Charge 3 won't recognize elliptical

[fitmarilyn]

My Charge 3 will not recognize my exercising on the elliptical no matter how long I do so.  If I go to trying to track it, my only choices are walk, hike or fun.  It does recognize when I bicycle.  Is there any way I can get it to recognize my exercise on the elliptical?

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[MarreFitbit]

Welcome on board @fitmarilyn, it's nice to see you here! Before getting started, I was wondering if you're comparing your Charge 3 and the Elliptical machine? 

Fitbit devices calculate distance by multiplying your walking steps by your walking stride length and multiplying your running steps by your running stride length. We estimate your stride lengths using your height and sex. Track one or more runs using on-board or connected GPS, we evaluate that data to automatically update your running stride length. For best results, run at a comfortable pace for at least 10 minutes.

If you prefer to measure your walking and running stride lengths yourself and enter them manually, see How do I measure and adjust my stride length?

Your device may register movements or restlessness as steps when you're wearing it while you sleep. The number of steps typically measured during these periods is minimal, and should not offset your overall fitness progress. Any steps taken to and from other rooms during the night will also be tracked. Equally, it's possible for the algorithm to undercount (not meet the required acceleration threshold). Examples here include walking on a very soft surface such as a plush carpet.

For information about specific conditions see How accurate are Fitbit devices?

Also, I was wondering if you're letting SmartTrack to detect your activity or are you manually selecting the Elliptical shortcut? I appreciate you have tried some tips to add different exercise to the exercise shortcut option. Beside of what you already tried, I'd like you to try the following: 

- Delete the exercises that are already added and re add them all different, including elliptical, in your case
- Restart your Charge 3 
- Sync it 

[Rich_Laue]

@fitmarilyn I would use the manual elliptical mode found on your chsrge 3. 

See question 2 of the FAQ

How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?

Track your workouts in real time with the Exercise app to capture in-depth activity stats

[RiseAndShine]

Totally agree with @Rich_Laue here. 

I see how it can get a bit confusing with shortcuts -  when you have all 6 exercise shortcuts set in Fitbit app, you won't see the option to edit the list until you remove at least one of them. (Something I wish Fitbit would address making it more intuitive for users).

In Fitbit app tap on the Charge 3 icon in the top right corner, scroll down to Exercise Shortcuts - tap on it. There will be 6 shortcuts set by default - you need to remove one or few that you don't need in order to add elliptical. Swipe to the left to remove shortcuts, then a plus edit button will appear in the top right corner - tap on it. Select elliptical (and any other shortcuts you might use) then click 'Add to Charge 3'. You can rearrange shortcuts to appear on your tracker in certain order. Sync to update the list of shortcuts on your tracker. 

To track an exercise, swipe to the left on your clock face, tap exercise, swipe to the left again to go through the list of shortcuts. Tap on an exercise you want to track. You can also manage additional settings (when available) from Charge 3: when on a specific exercise shortcut, swipe up to see adjustable options. Hope it works for you!

[Rich_Laue]

I didn't think about mentioning tget6 exercise limit @RiseAndShine the help FAQ points this out and the Fitbit app prompts the user to delete if the list is maxed out. 

Thanks for adding this. 

[fitmarilyn]

Okay, it was easy to delete exercises so that was great.  I don't know why I could only get walk and run on the manual before, but now I can get elliptical and ALL the ones I put as exercises so something has changed.  I will track it manually.  It is also possible it will now automatically recognize it since it now comes up as an option on the manual tracker.  Thanks so much, I appreciate every persons help!

[StevenPS]

My Fitbit Charge 3 dies not auto recognize the 18 minutes I did on the elliptical. Why won’t it? I have it set to auto recognize elliptical after 10 minutes. 

I’m very frustrated with my Charge 3. 

Soooooooo many problems!

it wastes soooooooooo much of my time!

I seriously regret purchasing this thing!

[StevenPS]

^ does (not dies)

[RiseAndShine]

@StevenPS, elliptical is probably one of the hardest exercises to auto-recognize, especially if a person holding a bar (and not swinging hands). Steps are 'muffled' due to the nature of the exercise, hands are not in motion, and movement forward is not happening. This is much easier just to track manually - all it takes is couple of swipes and taps on a tracker...

[StevenPS]

LOL... what a ridiculously stupid response! Of course that would be easier! It would also be easier and less expensive than to just not purchase and use a Fitbit! 

Thanks for nothing... it is sincerely appreciated. Ugh! 

[Titanrx]

Bingo! I can't believe that my old Charge HR auto recognized my gyms elliptical but the new and improved Charge 3 won't. It's the same machine I've used for 4 years! I use the moving hand grips 100% of the duration.

If this Charge 3 won't recognize AUTOMATICALLY, it's worthless and going back to the retailer.

Fitbit, don't give me the canned answer about manual tracking, I know how to do that. If that was what I wanted to do, I'd have just continued to manually track my exercise in the gyms app.

[Letto88]

This was the response I needed to find the elliptical. I scrolled and scrolled 

[Rich_Laue]

Elliptical is one of the  auto detectable exercises found on the line of Versa and Charge models. 

[Anh-Dao]

This is nuts. My old Charge 2 recognised elliptical automatically and I used to for years with no issues. My Charge 3 worked at first but recently it will just not record elliptical as an exercise although it does record the steps. It also seems to have issues recording the active minutes. This is a big backwards step and really frustrating. I do a lot of elliptical work and having to try to manually record the activity by using my wristband is a pain in the backside. 

[SunsetRunner]

My charge 3 wouldn’t auto detect my elliptical, either, at first.  What I did was to increase my step rate to give my arms on the moving handles a more violent and quicker motion.   I may experiment with slowing down after I start to see if the Charge 3 can handle that.  I’m fine with the quicker pace.  If aerobics gets too comfortable it loses some value anyway.

[Rich_Laue]

The back and forth motion of my arms to keep my ballance on a unicycle all ways gets detected as an elliptical exercise.