Charge 6 is showing incorrect heart rate during workout

[hammadraza]

My charge 6 arrived last week. The first day I wore it to the gym it was showing the correct heart rate compared to the Galaxy watch (P.S. I wear Galaxy watch 5 pro on the other hand). But from the next day, it stops tracking heart rate. The heart rate is constantly less than 90 on Charge 6 and Galaxy watch or even my old Fitbit Charge 4 is tracking the correct heart rate.

One interesting thing is that compared to Galaxy Watch or Charge 4 the calories burned are almost the same but on Charge 6 there are no active zone minutes during a 2-hour workout.

I tried restarting the Charge 6, but it doesn't help.

[N8teGee]

Hi @hammadraza.

Are you wearing the Charge 6 tight enough so that it's not moving around on your wrist. It should be snug but of course not over tight. You could also make sure that the HR sensor on the back of the device is clean and free of any obstruction. 

[hammadraza]

Hi @N8teGee ,

yes, it is tight fit around wrist. During today's workout it start detecting heart rate after 45 minutes.

I am not sure, how it is calculating the same amount of calories burned compared with galaxy watch during workout without any zone minutes.

[Korcat]

I just received a new charge 6 and I am having the same problem. It’s showing my heart rate is really low even when I am exercising. Very disappointing 

[Tarquin69]

I had the same problem with the Charge 6. Heart rate won't go above 90 beats per minute during exercise and no zone minutes which is nuts. Junk. Returned it.

Went back to my Charge 5 which now won't keep the charge (turned off exercise gps, notifications, etc.). Screen goes blank randomly and won't wake up. Useless. Disappointed with the Fitbit product line. Time to buy something else from a different manufacturer. Read the comments about the Charge 6 and Google doesn't doesn't appear to want to acknowledge the problem or care. 

[KitKH]

Had to replace my Fitbit Charge 4 because the screen got to dim to read.  I read reviews of Charge 5 vs Charge 6 and based on them purchased Charge 6, bought 2 actually, because there are two fitbit users in our household.  I found the heartrate readings to be very inaccurate, often 20 to 40 beats per minute less than actual during workouts.   I tried everything recommended on the fitbit forum, called customer service who walked me through all the same steps but no luck.  The same is true for the 2nd Charge 6, so I don’t know what is wrong with the Charge 6.  While display, exercise shortcuts, and clockface options were nice, I’ve returned them both and replaced them with the Charge 5.

[susan.t55]

Just received my charge 6 after using Versa 2 . Second day of exercise  with heart beat  readings very low even doing cardio / HIIT workouts and almost no active zone minutes.Calories however seem ok .Am supposed to hit 107 active zone minutes which I managed with Versa 2 but after 90 mins only have15 with charge 6.It’s exhausting and demoralizing….

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Just an update from me after spending some time trawling community and with customer service yesterday.

I restarted my charge 6 using the cable and have worn my band slightly tighter than I was wearing my Versa 2 .This morning’s exercise (whilst still somewhat lower on heart rate and active zone minutes than the Versa) at least it is more realistic .Managed to get to cardio and even peak with 55 zone minutes after an hour of cardio ,whilst yesterday it would not even reach cardio.Was beginning to give up hope on Charge 6 but for now will hold onto it.

[Dkt2299]

I have the same problem. The Fitbit charge won’t consistently measure a HR over 90bpm.  It’s super frustrating.   What’s the point of having this thing?  1st they mess up the app and now the actual product.  

[Tarquin69]

My half dead Charge 5 (dies when I select an exercise like elliptical, and doesn't fully charge) got a firware update but didn't solve it's myriad issues.

Check to see if your Charge 6 got a firware update too and if it fixes the problem. 

I am waiting for the Samsung's Galaxy Unpack 2024 on January 17th to see if they are releasing their Galaxy Fit 3, I will buy that instead.

[susan.t55]

Thanks firmware up to date and honestly last week I seemed back to square one with the low heart rate and active zone minutes.Only 22 zone minutes after a workout of an hour .Heart rate only got over 90 once for a very short period.Nowhere near getting the active minutes recommended by Premium but weirdly cals are in line with the Versa 2 ,it’s a mess.I passed my Versa to someone who does not exercise and they are getting more active minutes than me after a 30 minute walk!

[Dkt2299]

This is beyond frustrating.  Google needs to fix this. There is no point to using the Fitbit charge 6.  It’s a glorified pedometer.  The HR monitor is absolute junk. 

[RandyMc]

I've had multiple Fitbit trackers since 2015. I know how they work, how they are worn, all that stuff.

My HR goes DOWN during my workouts compared to whatever I'm doing just before setting off on my trot or whatever. So, it's a device problem, not a user problem.

[Cogent]

Agree. This one is just a pedometers.

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The Charge 6 has convinced me to abandon Fitbit products completely..

[yaplex]

Got the Charge 6, but returning because of the same issue. I spent 1.5 hour on a rowing machine, my old charge 4 normally showing around 140 BPM, but the Charge 6 just 70 BPM, and the resting heart rate is around 40. Very disappointed, will be waiting for Charge 7.

[DerekTJr]

After reading this post along with others, I now know I'm not crazy! I just returned my Sense 2 for that very reason.

[romanny]

I am having the same problem. Moved from a charge 5 that had died to the 6. When the 5 was working it was great and corresponded to the HR on my Suunto Peak that I also wear. The 6 does not go anywhere near the zone minutes I used to get and does not correlate with the Suunto either. Very disappointing. will be taking it back as cannot seem to find a fix anywhere in my research.

[Cogent]

The Fitbit support folks sure are quiet on this topic..???

[ALittleClarity]

I came here looking to see if someone had the same issue and if there was a solution. How disappointing to see there isn’t one. 😔 I may need to just return it it looks like. I had really high hopes for the charge 6! 

[romanny]

Yes they are a disappointment. Despite my 5 dieing twice it was good when
it was working. I wear a suunto watch as well and it and my 5 were close on
their HR reading. With the 6 it rarely gets out of the light mode and can
be different by 50 plus beats. I am taking mine back next week.

[cyfitness]

Same here. I played 2 hours of tennis and my heart rate never went up over 110 even though I was huffing and puffing. My heart was beating so hard. I notice this on my bike as well. It's like your heart rate has to be constantly high for this thing to recognize a high heart rate. It goes from 90 and jumps to 140 on big climbs.