Heart rate monitor not correct

[bassmanrick]

My charge 2 is not showing my correct heart rate. It shows 120 bpm when a pulse test shows 140. my monitor also becomes erratic above 133 bpm. Many times going blank during a work-out. I have changed to different wrist and changed the location on my arm, even putting it under my wrist. The monitor works fine under 120 bpm and I love everything else about the charge 2. Any ideas out there?

[Nikostc]

I have a similar issue.  The heart rate is not correct.  I have compared against pulse test and a heart rate monitor strapped on my chest.  The difference is quite large - e.g. Charge 2 read 110 while the other methods gave 165.  I'm three days into using it and will likely return if not resolved.

[kms180]

I too have that problem.  When I am on the stairmill my Charge HR will say 140 BPM while my Charge 2 says 77 bpm.  A VERY large discrepancy and quite frusterating over an hour of working out.  I have tried tightening/loosening, re-adjusting, switching wrists, moving up and down and nothing seems to get it above 77 (meanwhile I panting and sweating and my HR is clearly closer to 140 which my Charge HR says).  Other than that, all other activities seem to be accurate.  Any tips or thoughts would be appreciated.  Thanks

Kate M

[freshs]

Are we not getting any responses from Fitbit here!? I'm also a new user my resting rate is 60 - on the treadmill for years my HR has peaked at 125-130 in full stride. The lifecycle machines at Golds still reflect that 130 but somehow my Charge 2 locks at 83, c'mon it's simply not accurate, all my settings are fine. My Q is can a reading from the top of ones wrist ever be as accurate as the bottom? Fitbit you need to respond to this!!!!!!

[acampbe23]

I have been having the same issue. Two days in a row I wore by fitbit and my chest monitor. Yesterday the fitbit said I was around 120, while my chest strap was around 165. This also lead to cals burned to be waaay different. Fitbit: 265, chest strap 562.... If this does not resolve I will be returing the fitbit for a different brand

[freshs]

Hi I had this resolved with a call to FB techs the other day, of course I asked them to put the info into this thread but they haven't. Bottom line is you need to do a hard reset on the tracker by connecting it to the charger, resetting, discusonnecting, then restting again, etc. this might be published on the site some where, it was a legthny process, took us about 15-20 mins but my FB is working much better now, good luck!

[Erikbeauch]

So you have to hard reset the tracker twice? And is it something you have to do frequently or by doing the process once it's good to go for a while? If eventually you have the more detailed steps, this would be much appreciated. Thx,

[Nikostc]

Thanks for the input. I tried the Hard Reset with the assistance of the
help line as well. Unfortunately, it did not solve the problem.
Nick Chakalos
+1.508.308.3747

[freshs]

here's the thread from my chat with the tech, sorry it's got a lot of info but just follow the steps and hopefiully it will work, I did it that one time and't been working since (1 week)

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Benjamin (1/6/2017, 11:27:16 AM): Hi scott, my name is Benjamin. How can I help you?
Me (1/6/2017, 11:27:40 AM): this thread Benjamin, we are simply not gettting ccurate readings for heart rate  
Me (1/6/2017, 11:27:41 AM): https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-2/Heart-rate-monitor-not-correct/m-p/1720369
Benjamin (1/6/2017, 11:27:50 AM): Hi Scott. I am sorry to hear about your Charge 2's heart rate accuracy issue.
Benjamin (1/6/2017, 11:27:57 AM): Let me go ahead and document everything here your case.
Benjamin (1/6/2017, 11:28:00 AM): With that, I'll be connecting you to the next chat advocate who is trained to handle your Charge 2 inquiries. Please stay on the chat and thanks.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:33:55 AM): Hello scott, my name is Julio P.. How can I help you?
Me (1/6/2017, 11:34:01 AM): https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-2/Heart-rate-monitor-not-correct/m-p/1720369
Me (1/6/2017, 11:34:20 AM): we have a few people on this thread and no Fitbit guru is responding to us, can you help
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:35:06 AM): I'll be glad to assist you with this matter.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:35:17 AM): Just let me check Scott.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:37:59 AM): Thanks Scott Just to make sure that I understood the issue is the  heart  rate monitor that is not working properly.
Me (1/6/2017, 11:38:10 AM): yep
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:40:45 AM): So it is the Scottt  could you please confirm if the tracker is paired with this fitbit account?
Me (1/6/2017, 11:40:56 AM): it is
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:41:58 AM): So is a brand new Charge 2
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:42:32 AM): Correct?
Me (1/6/2017, 11:43:11 AM): yep
Me (1/6/2017, 11:43:14 AM): 1 month
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:45:17 AM): So in this case we can try a basic troubleshooting step,since is a new tracker we don't have an specific steps in this case/. but we can resetting your Fitbit and check if that help.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:46:05 AM): Did you already try that?
Me (1/6/2017, 11:46:11 AM): don't know how
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:47:00 AM): . Do you have the charging cable and a powered USB port nearby at this moment?
Me (1/6/2017, 11:47:13 AM): yes
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:47:27 AM): So please plug it in on the charger and let it charge.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:49:05 AM): meanwhile could you please be more specific about the heart rate that you're experiencing  with?
Me (1/6/2017, 11:50:03 AM): my resting is 60-65, I do a heavy workout at the gym and it goes to 130 and has for years. Fitbit reads 83-85 max even when the lifecycle reads 130
Me (1/6/2017, 11:50:35 AM): every other gym monitor reflects 125-130 and the fitbit never reflects my rate going above 85 which I know i wrong
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:52:57 AM): I understand So you top heart rate in the Charge 2 is 85 bpm.
Me (1/6/2017, 11:53:42 AM): yes
Me (1/6/2017, 11:53:52 AM): so its charging what are next steps
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:54:33 AM): so now press and hold the button for 10 seconds.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:54:39 AM): while is charging.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:55:10 AM): and let me know if you are able to see a number on the tracker display.
Me (1/6/2017, 11:55:35 AM): yes
Me (1/6/2017, 11:55:52 AM): 22.48.14
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:56:06 AM): Great!   so please disconnect it .
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:56:23 AM): and lets restart the Heart rate.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:56:53 AM): I able to see that  you have the Heart rate in Auto.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:57:32 AM): So in order to made it more accuracy please go to your fitbit account. and turn it off.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 11:58:10 AM): then turn it back on and make sure that is in ON no in AUTO.
Me (1/6/2017, 11:59:21 AM): ok done
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:00:08 PM): Did you turn it off?
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:00:46 PM): thanks I able to see it in the system
Me (1/6/2017, 12:00:48 PM): off, then synced, now on and sunced
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:01:10 PM): Now please set it up in ON and sync again the tracker.
Me (1/6/2017, 12:01:43 PM): yes done
Me (1/6/2017, 12:02:15 PM): it's telling me my heartrate is 165 and I don't have it on my wrist
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:02:51 PM): Yes I understand. Scott so please plug it back in the charger.
Me (1/6/2017, 12:03:13 PM): done
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:03:20 PM): and if the Heart rate is on in the Dashboard.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:03:32 PM): Lets restart the tracker again.
Me (1/6/2017, 12:04:15 PM): done
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:05:23 PM): So please  put your tracker in your wrist sync the tracker again with the Iphone.
Me (1/6/2017, 12:06:13 PM): done
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:06:40 PM): Make sure that is not to tight.
Me (1/6/2017, 12:07:07 PM): ok
Me (1/6/2017, 12:07:25 PM): shows 70
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:07:27 PM): at least 2 fingers loose within your wrist and the band.
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:08:11 PM): Make sure that  is not in the wrist bone.
Me (1/6/2017, 12:08:22 PM): shows 64 now
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:09:16 PM): your Resting:heart rate upon my system is 60 bpm
Julio P. (1/6/2017, 12:09:21 PM): so looks normal.
Me (1/6/2017, 12:10:15 PM): ok, will have to see what happens when I work out - do I have a case #? can you go into the forum and tell the others on my thread about this method?

[Erikbeauch]

Thanks for your post. This has improved the accuracy for me:

1. Close the app on the iPhone.
2. Restart the app.

3. In the app, set the HR to Off.

4. Sync with Charge 2.

5. In the app, set the HR to ON (not auto).

6. Sync with Charge 2.

I need to repeat it before any intense activity, but it's quickly done. And the readings are then within 1-15 hb of what the monitor is showing on the threadmill. Much better.

[sandravlado]

Hello. Thanks for these guidelines. 

I have noticed that my heart rate was unusually high, even during the night, while I was sleeping.

It was around 130bpm, which is impossible for a resting rate.

After I have read these guidelines, I have reset my Charge 2 and have set the Heart Rate Monitor to Off then ON (it was on AUTO BTW).

Now it works fine. It is showing 68bpm at the moment.

[Chase83]

Thanks for sharing. I've had my Fitbit over a year and it's only just started to show a lot less HR than before. I have followed your instructions and hopefully this will work . Mine was in auto too.

[lachapina_pichi]

Yes, I have had the same issue for months now and haven't had the time to get it resolved. Lately, it's been much worse. When I'm working out on the treadmill, my HR can get up to 190, but then when I look at my Fitbit (Charge 2), it only says 108, more or less. There's been a huge disparity of over 70 bpm lately, which has been quite frustrating and can throw me off my workout. I just looked through this thread and, hopefully, the suggestions will work. I'm quite fed up with it.

[Boymomof4]

I have the same problem with my Charge 2. Also doesn't calculate stairs correctly if at all. It is frustrating. 

[Gonzo3008]

Noticed this yesterday as well. Add to that that it doesn’t track my sleep properly. It doesn’t start counting till 3 hours after falling asleep. Makes you wonder how does it calculate results when the input data is way of? 

[Jennylinda05]

I have the same problem. All the other monitors seem to match but my fb is the only one that shows random data. I’ve been trying to make sure I reach a cardio zone during my workouts and it’s almost imposible because I don’t know if ai need to slow down or hurry up. Not happy with this.