GPS tracking .9 miles for every real mile

[AlisonSR]

I have a Charge HR, and the GPS seems to be less accurate than it used to be.  I used a friend's Garmin when I started to notice this, and it seems pretty consistently to be about 9/10 accurate.  (So for now my fix is to do the math after a workout.)  Oddly, it seems LESS accurate when I actually start a "run" or other exercise.  Like, I walked for about an hour one time, and it thought I'd only gone 1.5 miles.  I'm slow, but I'm not that slow.  😉

As far as I can tell, I have all the settings and permissions for the FitBit app where they should be.  I'm pretty confident that my GPS used to be a lot more accurate, because my husband and I walk a 1-mile loop in our neighborhood together often.  His Suunto still tracks it as a mile, while mine now thinks the same loop is shorter.  

I can't seem to find the chat feature on the FitBit site anymore, so I'm hoping one of you has a suggestion for me.  Any ideas?

[Rich_Laue]

Your Charge does not have the ability to track with the GPS. Are you referring to mobile run on the Fitbit app on what phone? 

[AlisonSR]

I have a Pixel, and yes, I guess I mean the GPS phone connection. It used
to be comparable to my husband's GPS watch, and now it's not. Is there
something you think I should update?

[Rich_Laue]

Are you using the Fitbit app to record your run? 

I'm not sure what steps your takeing or if you have a Charge HR. 

Are you starting the run recording from the wrist or your Fitbit app? 

Do you see a map of the path you ran? 

[AlisonSR]

I used to use the exercise option of "hike" on my old Fitbit (a surge,
which they no longer sell). The Charge only offers me a "run" option, so
I've used that. I'm talking the settings from my watch - not my phone/app.
Both of these options used to track pretty accurately.

At some point a couple months ago I noticed that starting a "run" from my
watch was wildly off for distance. So I've stopped using the exercise
settings at all, and I just go by the general stats on my watch. When I've
compared other watches (a Garmin and a Suunto, each with built-in GPS), it
now seems to be pretty consistent that the FitBit tracks .9 miles for each
actual mile.

I always carry my phone with me, and I've had the same phone and Fitbit for
several months at least. This is a noticeable change/drop in functionality
with no changes made on my end.

Does that all make sense?

[Rich_Laue]

No it doesn't make sense, the Charge and Charge HR came out before the Surge and neither have a run setting or connected GPS. None of what is described above can be done with the Charge. 

Do you have the Charge 2 or Charge 3? If you have a Charge 2 or Charge 3 then there are about 20 different exercises that are availible on the watch. 

[AlisonSR]

I contacted the FitBit chat and got some help. Thanks!