Charge 3 is always detecting runs

[C8lincat]

Whenever I walk somewhere, Charge 3 starts recording it as a run. 

Sometimes it asks me if I want to record it as a run and I say no and think it has gone away as the watch goes back to the normal clock face.

Later when I actually go for a run, I start recording and when I press finish it tells me the run has been going since I started walking e.g. a 75 hour run.

I have tried resetting the device, updating the app, uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

My phone tells me 'Connected GPS' is on, all the time. I tried turning off always connected but this is not preferable as I want to track GPS when I'm actually running to get accurate vo2 max data, and like getting notifications on my Fitbit. Either way, it still didn't help.

Should I take my fitbit back?

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity 

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there @C8lincat, welcome to the Community Forums. Thanks for the details provided and for taking the time to troubleshoot this situation prior to contacting us. 

While reading your post I was wondering if you're letting SmartTrack to detect your activities? If so, please take a look at this help article, which explains how your activities get recognized automatically and how the SmartTrack feature works. Additionally, I'd recommend performing a manual reboot on your Charge 3. From the clock face, swipe to Settings and tap Reboot Device. 

If your Charge 3 is still not detecting your activities, I'd recommend to set it up as a new device by following the steps below:

• Remove the Charge 3 from the Bluetooth settings.
• Turn off other Bluetooth connections when not in use.
• Plug it into the charging cable and open the Fitbit app.
• Setup your Charge 3

In regards to the GPS and tracking activities with your Charge 3, I'd recommend taking a look at the articles: How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device? and How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?

[C8lincat]

Hi @MarreFitbit,

Thanks for getting back to me.

The problem is not that my fitbit isn't detecting activities, but more so that every time I start walking (even if only for 5 minutes) it starts tracking a GPS connected run.

Sometimes it gives me the option on the actual fitbit whether to track and record the run (when I'm just walking), and I choose no. Sometimes it just starts the gps run anyway without asking me. 

The problem is then that even when I choose not to track a GPS run (because I'm not actually running!!!), connected gps then stays on and the next run I actively choose to track will start from the previous time it incorrectly auto tracked a GPS run. This means that when I go for a run it records it as lasting for a whole day or longer.

For example, I walk to the train station in the morning, and fitbit asks if I want to track a run. I say no. I then go about my day with my fitbit screen on the normal clockface, not showing a run. I go home. The next morning I actually go for a run and the timer starts at 25 hours. This means all the pace information is wrong and it includes my train journey to and from work the day before.

The only thing I have found to somewhat work is performing a manual reboot on my fitbit before every actual run, this is not really a solution. It also doesn't solve the problem that sometimes the gps run starts when I am walking and doesn't give me the option to not start a gps run, so my exercise record is full with short runs at a slow speed which were just me walking somewhere! 

My phone is android, and reading other help messages it seems fitbit is now just inherently incompatible with android. Can you let me know whether these issues will be fixed or not? As if not, I will return my fitbit as it doesn't seem fit for use as an actual exercise tracker.

Thanks,

Caitlin