No map after walk

[TLeafTO]

Hello

I just bought my first Fitbit Inspire 3. I downloaded the latest version of the Fitbit app to my Android phone. I setup configured correctly. GPS is allowed. I went for my first activity "walk" yesterday and started the activity through my watch face. I saw the message "GPS connecting and finally connected" scroll across the top of my watch face. I went for a 4km walk around the city. I stopped the activity on my watch and stats were recorded. When I got home I reviewed the activity on the Fitbit app and all the stats were there but NO MAP anywhere.
Interesting thing, if you long press on the actual Fitbit icon on your phone, it brings up menus and the first one is "track exercise" and if you choose it opens up Google maps and lets you start through your phone. 

[SmallDeafDog]

Wow! Thank you for mentioning the long press of the Fitbit icon on my phone! That's exactly what I've been searching for, no thanks to Fitbit manuals. I really appreciate it!

[TLeafTO]

I also was missing that if you just hit the "+" icon on the today page on the phone app, "Track Live" "Start Exercise" you can choose run/walk/hike and then start, it will map your journey.

[SmallDeafDog]

Thank you!!

[MikeC2005]

That is a good trick to know. What's driving me nuts is the inability of my Inspire 3 to synch with the GPS on my phone. I've integrated the Fitbit app with my Strava app. I carry the phone with me on regular bike rides. I've gone through the troubleshooting checklist several times, but the device is completely unreliable when it comes to holding the GPS signal. 

I replaced my Charge 5 with the Inspire 3 and there is no comparison. I'm giving up on the Inspire 3. If I can find the box it came in, I plan to return it. 

[TLeafTO]

I haven't had a problem. I have a Galaxy S10 and the Inspire 3 linked to the GPS oak. I just finished my 1st little bike ride (It's Winter in Toronto) and started the activity/bike on my Fitbit Inspire 3 tracker.

I was pleased to see it recorded as an activity on the app and webpage completed with speed/heartrate/calories/distance and even a Google map showing my ride.

----

You probably already have done, but if not, be sure you have all the permissions checked for the app. For Android, I go to phone settings/apps/Fitbit/permissions and be sure location is allowed.

[MikeC2005]

Thanks for the tips. I’ll double-check my settings. The “Track Live” tip seems especially promising. I’m going to try it today. One thing I’m wondering about that: If I used the Track Live feature on the Fitbit app, does that mean my Inspire 3 is essentially not necessary. It seems all the tracking and recording would be carried out within the app itself. 

[LZeeW · Accepted solution]

@TLeafTO  @SmallDeafDog  @MikeC2005   When you track an exercise with Fitbit app (either by the long press on your Fitbit phone icon or by using the Start exercise in the Track live section of the app), you are using an older feature called MobileRun.  So old that the only options are walk, run, and hike.  If you want the most detail, please use the Exercise app on your Fitbit with the appropriate shortcut.  To the best of my knowledge, you won't get a heart rate trace in your exercise details.  @MikeC2005 If you track your zone minutes, you won't get any if you aren't wearing your Fitbit.  If you aren't wearing your Fitbit, MobileRun counts steps using the phone's motion sensors.

If you are using the Exercise app on your Fitbit and you aren't getting a map, you usually missed a phone setting.

[TLeafTO]

I'm not really sure. I always have my Inspire tracker on my wrist except when charging or in the shower. Try the "Track Live" feature for walk/run/hike wearing your wrist tracker and then without. See if it makes a difference?

Good luck!

----

Thank you for the info. I do have location permission allowed on my phone for the Fitbit app but I did not have Automatics location on in the Fitbit settings. I have since turned it on and see if the app produces a map when I start my walk activity by way of the tracker instead of the app. I was gettingstats but no map at the end of my activity so my workaround was to start the activity on the app.

----

BTW GPS and Live Data has been set "On" in my Inspire settings.

----

I'm happy to report that after switching on "automatic location" in the Fitbit app and after starting the activity "bike" on my Fitbit tracker, it reported back all the data of my ride as well as producing a map!
Thank you @ultramarathonracer

[TLeafTO]

BTW GPS and Live Data has been set "On" in my Inspire settings.

[TLeafTO]

I'm happy to report that after switching on "automatic location" in the Fitbit app and after starting the activity "bike" on my Fitbit tracker, it reported back all the data of my ride as well as producing a map!
Thank you @LZeeW 

[TLeafTO]

Update: It seems this map issue is hit and miss. When I start a bike ride activity in the tracker, I sometimes get a map graphic and sometimes don't. It has nothing to do with if I have my settings correct because I don't change them. They are set as they always are. Again  "sometimes get a map graphic and sometimes don't". Maybe my device is dropping the GPS signal? I really don't know.

[Tony9696]

Well, after hours of trolling, your information has at least got me going.

I have a Versa 3 with built-in GPS, and I'm wondering if the 'long press' solution (which did work or me) uses the Versa 3 GPS or the phone GPS.

Do you, or anyone else, know the answer?

Thanks for your  post, though.  It's certainly moved me forward.  I can't believe how hard it is to find straight-forward information about this and just about everything else on the internet.  It would be nice if the manufacturers supplied it.

[TLeafTO]

I would suggest you only use GPS phone, not your tracker's GPS or dynamic
mode which auto switches between the two.
Check your phone is not in battery save mode as this can turn off your GPS
mid activity.
In your App/Fitbit settings/App settings be sure auto time zone and auto
location are on.
I'm not sure what you are referring to by "long press" but in the app you
can hit the "+" on the today page and then under track live/start exercise
you can choose run/walk/hike and that will produce a map. That would be
using your phone's GPS.
Hope any of this helps!