Charge 5 won't track floors

[RobinLloyd15]

I just got my new charge 5. Was excited about it, but just realized it’s not going tracking the floors I climb daily. That’s a really important feature to me. Is this feature just not available on the charge 5??? 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Pricermom]

I am very disappointed with the lack of an altimeter. I just set up the Charge 5 but am thinking I may return it, since I count my floors.

--------------

I agree.

[mikey_pdx]

Both of my Garmins were bad at floor tracking, too. Garmin said 'clean the sensor' whenever I complained about it, and various firmware updates used to change the behavior from slightly over-counting to wildly overcounting and back to not counting, so I don't care about floors anymore. Haven't for a couple years now.

At the end of the day, my AZM is gonna tell me if I did anything worth anything today and it doesn't matter if my calories were burned on flat ground or hills or running stairs. Kinda nihilistic, maybe, but 🤷‍:male_sign:

[DavideFitbit]

Hi everyone, thank you for taking the time to share all your feedback about the Charge 5 and the option to track floors. 

As you all mentioned earlier, this device does not include an altimeter. The Charge 5 includes many of the features available with Fitbit smartwatches at a more accessible price, but the option to track floors wasn't included with this specific device. You can find all the features available with this tracker on the Charge 5 Product Manual and on the Fitbit Store. 

Thank you again for sharing all your comments and your experience with this; this is always useful to continue to improving the quality of products and services. Although the possibility to include this feature on the Charge 5 is Not Currently Planned, I do recommend that you vote for these ideas posted in the Community forums: 

• Add an altimeter to the Charge 5.
• Use iPhone altimeter to restore Charge 5 floor count.

This is helpful for the team of developers to continue to track popularity and demand over time. 

Have a good day. 

[Kepola62]

Just got the new Charge 5 and I am really missing the stair tracker! Anyone else feel this way? Do you think there might be an update on it in the future?

[Odyssey13]

Hi @Kepola62  your post was merged into this thread where others were discussing the same thing. At this time, we've been told by Fitbit that adding stairs tracking to the Charge 5 is not currently planned. It lacks an altimeter.

[DavideFitbit]

Welcome to the Community forums, @Kepola62. 

Thank you for sharing you inquiry about the Charge 5. 

As @Odyssey13 mentioned earlier, unfortunately this devices doesn't include an altimeter, which is required for a device to track floors; but I do recommend that you vote for the ideas mentioned here earlier, as this is helpful for the team of developers to keep track of popularity and demand and they may be able to evaluate other alternatives, like using a phone's altimeter to track floors, for example. 

Have a great day. 

[Paulyd2021]

I got Charge 5 Fitbit for Christmas 2021! I just find out there no floors on Fitbit charge 5 😞 I like to see floors on Fitbit Charge 5. 

Moderator edit: format

[Odyssey13]

@Paulyd2021  your post was merged into this thread where others were discussing the same thing. At this time, we've been told by Fitbit that adding stairs tracking to the Charge 5 is not currently planned. It lacks an altimeter.

[Paulyd2021]

Thank you for information about this. No problem. I did upgrade from Charge 2 to Charge 5. 

Moderator edit: format

[DavidVH1959]

Having owned the Charge 2, which has the floor counter, I assumed the Charge 5 would have all the features of previous versions plus even MORE.....certainly not LESS.  Needless to say, I am very disappointed in this product as it makes me wonder what other features are "missing".  Please reconsider adding this feature in a product update.

[Odyssey13]

@DavidVH1959 your post was merged into this thread where others were discussing the same thing. At this time, we've been told by Fitbit that adding stairs tracking to the Charge 5 is not currently planned. It lacks an altimeter.

[LynneDMerry]

Big mistake! I am so disappointed Charge 5 does not capture floors. As an avid hiker the altimeter is essential tracking requirement. I cannot believe developers made this decision. I am happy I purchased the Charge 5 from Costco so it will be an easy return. Hopefully the Fitbit community will complain and the altimeter will be restored in the next version.   

Moderator edit: format

[DavideFitbit]

Welcome to the Community forums, and thank you for sharing your feedback about this, @Paulyd2021 @DavidVH1959 @LynneDMerry. 

Make sure to vote for the suggestions mentioned here earlier, as this is helpful for the team of developers.  Please know that all your comments are greatly appreciated. 

Have a good day. 

[Jla79]

I swear I had the number floors climbed as part of my new Charge 5 data until I updated the firmware this morning.  Or am I just imagining things?

I'm a long-time Charge user. Started with 1.  The only reason I didn't opt for a different tracker last week was because of data continuity.  I had approximately 10 years of data.  Now, no floor climb tracking?  Doesn't make any sense to remove it.

[CliffordJ]

I feel you on that point!  I had a Charge 3 a few years ago.  The number of floors climbed feature was so bad that any time there was a strong gust of wind when I was outside, it would register scores of flights of stairs climbed.  One day, it actually registered 276 flights climbed just from going through the parking lot to my vehicle!  The feature was practically useless to me.  The Charge 3 ultimately failed and I replaced it under warranty with an Inspire HR.  I chose the HR because it didn't have the number of floors climbed feature.  When it's time to replace the HR, I will again pick a Fitbit model that doesn't have this feature.  If Fitbit can't be bothered to make it work right, why should anyone have to pay for such a useless feature?

Moderator edit: format

[DavideFitbit]

@Jla79 @CliffordJ Thank you for sharing your replies and your feedback about this. 

As mentioned earlier, unfortunately this devices doesn't include an altimeter, so it would not be able to track floors. If you haven't done so already, please make sure to vote for the suggestions mentioned here earlier as well. This is very helpful for the team of developers. 

Thank you again for taking the time to share all your feedback about this product. Please know that all your comments are greatly appreciated. 

See you around. 

[JAPC]

Very disappointing as it was a standard, useful feature on previous models. Changed without warning or any kind of heads up. 

------------

Sad. 😦  Hopefully they will include it in the next version.

[DavideFitbit]

Thank you for sharing your feedback about this as well, @JAPC.

See you around.  

[JAPC]

Unfortunately now on day 3 of using my new Charge 5 the connectivity to my iPhone is bad. It keeps going off and on. Mostly not connected. Now on day 3 the battery needed to be charged again after being fully charged 2 days ago upon set up. Guess I’ll have to check on return policies. Thanks for your response.

[Vicious]

I had the charge 3 and the charge 4. Now I upgraded to the charge 5. I honestly don't understand why you made the device worse. My main sports are cycling and ski touring for which elevation gain is the key metric. It's absolutely ridiculous that you removed the altimeter and don't track elevation anymore. Fitbit has become practically useless to me and I guess for a lot of other mountain sport enthusiasts.