Steps and distance on treadmill not very accurate

[Jim46]

I am walking 3.1 miles on the treadmill, but my Fitbit Charge 2 is only registering approx. 1.6 miles and around 3800 steps. I have calculated that 3.1 miles is about 6500 steps for my stride length. Why is this?

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity 

[JohnnyRow · Accepted solution]

Hi @Jim46.  Welcome to the Fitbit forums.

If you were holding treadmill hand rails, steps probably were not detected.  Wrist-worn trackers detect steps from the normal swinging of the arms, so when wrists are still, steps cannot be detected.

If you can hold rail with one (non-tracker) hand, that should work.

Or you can put your tracker in your pocket or pinned to your clothing and probably get good step count (and therefore distance), but losing heart rate data for that time.

Let us know if that doesn't solve it, or you have any other questions.