Inspire 2, active zone minutes vs active minutes

[AngelaRN9590]

I’m so disappointed that I replaced my Fitbit one with the inspire 2. I wear it in a clip because I don’t like anything on my wrist. And I just realized It doesn’t track my active minutes because they are now apparently active zone minutes and based on heart rate not steps. Wearing the device on a clip disables the HR monitor and therefor active ZONE minutes. I wish there was a way to toggle between tracking active minutes and active zone minutes. 

Moderator edit: subject for clarity 

[Tb7782]

I just got my inspire 2 and am really disappointed for that same reason.  Fitbit really should offer and option for which type of active minutes you prefer.  How hard could it be to offer the option?

When I’m using my bike I obviously don’t swing my arms, I always wear my Fitbit on my ankle.  It feels like a rip-off to me!  
Fitbit, provide us with the option!  
I may have to return my new Fitbit and purchase a different brand activity tracker that will give me the old options back.  I’ve used the Fitbit brand for about 8 years and now I’m really disappointed.

[WilsonFitbit]

Hello @AngelaRN9590, @Tb7782, welcome to the community forums! 

@AngelaRN9590 @Tb7782 thank you very much for taking the time to provide your feedback and I'm very sorry for the experience! Currently, there isn't an option to allow your Inspire 2 to track just active minutes. Charge 4, Inspire 2, Fitbit Ionic, Sense and Fibit Versa series track Active Zone minutes. For more information about active zone minutes, please check: What are Active Zone Minutes or active minutes on my Fitbit device?

On a side note, when Inspire 2 is set to "On Clip", certain features are turned off, including heart-rate tracking, automatic exercise tracking, Active Zone Minutes, and water lock. This is an expected behavior. 

Please note that our team is always working to enhance your experience and your feedback is a big part of that process.

See you around. 

[redwolf3]

@WilsonFitbit 

I'm in the same boat as @AngelaRN9590 and @Tb7782.- I have an Inspire 2 which I exclusively where on a clip due to the type of work I do. The Inspire 2 was meant as an "upgrade" from my old FitBot one which needed its battery replaced for a second time.

Active minutes was one of the key metrics that I use the FitBit to track and have been using for years. It is one of my keys to success.

Is there any plan to enable this option on the Inspire 2 now or in the future? If not, is there a way we can request this feature?

[Additional thoughts on Inspire 2]

After using the Inspire 2 for 3 weeks I am strongly considering going back to my FitBit one and returning the Inspire 2. It seems great if you can wear it on your wrist, but lack of a device for non-wrist wearers has been a major turn off to me with FitBit recently. In addition, the Inspire 2 Clip seems to be poorly thought out / implemented. In addition to not tracking active minutes, the Inspire 2 Clip also only has a button passthrough on one side. This makes it useless since the Inspire 2 requires you to press both sides of the device at the same time. As a result, any time I need to change a screen I have to pull the Inspire 2 out of the case which is a hassle if I'm in the middle of an exercise routine.

The battery life on the Inspire 2 is great compared to my old FitBit one, but lack of a viable FitBit option for those of us who can't (or won't) wear it on their wrist is a real detractor in the segment.

[Tb7782]

I now set my inspire2 to the wrist setting even though I wear it on my ankle and do not use the wrist strap (sometimes I use the clip and sometimes I wear a cloth strap that I bought 3rd party. This way it tracks my active minutes. If the active minutes is a feature that’s a must have for you, just tell the Fitbit that it’s on your wrist!)
I really don’t see why the tech people who created this can’t just make active minutes an option when the clip setting is on. It seems like a huge oversight on FitBit’s part. I was ready to switch to a different brand tracker until I realized I could trick the app/device.

[UpUpUp]

Does the Inspire 2 track steps properly when it's being worn on a clip but told it's on a wrist?

I don't wear mine on a wrist partially because with older tracker models I got wildly inaccurate readings (maybe I swing my arms too much when I walk?), and partly because I'm used to the clip now and don't really want to switch....

I replaced a Fitbit Zip with the Inspire 2. While the Inspire 2 doesn't show me active minutes on its own display, I can still see them by logging in to the Fitbit dashboard with a browser. So the active minutes are still being calculated somewhere, at least.

Moderator Edit: Merged posts

[Tb7782]

It seems to track fairly accurately. I don’t wear it on my wrist because any time you move your arms (like while folding clothing, painting, cleaning) it counts as a step, even if you’re stationary and not moving your feet. Alternately if you’re walking and have something in your arms and can’t swing them or on a treadmill and holding onto the railing, it doesn’t count as steps because you’re not swinging your arms. I find more accurate results when wearing trackers on my leg/foot.

[WilsonFitbit]

Hello everyone. @redwolf3, welcome to the community forums! 

@Tb7782, @UpUpUp, thank you very much for the feedback and input! Currently, there isn't any plan to implement Active minutes feature on the Inspire 2. This device as well as the Charge 4, Fitbit Ionic, Sense, Versa series track Active Zone minutes. All other devices track active minutes. 

While your suggestion is very appreciated, I suggest you to please give us your idea and suggestion through our Ideas board. If you find that a similar suggestion has already been made by another member of the community, you can vote for their idea and add your comments.

For the clip mode, when Inspire 2 is set to On Clip, certain features are turned off including heart-rate tracking, automatic exercise tracking, Active Zone Minutes, and Water Lock. @UpUpUp, for your question, when you wear Inspire 2 in the band, make sure your tracker is set to "On Wrist". When you wear Inspire 2 in the accessory clip, make sure it’s set to "On Clip". You can check the manual of this device here. 

In addition, please check: How accurate are Fitbit devices?

Please note that our team is always working to enhance your experience and your feedback is a big part of that process.

See you around. 

[redwolf3]

@Tb7782 

Thanks for the suggestion, I tried switching mine to "wrist" mode instead of "click" mode and, like you said, it seems to track active minutes similarly to my old tracker. I'll have to try this for a week or so and compare it against the measurements from my old FitBit one, but this is promising.

[Pink44]

I feel exactly the same way.  Why can't Fitbit just add active minutes?  It's just like a timer, isn't it?  I don't need or want zone minutes.  I want to know how long I've been walking (and "bonus" if I could see the screen outside to know what it said!) I replaced my Inspire with the Inspire 2 and just figured I could ignore the features I didn't want or need.  I never expected to lose basic features!  Disappointed!

[Whiskey13]

I feel the same way. I would still be using my Fitbit One if the battery didn’t die. So disappointed there isn’t option to tack active minutes on the Inspire. I also miss the flights of stairs that tracked on the One 

[Jrun60]

I recently switched from a One to Inspire 2 when my battery was dying.  I am using a clip since I didn't want the Fitbit to be my watch.  It is very disappointing to now learn that the active minutes and active zone minutes are not tracking correctly.  This seems to be a major design miss by Fitbit.

[AmandaA2021]

I too am disappointed. I've had my Fitbit One for YEARS and it was exactly what I wanted. Bought the Inspire2 because I wanted the clip option and (because I didn't fully do my homework...) didn't realize I would now be missing out on activity minutes AND floor count. Ugh.  I don't intend on using it on my wrist much so...now I just have a ridiculously expensive pedometer. Boo.  I'm almost tempted to go back to my 'One' but the battery life is making it so I have to charge it every day.

[AmandaA2021]

So...how does one get the Fitbit One battery replaced? I may look into returning the Fitbit Inspire2 I just purchased and get my Fitbit One battery replaced (only reason I switched is because I've been having to charge it every darn day...but considering that I've had it since 2012, I can't complain!). Wish they still made the One!

[DJF11706]

I must edit my opinion from above... I put my Inspire 2 in "wrist" mode but used it in a clip. The Inspire 2 counted my steps accurately AND counted my Active Minutes. I think I'm going to live. (Yesterday, I sounded like I was ready to roll over and die.) lol 

[Whiskey13]

Ive done the same thing but not sure the active zone minutes are as accurate as the active minutes

Sent from my iPhone

[EmKaye]

Indeed! I just returned my Inspire 2 because it fails to track my active minutes. Zone minutes might be a good option IN ADDITION to active minutes … but not IN LIEU. I found a Fitbit ZIP on Amazon … for more than twice the price of the Inspire 2. I hope that by the time it dies that FitBit can offer at least one product built for a clip that tracks steps, distance and active minutes.

[Tb7782]

These are all BASIC FUNCTIONS that should be part of every unit.  Fitbit has really sank down in quality as vet the patient 5 years, IMO at least.  I like having all of my data available for the past 6 years but may need to give that up with my next activity tracker so I can get all of the functions I want, and get out of the never ending Fitbit cycle.

We’ll see!

[Tb7782]

Ugh auto-INcorrect above.

”down in quality over the past 5years” NOT “as vet the patient 5 years “.  We all just want them to have ALL of the basic features, and then pay more for extras.  Why go changing something that wasn’t broken?

[jet444]

To check your active minutes go into your current heart rate click on it and you will see your active minutes, cardio etc.