Charge 4 auto recognizing aerobic workout

[VivRocks]

I upgraded from an inspire to the charge 4. My inspire tracker use to auto recognize when I did an aerobic workout.  I assumed the charge 4 would also be able to do that, but after having it for several months now it definitely does not. I have to go in each time after doing an aerobic workout and manually enter it. Even with my heart rate being in the zone and the workouts lasting 20+ minutes nothing syncs into the app from the tracker. All the other activities that I do regularly like running and biking get auto recognized. Is there a way to set my tracker to recognize the aerobic workout session I do?

[Gr4ndp4 · Accepted solution]

Hi, the charge 4 should auto start for Aerobic Exercise provided you are doing it for more than 15 minutes. If you prefer you can reduce the default 15 minutes in your phone app. Check you have the auto recognise slider for Aerobic Exercise in the on position.

Cheers

[VivRocks]

Hi. So both those features are activated. I have the minutes set to recognize aerobic workouts to 10 minutes and the auto recognize is also turned on for aerobic workouts. It has been set to this since I upgraded to the charge 4 and still it does not recognize it. I have to manually add it. 

[Rich_Laue]

If you are going to manually add it, I would do it right on the Charge 4 and start and stop in real time. 

How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?

[VivRocks]

The tracker gives me run, bike, swim, treadmill, outdoor workout, and walk as the workout options. It does not give me the option to select aerobic workout as an option in real time which is why I go into the app each time my workout is done and manually add it. Guess I just don’t understand why  the inspire tracker (a much simpler device) could auto-track the activity for me my the charge 4 can’t. Bit disappointing. 

[ukcatfan]

To get the activity on the tracker you need to select which exercises (out of 20) you want. At least what I’ve found, you need to be in the app to customize the exercises on your tracker. 

However, I’m having the same issue on auto recognizing. I have mine set as on and set to 10 min. However, it never recognizes my exercises. I would normally start the activity manually, but I’m still new to the whole Fitbit thing and I sometimes forget. My husband’s is also not auto recognizing - we both have Charge 4s so maybe it’s an issue with this tracker?

[dougstankavich]

Unfortunately I don't have anything positive to add to this thread.  I'm adding my complaint to the list.  I have the "aerobic" exercise, as well as all other selected to auto-recognize, but still usually nothing with aerobic workouts.  When it does recognize it, it's sometimes "sports", only once has been "aerobic".  Never has it been for the full duration of the workout.  I do "Insanity" workouts on the Beachbody App.  They typically last 45 minutes or more.  My recognized workouts are logged for typically 16 or 17 minutes?!?!  It follows any hikes or walks we go on very well.  But I'm disappointed in the auto-recognize of aerobic workouts.  Kind of the whole reason for having a fitbit.  It's ironic, I guess, that it DOES recognize "in zone" HR, but that doesn't translate into exercise??

[Sunnsunn33]

Hi,

im not good with tech stuff. I’ve tried but failed. How do I get onto the phone app (assuming you were talking about the app there) to access the aerobics icon and change the time to 10minutes? On my Charge4, it only displays choices for Run, Bike, Swim, Treadmill, Outdoor Workout and Walk ... is there a way we could add Aerobics to the default list? Please advise. I’m lost. Thanking you in advance.

Sunn

[Rich_Laue]

Hello @Sunnsunn33 your post is mentioning 2 unrelated things. 

Let's look at changing to 10 minutes. 

Open the fitbit app. 

Tap on the exercise tile, the tile that says Track Your Exercise. 

Tap the Cog found in the upper right. 

Now you can change the minimum time and disable the exercises that you do not want to be auto detected. 

When it comes to the Run, Bike, etc, yes it is easy to edit the list of these activities. See the 2nd question on the FAQ. 

Through the fitbit app. 

Go to the tracker settings and then exercise shortcuts. 

If you do not see a plus sign, their will be a bite on the bottom of the page saying that you will have to remove an exercise before you can add another. 

[Roctobuf]

I am having the same problem.  I had a charge 4 two years ago and it did not have this problem.  Then I went to an inspire but it died so I bought another charge 4 mainly because I liked that it calculated floors while hiking and cross country skate skiing.  I'm still working on it but will be disappointed if I can't get it to work.