Fitbit recently changed Sleep Algorithm - massive increase in “Awake” time!

[whollis]

After several weeks of nonsensical results, I got confirmation that they quietly changed the algorithm to add awake along with restless = “New Awake” results dramatically increase and my sleep scores are now in the 60s & 70s.  Jan - May was an average in the low 80s.  A few nights ago it had a solid block of 4 hours awake.  I think I’d know if I were awake that long.

If like me angry over the **ahem**ic change, send feedback and call tech support so they are bombarded with complaints.  Wonder if they consulted with sleep experts and scientists for validation but so far no comment from an escalation supervisor.

Engineering didn’t even communicate the change to tech support & the supervisory teams!  My supervisor agreed with me it makes no sense.  AI will validate being restless is different from awake so it’s now providing a fake awake calculation.

it should be rolled back to mid June before they sneakily made the change to destroy your sleep scores to consistently poor or fair.  

How do others feel?  Did you notice a major different/degradation?  Be vocal if you support me in demanding it return to the original algorithm.

[Mattymatty]

If they do that I need to just buy another product. There is no point in tracking trends if they secretly make such changes. 

[whollis]

Have you noticed a 10 to 20 point drop in your sleep score?  If so, it’s related to the new algorithm they changed late June.  I have a Premium subscription so not sure if that affects the info/date I see.

[JohnnyRow]

1)  This does sound very "cloak and dagger".  Would you care to share your source for the confirmation that they quietly changed the sleep algorithm?

2) Are you saying that there is a now a sleep category called "new awake" ?  I have not gotten that yet.

3) Are you saying the just added "Awake" as a category? I have always been having awake periods listed.

[whollis]

1 Directly from a tech support supervisor at Fitbit.

2 The new Awake = former awake + former restless, thus increasing the “Awake’ analysis of your sleep and deteriorating the sleep score by including restless which isn’t the same as being awake.

3 Awake remains as a sleep category but you will likely notice a much higher value than before they made the change.

[whollis]

From the email:

"If you previously tracked sleep with Fitbit, your log showed the time spent awake, restless, and asleep. We fine-tuned our mechanism for tracking sleep to estimate your sleep stages by incorporating heart rate and other data. As a result, we combined your awake and restless time into total awake minutes to give you a clearer picture of your sleep cycles.You may notice more awake minutes in your sleep stages than in your previous sleep data due to this change."

[JohnnyRow]

Something is still not adding up for me.  It is talking about previously categorizing sleep into awake, restless, and asleep.
That has always been the case for trackers without heart rate monitors, or if you have heart rate tracking turned off.  And in that case, you would never get a sleep score.

That email you quote might have made sense about 10 years ago whenever Fitbit first introduced trackers that had heart rate monitors.

[whollis]

I have the Charge 6.  With the new combination of awake and restless into only Awake, as the email says from Fitbit your awake times will increase.  It’s a bogus inflated reading because being restless is different than awake.  Ask sleep experts!

Does this seem credible to you?  I would know if I were awake for that long a block of time!

[Kris227]

I have no problem with the change. I just looked at last night's and have no problem with it. I do think that before it was giving me a higher score that was appropriate or valid. Yes, it is different. I think it's more useful for me now.

[whollis]

I'm in my late 60s and take my health seriously.  I rely on ACCURATE information to make any necessary changes to keep me healthy.  With the major drop in sleep score, less hours of "sleep" which can increase your risk of dementia I personally find it useless.  I always found the tracking validating - when I arose feeling well rested I knew my score would be in the mid to high 80s.  I also know if I were restless but not "awake" and HRV was low it would mean a lower score in the 70s and I'd have to improve stress management.

This algorithm for me and many I've spoken with renders it a useless, fake score. As the picture shows and I have others, it is know telling me I'm awake for 1, 2, 3 or even 4 hours at a stretch - all other values align with HRV, breathing rate, O2 level %, etc.

It's not that it's different - I question the scientific support for such a drastic change in algorithm which Fitbit hasn't shared. In fact, it took several calls and cases to finally get an honest answer about they changed.  That's deceit as a loyal Fitbit user.

[danab200]

This is ridiculous. This is not an accurate reading. I hope they change it back.

[danab200]

I hope they change it back.  I am looking into other sleep devices. This new algorithm definitely is NOT working for the majority of people.

[sandylou49]

Same here!  When Fitbit 4.46 updated on June 23, that same night my sleep metrics were inaccurate, including score, duration, etc. Also, my iPhone is not auto syncing to Fitbit. I have tried EVERYTHING to correct but none of basic adjustments have helped.  

[whollis]

Still no response from Fitbit despite the many complaints about the flawed change.  It is even appearing in AI searches now as a problem.

Woke up this morning feeling very well rested, and for me a great HRV of 18.  No sleep score recorded yet fake activity is there, including another 4:18 of ‘awake’ time, half of the night.  I agree I was awake in the morning but it didn’t take me 3 hours to fall asleep!

[rod17]

When I got my weekly assessment, it showed my sleep was 7hr 8 mins,\ on average , typical before the change

My daily time asleep was never the 5 hrs 30 minutes.

[whollis]

Jan - June I averaged in the low to mid 80s.  July dropped to 75/Fair = nothing changed except their algorithm combining awake + “restless”.

I posted last night’s results = no sleep score. A fake 3 hours+ to fall asleep, etc.  I have a Charge 6 so not sure if the change is affecting all devices.

[rod17]

Inspire 3

[Kris227]

Mine from last night - charge5.

6 finally arrived so will wear it tonight.

charge5 8-1-25

[JohnnyRow]

Official Fitbit notification about sleep tracking accuracy change/improvement.

For iOS see https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-6/Fitbit-recently-changed-Sleep-Algorithm-massive-increase-in...

Oops. Posted wrong link.
https://community.fitbit.com/t5/iOS-App/Your-sleep-tracking-just-got-more-accurate/m-p/5771559/highl...

and similar entry for Android app.

[whollis]

That was my post.  I continue to escalate until they roll it back.  

For those that agree, it would be helpful to specify what device you are using.  They are monitoring the board and calls for tech support are increasing!