my fitbit app seems different than everyone else's

[Johnny123]

Hi all,

Just got my charge hr and am having a devil of a time figuring out how to display an instantaneous heart rate graph in order to track my target zones while exercising.  Am using the android fitbit app from google play.

I've searched on the forum here for help and have come across suggestions on how to add tiles to the dashboard.  They say to click on the "grid" icon on the  upper left of the screen, but I do not have any such icon.  Its possible that these posts are referring to some different version of the app?  I'l post a pic of my app's dashboard.

In any case,all I want to do is in my first sentence above.  When I do click on the heart icon on the dash it only shows a daily graph, nothing near as detailed as an instantaeous graph I was hoping for.  Any advice is appreciated.  The user manual was obvious written by someone deeply familiar with the product.  

[Johnny123]

Not sure how to "add tiles". Clicking on the upper left thing just takes me to challenges, friends, etc

[SebringDon]

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@Johnny123 wrote:

Hi all,

Just got my charge hr and am having a devil of a time figuring out how to display an instantaneous heart rate graph in order to track my target zones while exercising.  Am using the android fitbit app from google play.

I've searched on the forum here for help and have come across suggestions on how to add tiles to the dashboard.  They say to click on the "grid" icon on the  upper left of the screen, but I do not have any such icon.  Its possible that these posts are referring to some different version of the app?  I'l post a pic of my app's dashboard.

In any case,all I want to do is in my first sentence above.  When I do click on the heart icon on the dash it only shows a daily graph, nothing near as detailed as an instantaeous graph I was hoping for.  Any advice is appreciated.  The user manual was obvious written by someone deeply familiar with the product.  

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@Johnny123

The heart icon on the dash is an instantaneous heart rate display. That tile will show your heartrate as registered by your Charge HR and text identifying your current heart rate zone. The heart icon will also change to reflect your current heart rate zone. The following snippet from the help article What should I know about my heart rate data? shows how the icon changes to reflect your heart rate zone.

That should give you the information you need during a workout. 

Also, I can help with the confusion over the Dashboard. The Fitbit.com Dashboard is where all the features of your Fitbit can be most thoroughly explored. Most of those features are also included in one form or another in the mobile apps for Android, iOS, and Windows 10. The mobile apps have an interface that's quite different from the Fitbit.com Dashboard. That's why the particular version you're using can confuse you when you're reading about other versions.

Since your question is really about the Android app, I'm going to move this thread over to that section of the Help Forums so that others with the same problem are more likely to find it. 

Oh, and just so you know what we go through to answer some questions - I just spent 5 minutes jogging in place with the phone in my hand, making sure the icon behaved as expected. Well, at least through Cardio Zone. For Peak Zone you're on your own. 😄

Hope this helps!

[Johnny123]

Thanks a lot for your reply.  

My question though is not about instantaneous heart rate, its about a graph of instantaneous heart rate.  Is that possible on the android app?  Its the only reason I bought the device!  Thanks

[SebringDon]

@Johnny123

I'm not aware of any instantaneous heart rate graph available in the Android app, just the instantaneous heart rate monitor I described above. I think replacing that with a graph would actually be counterproductive.

When you're working out, you need to know what's going on right now, not spending time trying to interpret a graph line. What possible advantange would there be to seeing a historic graph with the current second grafted onto the end, vs a clear indication of exactly where you are at this particular instant in your workout? Analysis is for after the workout, not while you're sweating it out. During the workout, the most important information is where are you at this exact time. A graph will never be as clear about that as a dedicated readout.

It might look cool and impress your friends, but it's not going to be as useful as a dedicated instantaneous display.

Just my opinion, anyway.

[Johnny123]

By turning on all-day tracking its now at least showing live heart rate on the dashboard but the font is so small I have to wear my reading glasses while on the treadmill or elliptical in order to see it (one more reason why a live graph would be nice), even with font size set to max because of all the other stuff on the dashboard.  If I press the heart symbol it just goes to a long-term log ofheart rate, not live heart rate.

On my polar h7 using either endomondo or the polar app, live heart rate is large and easily visible even without changing the system fonts.  There are apps like "Big Font" but they require you to restart your smartphone to use them.  Dang - this fitbit is unusable to me if I have to wear reading glasses while working out.