Step Count Out of Sync - Again

[xlevix10]

I have a Pixel Watch and an S25 Ultra. Around August last year, I began having issues where the steps on my Pixel Watch would be significantly higher than the steps on my Fitbit app. After a couple of long, grueling months, that issue got resolved.

However, it's cropped back up, but in reverse! My Fitbit app shows several more hundred steps than my Pixel Watch does. This is the EXACT same behavior I was experiencing over the summer/fall, except in reverse order. No amount of manually syncing the Fitbit app gets the Pixel Watch to display the correct number of steps.

My phone is fully updated, the Fitbit apps on my Pixel Watch and phone are updated, and my Pixel Watch itself is fully updated. I can confirm that my phone is not setup to track my steps, only my Pixel Watch. I've restarted my watch several times, as well as force kill the Fitbit apps on my phone and watch, but nothing works. I believe we're once again experiencing the same issue, just in a different order.

[RiekoC]

Hello @xlevix10 

Although I'm happy to see you again, I wish it was for more pleasant reasons, not because of Pixel Watch issues.

Have you gotten the March update for the Pixel Watch yet? According to the announcement, the March update includes improved step tracking. I'm really hoping that's means we'll see steps syncing up between the watch & app without discrepancies as well as reduced step counting lag after periods of non-movement.

It seems that the Pixel Watch March update is rolling out more slowly than usual and, initially is only for the WiFi versions. The March update for the LTE versions is supposed to start rolling out in the next week or two.

My Pixel Watch 2 & 3 are both LTE, so I'm patiently waiting. Okay, maybe not so patient...

[xlevix10]

Haha, I'm in the same boat as you with the "patiently" waiting. Unfortunately nothing yet, but I keep checking every day.

I've also noticed that the steps on my watch will decrease. I just saw it go from 16.5k to 16.3k, so there might be something bigger underlying. I saw some threads on Reddit about this happening to other trackers like the Charge, so maybe it's a bigger problem at Google, which would be unfortunate!

[RiekoC]

Hi @xlevix10 

Just to let you know, I'm now experiencing a similar issue with my Pixel Watch 3. In the last few days, the Fitbit app is showing more steps than the Pixel Watch 3 despite multiple syncs. Today, I'm seeing about 150 more steps in the app than what's on the watch. It seems strange that the problem started showing up just this week.

I'm going to start checking for the LTE watch update on Wednesday, 19 Mar 2025. Hopefully, the watch update will fix the discrepancy issues.

[xlevix10]

Thanks for the update, @RiekoC. Similar to the last time this happened, it seems to be a bit intermittent. Yesterday, my steps completely matched but today, they're 1,600 off from each other 😔 I check daily for the update, hoping it comes soon!

[RiekoC]

Hi @xlevix10 

In case you haven't gotten the notification yet, the Pixel Watch LTE update started rolling out yesterday (18 Mar 2025) afternoon. I got the update this morning.

So far, my steps are in sync on both the app and watch. However, I've experienced the step count inconsistency in the late afternoon/evening so I'll be monitoring over the next few days to see if the update fixes this problem.

I've also gotten confirmation that the team is aware of the step count inconsistencies. Apparently, this bug is affecting other Fitbit devices and the team is trying to figure out why. So far, they are focusing on the app since other Fitbit devices are having this issue. But, it doesn't seem to be one that they can easily troubleshoot.

On a positive note, I noticed that my Pixel Watch 3 seems to be doing a better job of tracking steps. It doesn't seem as laggy as it was before, especially after sitting for a while.

[xlevix10]

Hey @RiekoC! I'm happy to hear the update does in fact approve upon the step tracking and am really happy to hear the team is aware of the issue! It's just nice knowing that it's at least known and being looked into.

I checked my watch this morning and still didn't have the update, but someone on the Pixel Watch forms (which I'm starting to think may actually be you, what a small world!) said to tap on the watch icon multiple times to get the update ready to download and install. This worked for me, so it's currently installing on my watch and then I'll be going for a walk to see if it's improved!

[RiekoC]

Hi @xlevix10 

Yup, that was me. I'm a Product Expert (PE) for both Fitbit & the Pixel Watch. 😁

Glad that my instructions helped you get the March update for your watch. I've got my fingers crossed that you see an improvement in step tracking and consistency between your watch & the app. 🤞

[xlevix10]

@RiekoC sadly the update didn't fix the issue for me 😔 I've taken your suggestion and gave submitted feedback via the Pixel Watch app.

[RiekoC]

Hey @xlevix10 

I'm disappointed to read that the Pixel Watch March update didn't fix the step tracking issue you've been seeing. 

It seems that you're among those having the problems with the Fitbit app not properly syncing steps with the devices. I know the team is working on this issue. However, from the information that was share, this app bug is on the more complex side since multiple Fitibit devices are affected.

FWIW, I had slightly more battery drain during the night for the first 2 days after I installed the March Pixel Watch LTE update. Now, I'm seeing better battery life than before the update. Maybe, just maybe, it might take a couple of days for the step tracking discrepancies to resolve.

Thanks for submitting the feedback. If I learn of any updates on this bug, I'll report back.

[xlevix10]

@RiekoC I appreciate you Rieko, thank you so much!

[RiekoC]

Hi @xlevix10 

Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate you, as well.

Yesterday, I had step count discrepancy between my Pixel Watch and the Fitbit app. However, it was only 7 steps, not 100+ like before the PW March update. Today, there's no step count discrepancy so far.

This is a perplexing issue, especially since it's not consistent, seen across multiple devices, & isn't easily reproducible.

[Guy_]

Hi @xlevix10 - as @RiekoC says it's not a watch issue or Fitbit App issue.

I am continuing to monitor progres and can reproduce the minor adjustments that occur when syncing, so it's not fixed.

Only the major swings problem is resolved but it's not working properly still.

Fitbit has made no official announcement about the bug yet but I will post an update in Unreliable step counting bug  if Fitbit do fix it.

[xlevix10]

Thank you very much for the information and keeping us updated, @Guy_.

[xlevix10]

Hey @Guy_ and @RiekoC, just wanted to throw a quick update here. I noticed I had a system update on my PW1 last night, so I installed it and this afternoon, I went for my daily run and unfortunately the issue still persists. I'm not sure if this system update was supposed to address the issue or not, but wanted to pass this along just to say it didn't.

[RiekoC]

Hi @xlevix10 

Thanks for your update.

We've learned that there's a widespread issue on the Fitbit side that affects step tracking & count discrepancy between the device & the app. It's a trickier issue since it affects multiple Fitbit devices, isn't consistent, and isn't easily reproducible.

I'm also experiencing step count discrepancies. It's strange in that there will be days when my Pixel Watch & the Fitbit app will match. Then in the same day, the step counts are out of sync, then goes back in sync. Even the discrepancies aren't consistent. I'll see more steps on the watch than the app. Another time, there will be more steps in the app than the watch.

I don't envy the team trying to figure out how to fix the bug.