Charge 6 step count changing by large amounts arbitrarily

[JimP71]

For the past few days, my step count has been changing (usually reducing) by hundreds out of nowhere.

This morning, for example, a few minutes after I finished a walk, 1000 or so steps just disappeared from the day's total. I know this walk route well and it was the first thing I did in the morning, so I am sure the total before the 1000 steps were removed was accurate, which rules out this being a "correction". As another example, a few days ago, I was notified three separate times in the span of a few minutes that I had achieved my step goal (which is how I noticed the problem in the first place).

I sync the watch to my Samsung phone as I always have. It might be happening around when it is trying to communicate with my phone, but it is difficult to tell.

A bit of poking around the internet suggests that many users are having this problem and that it is not specific to the Charge 6. Is there any information on when this bug will be fixed?

Moderator edit: clarified subject.

[coriebelle]

I'm having the same annoying problem, synced to an iPhone 15 ProMax. Very frustrating! Want to know what the solution is to this problem as this wild inaccuracy makes it useless for its purpose.

[beckydancer]

Same issue since last Friday.  I notice my steps first look too high then they reset to what I think may be correct.  They jumped around 3 times during a walk yesterday.  I also "got my steps" 3 times yesterday....  I am regularly syncing with my iPhone (13), I have rebooted and changed my Fitbit but nothing has solved the issue.  My Fitbit just showed over 4,000 steps a few minutes ago and now shows 2,600, which is correct (I think...).  

[ManuFitbit]

Hi, welcome to the forums @JimP71 @beckydancer @coriebelle.

Thank you for taking the time to share all this details regarding this difficulty that we are experiencing with steps and thank you for trying to fix it on your own. 

Please note that our team is investigating the issue and working on a solution.

Could you please share the cell phone model and software version you are using. This information will help in the investigation, eg iPhone 8 IOs 18.1, Pixel Phone Android 13, etc.

[JimP71]

Thanks for investigating. I am using a Samsung Galaxy A03s running Android 13.

[martin.manders]

I'm having the same problem. My phone is a Samsung A52S and the Adroid version is 14.

[sg83125]

Same problem for the past 4 or 5 days.   I have found I can repeat the issue by walking about 2 miles.  My Fitbit says I have about 9000 steps and after its syncs up, it drops back to about 5000 steps.  

I also set my goal to 9000 steps today and my watch vibrated and said good job you hit 9000 steps.  I check the Fitbit a minute later and it said I had 9890 steps.   I stopped exercising and synced up with my iPhone 14 and my steps changed back to 5300 steps.   Crazy!!  

[RichCymru81]

Also happening for me, using a Fitbit Sense, linking to iPhone 11 using iOS 18.3.1

[Jules0123]

I'm also having this issue. I'm on a Pixel, Android 15. 

I have hit my 10,000/day steps goal twice, only for it to reduce. 

I typically hit 14k-20k steps, so while I did some slightly different walks today, I believe it should have hit 10k the first time I was notified. 

[ManuFitbit]

Hi everybody. Thank you all for sharing the info needed. 

I already pass this to our team, so they can now progress with their investigation. They will work on a solution for this.

Hopefully this gets solved soon. 

We will be updating the thread as soon as we receive more information. 

[martin.manders]

I'm using app version 4.36 at this moment. I saw under the chapter "PLATFORM" that already  version 4.37 is available for IOS and ANDROID. Only not (yet) in my region (Europe).

[Mom23Boyz]

Add one more to the list - same issues. Samsung Galaxy S21 on Android 14 here,  v4.36.1 on the Fitbit app. Frustrating to hit my step count one day and then the next, see I've "lost" 2k steps in the app.

Yes, I realize I still get the physical benefit of the steps, but I've on the reasons I wear a tracker is to set and track goals

[martin.manders]

This morning I installed version 4.37 of the Fitbit app and took a little walk. I synced the Charge 6 with my phone when I ended my walk. Well, its still not oke. The problem is not solved with 4.37. I want my Charge 6 to be a tracker, but it looks more like a random number generator now.

[DMB987]

Same problems as others are having. My phone is a Samsung A53, using Android 14.

My question: When will this problem be addressed? I have less than a 30 day window for returning my Fitbit Charge 6, which I want to and will do if this bug is not fixed before that deadline. 

[YEM]

Same issue here. The step count sometimes just sets back by 50 to 100 steps randomly. Once, I noticed it moving back ahead a bit later. It's been happening for several days.

iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 18.1.1

[RichCymru81]

Is there any update on a solution for this? This has been happening now for over a week (I first noticed it last Friday), how has the issue not been sorted? 

it’s not at the user end as all devices, phones and operating systems are different. 

There are 3 of us in work who compare runs and activities against each other, they both have Garmins. It’s getting harder and harder to argue against swapping over despite having used Fitbit for nearly 9 years. I don’t want to change as I’ll regularly check my progress over time, but issues like this make it hard to stay. 

I know people who use Fitbit purely for counting steps as trying to get more active. At the moment, the device is not giving a lot of people the functionality they require from it. 

problems arise, yes, but a week without resolution? It’s so frustrating. 

[jrlrunner]

Same problem of steps skipping backwards. The calories however are correct and that is how I know how my mileage. Charge 6 iso 18.3 iPhone 12

[martin.manders]

...And how long will it take to solve the problem with step count. I'm eagerly waiting for the moment that I can use my Charge 6 and Versa 3 again...

[YEM]

Just had it jump ahead by about 2,000 steps.

Fitbit, please fix this. At least let us know someone is looking into it. This has only been happening to me for a couple of weeks, but it's happening regularly.

[Adinkadoo]

I just started having the same problem. I'll be watching it happen as I'm walking. It's crazy! So frustrating. I have the Charge 6 and Samsung Galaxy S23.