Fitbit Blaze step count inaccurate

[OmarLittle]

Hey there,

Today was my first full day rocking my Blaze. I went to an outdoor festival and had some solid step count, however, when I got home and checked my step count I noticed that the blaze tracked about 1/4 the steps I actually took. My iPhone health app logged about 10K and my Fitbit did about a 1/4 of that (2500). Also I noticed it did an auto workout and thought I had rode my bike. I think this is due to my sons stroller I was pushing. Any suggestions on how to calibrate? If I go for a run and use the GPS- will that help? Thanks!

[MsSpammy]

I've complained yet again after some unsatisfactory answers from support. I got this answer:

Pamela,

Thank you for contacting us back regarding the accuracy steps on the Fitbit Blaze.

Please note that our designer development teams are working to improve our Fitbit trackers, but right now we can tell you when the Fitbit Blaze can be improved.

Please don't hesitate contacting us if you have any further question so we can further help you.



I presume they mean they 'can't' tell me when the Blaze can be improved or they would have. I think it also points to the fact they know there are faults.

Moderator edit: content

[CMichelle]

@MsSpammy  Well, at least you got a response!  I responded via E-mail to a support phone call confirmation, as instructed after I got my replacement Blaze, to let them know the new one isn't working either and NOTHING.  That was over 4 days ago.  

I haven't had time to call them this week but will tonight after work.  Not sure what they can tell me at this point, other than just what you said - they know it doesn't work and don't know when they will fix it.  I guess I will just downgrade, have them send me the Charge HR and then upgrade to a Blaze in a year or 2, once they get all the bugs figured out.  I knew there may be issues with something so new but not something so basic.  I see people complaining here almost every day about clock faces - who the heck cares about that when it won't even count steps right??  Thanks for the info!

[MsSpammy]

Might be worth emailing them, they do reply quite quick. Even when the answers aren't what I want to hear!

[MsSpammy]

The only problem with getting a different Fitbit, is that I want GPS and HR monitor. Isn't the Blaze the only one that does this?

[AndrewFitbit]

I know you've already heard this, @CMichelle, but for those that haven't, I made a post regarding accuracy in a related thread that might be helpful. There has also been suggestions from other Community members in this thread here.

@MsSpammy I'll reach out to our Support team and clarify, but perhaps those threads I linked above can help. As a side note, Blaze uses 'Connected GPS' and has an HR monitor. Surge is currently the only tracker that has built-in GPS along with an HR monitor.

[runbobrun]

Andrew,

According to your post you are suggesting work arounds. The work arounds don't work and I would think you would know by now I f you are following this thread. Even replacing the unit itself is not fixing the issue. I think what we all want as a consumer is for your company to acknowledge that there is an accutal issue and can be fixed by either new hardware or updated software/firmware.

Does it seem odd that many of us that had another Fitbits and bought the blaze as an "upgrade" seem to be experiencing the same problem??? That can't just be a coincidence.

Being told to put it on my non dominate hand as a fix is ridiculous. It's already on my non dominate hand!!! Give us "the consumers" a real solution to the problem!!!

[CMichelle]

I seriously just called Customer Service and believe it or not, after a few 100 step tests, it appeared to be accurate, which is completely not what I have been experiencing!  Kind of like when you take your car to the mechanic to hear the noise and then it won't do it?  GRRRR!  So, I am going to use it for 24 more hours and Fitbit is supposed to call me back to see if it's under counting still and if so, when.  

I put all of my settings back the way they should be - if I can't get this device to work correctly set the way it should be, Connected GPS, wearing on non-dominant arm and set to non-dominant hand, auto tracking exercises on, then I want to return it.  Guess we will see what happens on my workout tomorrow!

[Spieges]

I got the Blaze on Tuesday.  Thursday I wore it and my zip for kicks and giggles.  I removed the zip from my account first.  The zip tracked more steps and about a mile more than the blaze.  Yesterday I just wore the blaze.  My stats:  24930 steps, 7.23 miles, 2276 calories.  I'm concerned about the miles.  I usually have approximately 2500 steps per miles right now my blaze shows 2646 steps and .53 miles....

[mgeorgalas]

Any updates on how your Blaze has been working? Mine has always been short on steps so I have been wearing my One at the same time.

I just went for a walk and the Blaze was consistently wrong. I did several 100

[mgeorgalas]

Sorry accidently hit post and there isn't an edit bottom.

I did several 100 step tests while talking a walk ringgit and the Blaze counted 78 steps every time. Consistant but wrong.

[Spieges]

I wore my zip yesterday along with the blaze and at the end of the day the zip showed over 1 mile difference.  I returned the Blaze today.  That is just too much of a discrepancy for me.

[CMichelle]

@mgeorgalas  I've been a vocal opponent of the Blaze here on this post because of issues with under counting steps but I think, for the most part, my issues have resolved.  I called Customer Service last Friday, right after I received the last firmware update, totally ready to return this thing but after she had me reboot my device, my day to day step count, just  walking around during a normal day is pretty spot on.  It may drop a few steps here and there but nothing like it was before.  I have done MANY 100 step tests and is usually within 5 steps.

However, I can tell you the Blaze definitely has some limitations.  For instance, I don't think any tracker works well on a treadmill, even though Blaze has a Treadmill Exercise function.  I have friends with a Charge HR and they too say, the only way to get an accurate step count on the treadmill is to not swing your arms very much and keep your tracker arm close to your body - otherwise, I think ALL of them drop steps.  I used to have to strap my Flex to my shoe to get it to count steps right but unfortunately, that isn't an option with the ones with a heart rate monitor.  The Blaze has definitely not fixed this issue.

Finally, the Connected GPS, at least on the Walk function in my experince, doesn't work.  I don't know if it's the communication between the watch and your phone but it will always be short to your actual steps and distance taken.  You can get around this by using the Mobile Run function in the Fitbit app - just go to Track your Exercise and choose the Stop Watch in the upper right hand corner.  Using that has tracked my steps and distance very accurately.

I have turned off the Auto Detect for Elliptical as well - I never use an Elliptical machine and it seems like everytime I would go on a walk, it would auto detect as Elliptical so the auto detect exercises have issues we well.  I still need to do more testing to see if now this is turned off, it will accurately track a walk outside but the weather here hasn't been nice enough in the past week to try.  Also, someone mentioned putting the tracker on your non-dominant arm and then choosing Dominant in your settings - I put that back to non-dominant figuring, if you have to do that much jacking around with it to get it to work, I would return it as well.  Putting it back to where I actually wear it hasn't hurt my step counts at all.

I hope this helps!  I think the Blaze has some definite issues and I can see why so many have returned it.  If I had know the Charge HR was reduced in price from $150 to $130, I may have purchased that instead but think it might have similiar issues.  I'm going to keep my Blaze because I love the notification from my phone and the screen is big and easy to read.

[mgeorgalas]

I have been frustrated too, mainly because when I test 100 steps with my One it is spot on every single time.  The Walk function with GPS has been hit or mis with me too, but it is perfect when I use it for running.  I will try doing another reset and contacting customer support, but I am still wearing both daily until these issues are fixed.

[Mikegf]

@CMichelle great reply, out of interest...how did you reboot your blaze?

cheers

m

[tblady01]

I have had my Fitbit Blaze since Sunday. It is not counting all my steps. I have been reading some of the other posts and I have to agree with the person who was wearing both her Blaze and the Charge HR, I am watching the screen on my Blaze and it counts when it feels like it and sometimes plays catch up but I know it is missing steps. Syncing with the app is not an issue. It is just totally missing steps. I verified all my settings and adjusted and readjusted on my arm. Will there be any fix for this?  

[Rich_Laue]

@Mikegf the restart info can be found in the help site, link found below and in the app.
http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/How-do-I-restart-my-tracker/

[Tormenta]

I am with you on this step count issue. I had a surge which I gave to my husband when the blaze came out. I'm pretty disappointed with the discrepancy in the steps. I'm only getting credit for 5 miles when I've walked over 6 ! I've tried changing stride length and resarting to no avail. Thinking about returning it.

[PAUSTIN819]

I am seeing the same thing. More specifically. I look at my wrist it is at 3700 steps. I walk to the back of the workplace and back to my desk (which is about 60 steps) and it will still be sitting at 3700 steps.  It doesn't do this every time, enough though that I periodically do a manual check to see if the count is even going up at all. 

[PAUSTIN819]

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@CMichelle wrote:

However, I can tell you the Blaze definitely has some limitations.  For instance, I don't think any tracker works well on a treadmill, even though Blaze has a Treadmill Exercise function.  I have friends with a Charge HR and they too say, the only way to get an accurate step count on the treadmill is to not swing your arms very much and keep your tracker arm close to your body - otherwise, I think ALL of them drop steps.  I used to have to strap my Flex to my shoe to get it to count steps right but unfortunately, that isn't an option with the ones with a heart rate monitor.  The Blaze has definitely not fixed this issue.

I have the opposite experience with the treadmill. It registers what i expect, whether running, or walking.  I can expect to get about 100 steps a minute going at a 3, or a little more than 1000 every 10 minutes, and that has been the same, with the Charge, one, and Blaze I have had at different times. And everytime I look down at it, to check HR, it is at least ticking steps away.  I don't walk any different on a treadmill than I do off, as far as swinging my arms unnaturally 

[CMichelle]

Sorry I haven't weighed in for a while, guys - I honestly have been testing the heck outta this thing but finally broke down and called Customer Service AGAIN tonight.  My step count has been getting worse and worse until tonight - I went on a 3 mile walk and it only gave me around 4,000 steps.  I have my stride length set, Auto Recognize turned on in my settings for Walk and Run and after 45 minutes of walking, never even triggered a walk.

So, long story short, they are sending me my THIRD Blaze.  They will have you do some 100 step tests in order to determine your tracker is defective and he said because my day to day step count was fine but my exercise steps always short, to turn on the Run Exercise function on my Blaze and take 100 steps.  I went outside and did my normal walk stride and it only credited me for 64!!!  He was shocked, apologize and immediately offered to send me another replacement.  I asked him if this was common, which he of course denied and said this was only the 2nd person he has spoken with that's had more than 1 defective tracker.  I suppose he could say whatever he wants but he truly did seem surprised it was SO bad.  But, he was very nice, super accomodating, offered to ship it 2 day and even suggested I choose another band color so I could swap out with the 2 other purple bands I have - since they have never asked me to return the other defective ones.

I have this saga going on another thread on there and many people have chimed in and say their Blazes have always worked fine so I have hope I may get a good one.  Just seems like you may need to go through a few bad ones to get it.  I decided to stick with Blaze because I just love the functionality of it - it tracks my heart rate accurately, my sleep, I get all my notifications, I only have to charge it every 4 days and the screen is super easy to read.  So, fingers crossed that 3rd times the charm and this one will actually work!