Steps accuracy

[Eleanor1940]

My pedometer app is very accurate on the steps count and the Charge 6 Fitbit count is very inaccurate on my treadmill. How can I correct this? 

[RiekoC]

Hello @Eleanor1940 

Wrist worn fitness trackers, including Fitbit, use accelerometers and arm movement to track steps. A pedometer app will use your phone's accelerometer(s), but don't require arm movement to track steps.

If you are holding onto the hand rails while you use the treadmill, you won't be getting as many steps since arm movement is limited. This is similar to what users see on their step counts when they push shopping carts or strollers.

Some users will attach their Fitbits to their ankles when they use the treadmill so they get a more accurate step count. However, when they do this, they are not getting heart rate tracking.

This help article helps explain how the Fitbit device calculates daily activity, including steps  (<-- click link)

[Eleanor1940]

Thank you for your email: very helpful information.
We’ll try ankle fit and see if that gives better accuracy on step count for
the Charge 6
Any luck on the query regarding vibration notification when the step count
reaches the projected goal in this case 10,000 steps.
Thank you for your prompt response; very much appreciated

[JohnnyRow]

Adding just a bit to correct answer by @RiekoC , note that when you lose heart rate data, you also lose accurate calorie burn and zone minutes for that time, as calorie burn is based on heart rate.  It's a trade-off which is more important to you, though some people claim they can still get heart rate from ankle wear with careful positioning and tightness.  A strap extender might be required, which can be bought on Amazon.  Alternatively, if you can just hold onto hand rail with only one hand and let fitbit arm swing free, you get both, but not worth it to give up safety.

[Triletics]

I also find Charge 6 very bad at steps counting. Today, it undercounted little over 5000 steps during my run and steps came short by 11% (far beyond acceptable margin of error). That wasn't the case with previous models I owned 🤷 This also seems to be the reason why my running distance is always shorter than real one.

[Eleanor1940]

Thank you for your feedback; I too feel the step count is very in accurate
especially on treadmill mode. I have my goal set at 10,000 steps per day.
Any idea how to make my Fitbit Charge 6 vibrate or alarm when the step
count reaches 10,000? My previous Fitbit did that and I like that feature.

[RiekoC]

Hi @Eleanor1940 

I believe that notification is under the Fitbit Settings menu.

• Tap on your picture/gear icon in the upper right of the Today page in the Fitbit app
• Tap on Fitbit settings in window that appears
• Tap on Notifications
• Check if Step Goal Milestones is turned on. If it's not, tap on the right to turn it on

Although I don't think it's necessary, I usually do a manual sync from the Today page after making a settings change.

[Eleanor1940]

Thank you! I followed your instructions and it was already showing green at
75% or 100% or 125%
I also did a manual sync to reset.
Still not vibrating or alarming.

[RiekoC]

Hi @Eleanor1940 

I've only gotten a notification when I hit my daily goal (100%) and it's a very brief one.

Although there's no guarantee that this will work, another thing you can try is to clear the cache for your Fitbit app from the app settings on your phone.

[Triletics]

@RiekoC my Charge 6 gives me notification for every time I reach target for any multiplier.

[Eleanor1940]

Good to know: what do I need to do to make my Charge 6 do the same?
Thanks for your feedback.

[Triletics]

@Eleanor1940 I have no idea. It was always working like that for me. In fact, I'd like to turn that off because those notifications are annoying (yesterday, got it 4x during my run for each 10k steps).