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

[GazDaGreat]

Is there any update on when this issue will be resolve? It is very frustrating to deal with. 

[b-bowling]

Agreed. Not getting any steps after a 2 hour Frisbee game that gave me over 200 cardio load is so frustrating. You can see the noon-2pm just not logging any steps after I started a "sport" exercise on the watch 

[Landryjoe]

I’m checking in on this thread because it has now been eight weeks since this issue was initially flagged, and there still doesn't seem to be a resolution or a clear update from the team.

My cardio routine relies heavily on the elliptical, and accurate daily tracking is the main reason I use a Fitbit. Having my primary workouts no longer contribute to my step count really defeats the purpose of using the app and watch for fitness goals.

I have been a loyal Fitbit user for ten years, but this is a significant enough issue that it has me reconsidering my commitment to the Pixel ecosystem and looking toward Apple as an alternative.

Could we please get an official timeline for a fix? It is frustrating that a core feature that worked perfectly for years seems to have been lost in a recent update. I would love to stay with Fitbit, but we need to know that a solution is actually on the way.

[KenG1959]

I have been using the "Treadmill" setting when using the Elliptical, and it has been tracking the footsteps perfectly. Give that a try (it has been working for me)! 

[RiekoC]

Like @KenG1959 , I'm using Treadmill as my activity and steps are being tracked. 

I, too, am waiting for the bug to be fixed so I can go back to using Elliptical. 

[Chris....]

Frustrating isn't it, totally messed my stats up, we invest heavily and it seems they aren't that bothered in getting a fix for this, Pixel phone, Pixel watch, Pixel Buds, subscription to Fitbit premium, I have called and emailed them and the response has been poor, making sure the devices and software they sell work properly should be the number one priority.

[KenG1959]

I have been afraid to update the app lately, as I am hoping that they don't also mess up the Treadmill function via an even newer update.  Until someone tells us on this forum that "Elliptical" function is working and tracking footsteps again, I will not update the app (and will keep using the "Treadmill" function for tracking the footsteps when I use the elliptical....)

[Chris....]

@AndreaFitbit Morning can we have an update on this problem please.

[Ktbeast918]

Have had this same issue for 2 months now. Still no fix is extremely frustrating.

[mmcincy]

Basically 2 months and counting with a device that flat out fails to do basics. Updates are non existent.

[Morrigan]

@AndreaFitbit

Is there any update yet?

Like will the step counting be back with the new App?

[Pittu]

Is there any fixes to this? 

I am still experiencing this issue. 

[toubap]

Today's news I got from the support

We’re aware of it and are working to identify a resolution as quickly as possible.

As of now, our teams suggest to keep the device and app up to date as we do send updates for a new patch to fix this.