I think I finally fixed it. After hours of reading forums, I posed the question to AI Perplexity. See below.
## Preventing Double Counting of Steps in Apple Fitness
If you're seeing double-counted steps in Apple Fitness because both your iPhone and Fitbit Charge 5 (via SyncFit) are sending steps data, you can fix this by prioritizing your data sources within the Apple Health app. You do **not** need to turn off iPhone tracking, and you'll still be able to record steps on both devices. Instead, instruct Apple Health (and therefore Apple Fitness) to use Fitbit’s data as the main source for step counts.
### How to Control Which Steps Data Apple Fitness Uses
#### 1. Prioritize Fitbit as Your Steps Data Source
- Open the **Apple Health app** on your iPhone.
- Tap **Browse** at the bottom.
- Search for or select **Activity**, then **Steps**.
- Scroll down and tap **Data Sources & Access**.
- Tap **Edit** in the upper right corner. You’ll see a list of all sources that provide steps data (iPhone, Fitbit via SyncFit, any other apps).
- **Drag your Fitbit source (it may show as “SyncFit” or similar) to the top of the list**. The source at the top takes priority for conflicts.
- Tap **Done** to save your changes.
Now, steps from your Fitbit (via SyncFit) will have the highest priority, and overlapping steps from your iPhone should not be double counted in the Apple Health/Fitness summary[1][2][3][4][5].
#### 2. Do Not Disable iPhone Fitness Tracking
You don’t need to turn off the iPhone’s built-in fitness tracking unless you want to. By adjusting priority, your iPhone will continue to independently record activity for times when you’re not wearing your Fitbit, but Apple Fitness will mainly use the data from your prioritized device.
#### 3. Adjust Third-Party App Settings (if needed)
If you continue to see duplicate steps:
- Make sure **SyncFit** is not counting steps from both the iPhone and Fitbit (check SyncFit’s settings, if available).
- Check in the Fitbit app that the iPhone is **not** listed as a connected device for step tracking (this setting can sometimes double count steps if both the phone and tracker are listed)[6].
### When Will iPhone Steps Show in Apple Fitness?
If your Fitbit is off or not worn, Apple Fitness will use steps recorded via your iPhone so you still have an estimate for those periods. The app automatically merges and de-duplicates step counts based on the priority you’ve set[7][8].
### Summary Table: What Happens After Setting Priority
| Scenario | Steps Counted in Apple Fitness? |
|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Wearing iPhone only (no Fitbit) | iPhone steps only |
| Wearing Fitbit only (no iPhone movement) | Fitbit steps only |
| Wearing both iPhone & Fitbit | Fitbit steps only (if prioritized on top) |
Following these steps ensures your Apple Fitness app reports only the step data you want, prioritizing your Fitbit without disabling your iPhone’s tracking capabilities[1][2][3][4][5].
If you update your devices or apps and notice changes in behavior, repeat these steps to confirm your data source priorities are still set correctly.
Sources
[1] How to Sync Fitbit to iPhone's Apple Health App https://www.iphonelife.com/content/how-connect-health-or-fitness-tracking-device-your-health-app
[2] Set Priority App/Step Counter with Apple - Apple Communities https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252345404
[3] How to select the correct data source on iPhone HEALTH app https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRU7bCB8DCU
[4] Support - Sync Solver http://syncsolver.com/support/
[5] How to disable iPhone as source for Health app step count ... - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/9oymnq/how_to_disable_iphone_as_source_for_health_app/
[6] The Fitbit app is doubling my steps https://community.fitbit.com/t5/iOS-App/The-Fitbit-app-is-doubling-my-steps/td-p/5728185
[7] Apple Health Step Data Sources - Richard's Static Blog https://main-vision.com/archives/apple-health-step-data-sources/
[8] Double Counting Of Steps and so the following calories equals https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254436687
[9] If I sync my Fitbit to my iPhone, and I have both on me when ... - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/fitbit/comments/1f0vocb/if_i_sync_my_fitbit_to_my_iphone_and_i_have_both/
[10] How do I link my Fitbit to Apple Health? - FitStrapsUK https://fitstraps.co.uk/blogs/news/how-do-i-link-my-fitbit-to-apple-health
[11] Manage Health data on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch https://support.apple.com/en-us/108779
[12] FITIV Sync for Fitbit Activity - App Store https://apps.apple.com/au/app/fitiv-sync-for-fitbit-activity/id1367933587
[13] Discrepancy between Fitbit and Apple Health step count https://community.fitbit.com/t5/iOS-App/Discrepancy-between-Fitbit-and-Apple-Health-step-count/td-p/...
[14] Sync Solver - Health to Fitbit on the App Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sync-solver-health-to-fitbit/id954858369
[15] Apple Health https://www.apple.com/health/
[16] Why am I seeing duplicate data in the Apple Health app? https://bickster.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360004267951-Why-am-I-seeing-duplicate-data-in-the-Ap...
[17] A Step-by-Step Guide to Connect Fitbit with Apple Health | Reaction https://reaction-club.com/a-step-by-step-guide-to-connect-fitbit-with-apple-health/
[18] Syncing Fitbit Data with TrainWithMe https://www.trainwithmeapp.com/SyncYourFitbit
[19] Apple health ability to sync steps from b… https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253004199
[20] HealthKit | Apple Developer Documentation https://developer.apple.com/documentation/healthkit
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