the Fitbit app updating on 3/10 and the Google Pixel Watch updating this morning (3/14). It seems the update to the watch is the player here or some relationship between the two apps.

[Chris....]

Same for me in whight training, I normally get 2k steps walking around the gym but steps are blank now for the duration I am in the gym.

[Rich_Laue]

When on an elliptical, how are you also walking? 

Your tracker might not currently be able to detect your arm no vents as steps. 

[JoeyKInWJ]

Rich,

    It has always tracked steps on an elliptical and I suspect as it is the motion or arm and leg movement combined with heart rate playing a role in the algorithm.  That I'm unsure of. I just know it has always tracked steps closely on the elliptical as it very much aligns with taking steps.

[Morrigan]

I am adding to this.

Just that it also happens with aerobic and Workout. 

Got in contact with the support. Was send instructions for a fastboot reset. Done that. First Workout today: Salsa Fusion as Aerobic: 0 Steps.

Before the fastboot reset it was at least about 200. 

And before the update: 1500 up to 2600. 

Also Walking Workout tracked as Workout: 100 Steps. Average counted in the video: 2600. I am used to not tracking that many steps as mentioned for those workouts. But 0?

[OJ601]

This is also happening with "weight lifting" whereas previously (before the latest update) it would track the steps during.

[AndreaFitbit]

Hi everybody! Thanks for reporting that Elliptical workouts are no longer contributing steps after March 2026 update.

Thank you for your feedback. We're investigating the issue.

[OJ601]

Please note that it appears to be any indoor activity other than walking or treadmill that's aren't tracking steps.

[TimmyO]

I'm glad I'm not the only one having issues. I thought I was losing it! Mine is not tracking correctly either, both elliptical and treadmill. started after the update . Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[AndreaFitbit]

Thanks for this information @OJ601. I'll add this update to the report.