Charge 6 automatically starts trainings even if automatic recognition is off

[tompabes]

There's a bug I'd like to report with auto recognition of activities. It's not related to the latest firmware update, I've seen it before.

Unfortunately, I cannot attach images (for some reason, if I do it, my posts are rejected), but I disabled automatic recognition for all the available activities in the settings.

However, the watch ignores my settings and automatically starts activities whenever it detects a lot of motion.

BTW, it's interesting to note that some of the automatically detected activities (e.g. Spinning and Rowing) do not even appear in the list of activities that can be configured for automatic recognition. However, it's important to notice that even some activities that actually appear in the list, such as Walking, and so should definitely be disabled, are still detected.

I think there's some fundamental bug here, is it possible to pass this bug report to the developers? Or am I missing something?

[LZeeW · Accepted solution]

@tompabes   I looked at your public profile to see what models you used in the past.  There is a significant upgrade in the Exercise app between the Charge 5 and 6.  Your Charge 5 exercise app has a Run Detect feature that would open the Exercise app if it detected running. The Charge 6 will do this for six different activities: walk, run, hike, elliptical, rowing, and spinning.  You must disable this is each exercise shortcut on the Charge 6.  For walk, open your Exercise app on the Charge 6 and select walk.  Swipe up to go to the settings.  Look for Auto Start and toggle it off.  Like I wrote, you must do this for each of the six shortcuts to disable this completely.  This feature is different from the auto recognized activities that you control in the app (SmartTrack).

[tompabes]

First of all, I'd like to thank you because you solved my problem! Thanks a lot for the time you dedicated to your answer, much appreciated!

Next, I'd like to point out how this is yet another sign of the mess and the decay in the user interface usability that we're unfortunately seeing in Fitbit after the acquisition by Google. So now we have some settings in the Fitbit app, but these settings do not control the Charge 6, only the Charge 5, and there's no explanation of it. Then, we have the new settings, which however are not available in the Fitbit app, but only on the tracker, and this is a perfect way to confuse users...

[LZeeW]

@tompabes  I agree with you that this isn't described well at all.  I'm probably exaggerating, but I feel like I've typed some form of this answer 100 times since Fitbit added and expanded this feature.  This feature was added for the first time in 2018 to the Versa, but only in the Run shortcut.  I guess it was added to please the runners who just forgot to start their Exercise app.

All these exercises take time to be recognized.  I think users would be happier if all the Exercise shortcuts had an auto stop feature that is on by default.

[Gramberna]

I am so happy to have found this! I was walking in the pool today (not fast I’m 69yo) and my 6 automatically started tracking spinning???! I tried to turn it off. But I have 40 exercises on the device! And spinning has no way to turn off as many of them don’t. I hate to turn it all off but will if I have too. But how?? 

[LZeeW]

Hello @Gramberna and welcome to the Community.  I can help you turn this Auto-start feature off.  All Fitbits looks for motion patterns.  These are the steps to turn it off for Spinning:

• Swipe left/right on your screen and tap on the Exercise app
• Now you need to scroll and find Spinning and tap to select it
• Swipe up on the tiny "^" at the bottom of the screen
• Look for Auto-start and toggle it off

Like I wrote, all Fitbits look for motion patterns.  I think you should take the time and make sure it is off for other shortcuts, too.  Your Fitbit might think your are on an elliptical or rowing machine.

I personally think that this expanded Auto-start feature is a solution in search of a problem.  I have it toggled off for all six shortcuts on my Fitbit.