Why time instead of distance on running screen?

[Penzel]

I recently started running again and I'm wondering why the current time is displayed at the top of the running screen. I can remember that it used to display the distance. When I'm running, the current time is the absolute least interesting thing I need to see. Is there any way to change this top statistic?

Thanks!

[Julia_G · Accepted solution]

Hi, @Penzel , it isn’t possible to change either the top or the bottom stat on the running (or other exercise) screens, but you can always change the main, large stat that you see in the middle.  Simply tap your Fitbit to scroll through the available stats for main stat.  Once you tap it will remain showing that stat until you tap again to switch stats.

[Penzel]

Thank you, @Julia_G ! I was afraid it wasn't possible.

I know about scrolling through the different stats. But there are a lot of stats, most of which I'm not interested in. So much stats that I cannot intuitively switch from distance to heart rate quickly and without a lot of distraction from my run. I'm never interested in the current time though, so it seems like a waste of space on the screen. For me at least.

Does your Charge 5 display the distance at the top of the screen?

[Julia_G]

Hi, @Penzel , yes, my Charge 5 does have distance as the top stat - but so does my Charge 6!  (However, I have not updated my Charge 6 yet, so cannot independently confirm the change that you have noted.). I tend to be slow on choosing to update.  I have been using Fitbits since 2014 - before the first Charge HR came out (the first one that read heart rate, which I thought was amazingly cool - and I learned early on to wait to read others’ reactions in the forums before updating… 

Earlier versions of the app allowed you to set all three stats for the exercise app on the Fitbit, top and bottom fixed and the middle dynamically set on the Fitbit itself.  This is definitely not available on the Charge 5 or 6 and not in the app either.  Apologies!  I cannot remember when that vanished, but it definitely used to be available.  I think the general movement has been to make as many features as possible selectable on the Fitbit rather than the app (alarms, for example, which used to be set in the app and are now done on the device).  That does mean that resources are more limited as the device, obviously, has much smaller computing capacity than the app.  I cannot really comment on the reason for these decisions.

But just FYI the Charge 5, apparently on latest update, has distance as top stat, built in and unchangeable. The bottom stat is time elapsed since start of exercise.  This is exactly the same as my not updated Charge 6.  For both of them the middle stat is customisable.

(And I totally know what you are saying about losing focus during your run dealing with technology frustrations!)

Sorry not to be of more help.

[Triletics]

@Julia_G that changes in latest (apparently unofficial) update from several weeks ago. All activities show time of day in the top metric on Charge 6.

[JamesT28082017]

I’m with Penzel. No one needs to see the time of day when they are running. I like to keep my main stat as pace, but have the top icon as distance. Please fix this fit bit!

[Penzel]

Thank you, @Julia_G , you have been incredibly helpful! Thank you for your elaborate reply.

Iwish I waited with the update, since there's no turning back now. What a downgrade this has been. I've lost my enthusiasm to go running with this Fitbit. Perhaps I should look for a replacement from some other brand. Big disappointment.

I hope future buyers will read these forums first. If I knew beforehand this update would come, I'd think twice.

[Penzel]

@JamesT28082017 Please vote and comment in this topic so hopefully it will be taken into consideration.

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Product-Feedback/Allow-users-to-choose-top-of-screen-metric-for-Exer...

[JamesT28082017]

Done 

[Goldsgirl]

Hi @Julia_G,

Thanks for the information - I didn't know you could change the middle stat so that's really helpful as I like to see average pace. It's worth noting that you seem to have to set the stat you want for each run as it always seems to revert to the default of 'pace'.

Best wishes!

[Bitfitman]

Agreed. I'd like to show my pace AND the distance not the total time on a run.

[michaeldelcampo]

Agreed, displaying the time is not helpful! Please bring back distance! Or give and option to customize the 3 stats. Driving me nuts having to click through all the settings