FitBit Doesn't Recognize My Elliptical

[JenB374]

I have a ProForm HIIT Pro Elliptical.  Its a small footprint elliptical that works like a stairclimber and elliptical, but its technically an elliptical.  I've noticed that my fitbit doesn't automatically recognize this machine even if I'm using it for longer than 15 minutes.  I've tried adding stepclimber to my list of auto-recognizable equipment, but it still won't update after my workout.  I've been manually logging it in, but it doesn't allow all of my stats to be enetered.  Any suggestions about what I can do to fix this issue?

[LZeeW]

@JenB374  If your tacker isn't auto-recognizing your elliptical, then you should use the Exercise function and use elliptical from the list of Exercise Shortcuts.

Here is how to set it up -- from your app dashboard > tap on your Charge 2 icon > tap on Exercise Shortcuts.  Elliptical should be on it already.  To use the Exercise function, press the button until you see the exercise icon and tap the tracker until you see either Elliptical.  Press and hold the button to start, then press and hold the button to stop.  There is a summary at the end.

Here is a Youtube video link.

[AlvaroFitbit]

@JenB374 A warm welcome to our Community! Sorry to hear that your elliptical exercise isn't being recognized. As @LZeeW explained you can use the exercise mode on your Charge 2. Your tracker detect activities based on the motion on your arm. For example when using the elliptical machine make sure you have the moving bars so your tracker detects the motion and record the activity itself. If your heart rate is high but there isn't much motion (yoga, weight lifting, etc.) then these activities will be difficult to be detected by your tracker. Still you can manually log your activity so you have a record on your account or use the activity mode on the device itself.

Let me know how it goes!

[JenB374]

Hi. Thank you for the tip. I didn’t realize that I had to set my Fitbit to automatically recognize my machine. Once I updated the settings, it seems to have resolved the issue.

Sent from my iPhone

[AlvaroFitbit]

@JenB374 thank you for your update and sorry for the late reply. I am really happy that updating the settings resolved the issue and thank you for sharing the results as this may help other members in the same situation.

I'll be around!

[ChefKev]

I'll do this if desperate, but autorecognize would be nicer

[Quilt222]

I have the same machine as Jen b374 above, the ProForm elliptical stepper. It is really frustrating with the fitbit. I worked hard on it today and, although active minutes were recorded, the exercise itself wasn't, with no heart rate or any other information. My Fitbit is new and I have only used it for 1 week. One of the days on the elliptical, Fitbit registered it as swimming but with no stats regarding heart rate or anything. A couple of days, it did register it as elliptical. But not today. It is really frustrating. Can Fitbit not include an elliptical stepper machine? They are like ellipticals but with a much smaller footprint and a step / elliptical motion. And yes, my hands were on the hand places moving back and forth with my steps. Really frustrating to not have it recognized. The couple of days where it was recognized, it was a real motivator to get back on. It is for motivation that I have my Fitbit in the first place.