In which hand should I use my Fitbit Charge 2?

[Gresten28]

I am left handed,do I wear the Fitbit on my left or right hand,I am confused 👞 right now it is on my left,but I get so many steps without walking,I think I should put the Fitbit on my right side,am I right? Thank you Hertz B

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity 

[RicardoFitbit]

Hi @Gresten28 thanks for bringing this to my attention, it's a pleasure to help you out with your inquiry, welcome to the Community Forums!

Lefty over here! In my personal experience I can tell you that I usually use my Fitbit device on my non-dominant hand to avoid additional steps to be tracked, just as you are experiencing with yours. Also, I feel more comfortable using it on my right hand because of all the things I do with my left one. 

Let me share that Fitbit devices have a finely-tuned algorithm for step counting. The algorithm is designed to look for intensity and motion patterns that are most indicative of people walking and running. When working at a desk, cooking, or performing other activities with arm movements, a device on your wrist may add some steps, even more when it's located in your dominant hand. For more information and details, please check: How do I wear my Fitbit device?. 

Let me know how it goes, I'll be around if you need anything else. 

[CalamityJane65]

What if one is ambidextrous? I consider myself left-handed as I write, paint, draw with my left hand, but use scissors, a mouse, eat right-handed. If playing sports (which I don’t do!) I throw right-handed, play racquet sports, pool etc. I wear the Fitbit on my right wrist (always have with watches, so it doesn’t interfere with writing) and have it set to ‘non-dominant, but wonder if it is over counting steps because of all the activities I undertake with my right hand. What do you recommend?

[WilsonFitbit]

Hello @CalamityJane65. Welcome to the community forums! 

Regarding your concerns, I'd like to let you know that for wrist-based devices, it's important to specify whether you wear the device on your dominant or non-dominant wrist during setup:

• The dominant wrist setting decreases the sensitivity of step counting and should reduce any over counting of steps when your body is not moving. Your dominant hand is the one you use for writing and eating.
• The non-dominant wrist setting increases the sensitivity of step counting and should reduce any under counting of steps.

This information and some other tips about accuracy can be found here: How accurate are Fitbit devices?

Hope this helps. 

[CalamityJane65]

Not really. As I mentioned in the post, I write left handed but eat right handed (use a mouse right handed but a WACOM left handed). Ambidextrous. So, then, which do I set it to? Dominant or non dominant? I consider myself left handed, wear it on my right wrist and have it set to non dominant, but I do a heck of a lot of things with my right hand. I mean who actually writes much nowadays anyway? 

[WilsonFitbit]

@CalamityJane65 Thanks for your reply and for the detailed information.

In my own experience, I wear my Fitbit device on my left hand (non-dominant) but I consider myself right handed. I consider my Fitbit device is currently tracking my steps in a proper way. 

I think you should test and see how your Fitbit device detects your steps but if you're wearing it on your right wrist, then I believe you should set it on your Dominant hand instead. If you notice any discrepancy, try to wear it on your left one and set it to the non-dominant and see how it goes. 

On a side note, take into consideration that it is normal that when working at a desk, cooking, or performing other activities with arm movements, a device on your wrist may add some steps. When you’re doing activities that involve arm movement—such as working or cooking—you often walk a few steps in-between stationary periods as well, so the device tries to give you credit for those steps. For most users, the number of extra steps added by arm-based movement isn’t significant when compared to your overall stats. 

See you around.