Over sensitive step counting

[Pika25127]

My charge2 is to sensitive counting steps I am right handed and wear it on my left and have it set on handiness left and wrist left.

sunday night I wore it to bed and woke up with it saying I had done 122 steps while a sleep and last night I took it off before bed and left on my table to find this morning I have walked 15 steps without having it on or moving from picking it up.

also at work it seems to be picking up hundreds of steps without walking anywhere as I work with my hands.

is there anyway to resolve this as it makes it a bit pointless wearing it especially as we have weekly challenges against friends.

thanks 

[HeydyF · Accepted solution]

Hi @Pika25127, it is great to see new faces around!  It seems like you are using the Charge 2 in the way we suggested, so it can track your steps more accurately. However, the fact that is counting some steps while you are sleeping sounds a little weird, at least that you go to the bathroom and don't remember it, hehe, that happens to me sometimes.  If that is not the case than I suggest you to try to restart your Charge 2 by following the instructions on this post. Now regarding the steps that you are getting during the day while you are not walking, let me explain you that Fitbit trackers 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 doing other arm movements, a tracker on your wrist can pick up some extra steps if it thinks you're walking. Many of these situations do include a few steps in-between stationary periods so the tracker tries to give you credit for those steps. For the vast majority of customers, the amount of stray steps accumulated is negligible when compared to the entire day. I hope this helps you out, but if you have more questions, keep me posted! 

Have a nice day! 🙂 

[Pika25127]

Thanks for your reply yesterday it seemed to be a bit more accurate so I'll see how it goes before restarting 

[Kat5442003]

Mine is calculating steps when I am driving....like hundreds of them! 😞 What can I do to fix this?

[HeydyF]

Hi @Pika25127, thanks for getting back to me!  Perfect! keep an eye on the results and let me know how it goes. 😉 

@Kat5442003, I understand you, mine also calculates steps while I drive. Takes me around 20 minutes to go to work and in that time, my Charge 2 always tracks around 250-300 steps. Also when I drive too fast or on bumpy roads, my Fitbit recognize those movements as steps. So, what I do, is that I negate those steps by following the instructions on this post. So I suggest you to give it a try and let me know. 

Keep me posted guys! 

[Planmasterp]

My new charge 2 is way too sensitive. It's calculating steps when I blow dry my hair, 'talk with my hands'.  I've had over 1500 additional steps.  I use to have a flex and it was perfect!!!  Is there an update that can reduce the sensitivity?  

[HeydyF]

Hello @Planmasterp, it is great to see new members around the Forums! Wrist trackers are designed to recognize some of the movements of your arms as steps. For example, When I am ironing my hair, I get some steps, around 100 or a little bit more. However I think that 1500 is way too much, so I suggest you something, please restart your Charge 2 by following the instructions on this post. Then use it for a few days and let me know how it goes! 

Catch ya' later! 

[Jdsounds]

My Fitbit charge 2 is way more sensitive than my charge hr , this is bad to me because I use it to determine my calories I eat per day 

[HeydyF]

Hello @Jdsounds, welcome, welcome! Could you please tell me exactly the issue that you have with your Charge 2? it is counting too many steps, calories, the heart rate is higher or there is other thing that your Charge 2 is counting that you believe is not accurate? Let me know so I can help you out. 😉 

Have a nice day! 

[Jdsounds]

Hi sorry , the calorie title was due to me selecting a title from a previous thread. My problem is the extra steps I'm gaining since swapping to the charge 2 means it shows I'm burning way more calories, thing is I eat my diet based on this readin always have but if I went by this new watch I'd be able to eat an extra 1000 Cal's a day

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[CynthiaD.]

My fitbit does this too but I go to school and do a lot of work on my computer typing and I can't just stand up and do some steps in the middle of class what do you suggest I do.

[HeydyF]

Hey @CynthiaD., let me give you a warm welcome to the Community! Well, typing make that your Charge 2 pick a very few steps. That behavior is normal. However, I would like you to tell me, are you wearing your Charge 2 on your non dominant hand or on your dominant one? I'm asking because if you are wearing it on your dominant, since is the hand that you use the most, most of your movements will be count as steps. In addition, I'd like you to take a look at this explanation about how wrist Fitbit trackers count steps. 

Let me know how it goes! 

[CynthiaD.]

No i am wearing it on my left hand i am right handed

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[HeydyF]

Thanks for your reply @CynthiaD.! Ok, if you are wearing your Charge 2 as suggested, then I'd like you to try to restart it by following the instructions below; it might help you out to improve it's accuracy: 

1. Plug the charging cable into the USB port on your computer or any UL-certified USB wall charger.
2. Clip the other end of the charging cable to the port on the back of the tracker. The pins on the charging cable must lock securely with the port.
3. Make sure the button on your tracker is aligned with the button opening on the charging cable. You'll know the connection is secure when the tracker vibrates and you see a battery icon on your tracker's display. Your Charge 2 will begin charging.
4. Press and hold the button on your tracker for four seconds. When you see the Fitbit logo and the tracker vibrates, this means the tracker has restarted.
5. Unplug your tracker from the charging cable. 

Let me know how it goes! 

[CynthiaD.]

I did but now there calories are so bad they are completely over because
there is no way I lost over 2,000 calories in one day while I was at school

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[Dadadadio]

Today, I began a motorcycle trip,  Glanced at my Charge 2 Fitbit, it read about 9,000 steps.  I rode 125 miles,  stopping once, walked perhaps 1000 steps.  When I pulled into my garage, I was showing 20,000 steps!  I wear it on my left (clutch) hand, which moves very little when riding.  Getting all this credit for just sitting on my duff.  -  Any ideas?   In future trips, I'll try putting it in my pocket, see if it makes a difference.

[HeydyF]

Thanks for your reply @CynthiaD.! Fitbit gives you an estimated amount of calories burn. 

The data you're seeing is an estimate of your historical caloric burn based on your demographics (height, weight and gender) Remember that your body is burning calories all the time, even when you are sleeping not only when you are exercising, since your body needs them in order to fulfill it's functions. But you can always take a look at your personal information. 

@Dadadadio, welcome aboard my friend! Oh! Let me explain to you that normally when a user is driving a motorcycle, is normal that the vibrations are recognized by the tracker as steps. However, you can delete those extra steps by logging a driving activity. In addition, I urge you to take a look at this help article: How does my Fitbit device calculate my daily activity? 

I'll be around guys! 

[Dadadadio]

Thanks for the answer.  I have a Gold Wing, which is the smoothest motorcycle made.  Wonder, will just putting it in my pocket work?   

[HeydyF]

Thanks for your response @Dadadadio! Well, if you wear it on your pocket it might count less less steps, definitely. So you can give it a try while driving a motorcycle. 

Give it a try and let me know how it goes! 

[CynthiaD.]

I find that still very unaccurite but okay if you would explain that a
little more that would be helpful

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