Blaze not counting steps accurately

[Hipster71]

I have read all the other posts. Still don’t have an answer. 

My Blaze is not picking up all my steps. With my old HR, which I wore for 2 years, I was constantly in the 8000-11,000 step range. 

Now, with the Blaze, I am in the 5000-6000 range and have not changed my activity. I have gone over 10,000 steps 3 times since I got it for Christmas. With the HR, it would have been many more. 

I get on my treadmill, it registers I have done half a mile, the Blaze indicates I am under 1/3rd, and only about 600 steps. 

The time is off as well. 

I have reset it. 

I have checked, and yes, it has the current firmware. 

One post intrigued me...when I am on the treadmill, I cannot swing my arms. I have a medical condition that affects my balance and I need to hold on. Could that be the reason I am not seeing the correct numbers on the treadmill? 

What else can I do to correct the accuracy? 

I love the Blaze, but sure would like to see if being correct. 

Moderator edit: Clarified subject

[FerdinandFitbit]

Hey there @Hipster71. Good to see you in the Forums! 🙂

I'm sorry you're having problems with your steps not being recorded accurately 😕 Thanks a lot for taking the time to restart your tracker and to check that the firmware was also updated!

Now, when it comes to how the Blaze records steps, Fitbit devices use a 3-axis accelerometer to understand your motions. Fitbit devices have a finely tuned algorithm for step counting. The algorithm is designed to look for motion patterns that are most indicative of people walking. The algorithm determines whether a motion's size is large enough by setting a threshold. If the motion and its subsequent acceleration measurement meet the threshold, the motion will be counted as a step. If the threshold is not met, the motion won’t be counted as a step.

This is the reason why it's very important for you to swing your arms when you're walking; for the tracker to be able to recognize your steps based on how you're moving and swinging your arms. When you're on a treadmill, it's necessary for you to swing your arms as you walk for your steps to be accurately recorded, else, they will be recorded but might not be as accurate as they should.

Hope you find this information useful and if you need anything else, let me know!

[Hipster71 · Accepted solution]

Thanks you for the information.
It explains a lot. I guess I make my husband push the cart at Walmart, and Costco.
I will still have to hold on when I am I. The treadmill, but maybe with my right hand only, and swing the left.
Thanks again.

Sent from my iPad

[FerdinandFitbit]

You're very welcome @Hipster71! 🙂

I could also add that when you're on the treadmill, even though the tracker has been designed to be worn on your wrist, you could try putting it on your ankle and securing it well to make sure it will not fall off and you may lose it and see if this makes any difference or you see the steps to be more accurate.

Anything else, let me know!

[Hipster71]

That’s a great idea! I will give it a try. 

Appreciate the help. 

---

@FerdinandFitbitwrote:

You're very welcome @Hipster71! 🙂

I could also add that when you're on the treadmill, even though the tracker has been designed to be worn on your wrist, you could try putting it on your ankle and securing it well to make sure it will not fall off and you may lose it and see if this makes any difference or you see the steps to be more accurate.

Anything else, let me know!

---

[SunsetRunner]

I have found that my fitbit blaze is WAY off. I do 3.5 to 4 miles every morning on the elliptical (moving my arms the whole time) and my fitbit counts approximately 1 mile.  How can I make it more accurate??

[Shannonc31]

It has also happened to me lately as well. Especially when I’m walking he dog or hiking and my arms don’t take a full swing.

[Babybear42]

Hi. I would like to say that I have had my blaze for a while now and suddenly my step count has become very inaccurate. I have not changed the way I walk and if anything I am walking further and faster than usual, but yet my step count is going down. I'm also having problems with it changing my mileage goal. It has been set at 3 miles ever since I got it and now suddenly I have to get nearly five miles for it to say I've hit my goal. I have uninstalled and re-installed the app, I have cleared the cashe and and it's still doing it, eventhough when I look at my activity it is set for 3 miles.