Inspire HR: Step accuracy

[franskemper]

Hello,

I am using my Inspire HR only a few days, but find that the step count is way off. Only today I put the Inspire to charge and already the count show 1.662 steps. (1.32KM) We do not have a small house, but to walk that many steps will not happen. This was my confirmation of suspecting the same during the past few days. Since I used the Inspire, it gives me consistent way more steps, and distance, than I actually did. Is there any way to fix this?

Thanks.

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity 

[sailorbear510]

Are you moving your body around in any way that may suggest exercise or perhaps any physical activity? Doing such motions can cause the device to register movement.

[franskemper]

Not really sailorbear. This morning I got up, went one floor down to make coffee and fitbit registered 611 steps. After moving around the house a bit for a usual quiet Sunday morning, one hour later the teller was at 811 steps. Something is very wrong, but I am not able what it is. The Inspire Software/Hardware? The iPhone 7+?. Is there any way to eliminate the possible causes one buy one and discover the culprit? 

[Adeuk]

I have also noted that counted steps (and therefore distance) seems extremely over allowed. Compared with my Samsung Galaxy watch and Iphone worn at the same time today, the inspire gave 6,500 steps and 3.1 miles, and the GW and iPhone XS both counted about the same at 3000 and 1.3 miles in a similar period while I was at a shoot today. I’ve even used a map tool to measure the distance and it was about 1.2 miles.

[Monale]

I got a Fitbit Inspire HR and am wearing it the first day today. To my huge surprise, Fitbit counts WAYS more steps than my phone which I used for the last two months. Right now, according to my phone, I did 8'683 steps so far today. According to Fitbit, it's 16'318! Even early in the day when I first checked, there was a difference of a few hundred steps. Although in the "My activities" list, it says "n/a" under steps, when I look at the time stamps, it still seems that Fitbit probably counted steps when I was cycling (which my phone does NOT do) and swimming (when I did not have my phone with me for obvious reasons but was wearing the tracker). Is it normal that Fitbit counts steps for these activities?

Moderator edit: Clarified subject and label

[Ohnoetry]

This has been my observation too. Besides that, this tracker logs thousands of steps during my drives to and from work and there's no way to pause the step count such as "drive mode." I've downloaded a GPS activity tracker to compare data with and after a week I'm going to decide if I want to return it. It's a shame because it's a beautiful device but if it's not doing what it was made to do what's the point?

[franskemper]

Today I work from home, and it seems that I logged 2417 steps. We do not have a very small house, but that many steps? No way.

I sent a message to FitBit support and this was there response:

"Hi Frans, thanks for reaching out. Let's work this through. Just a friendly reminder, several factors can cause your Fitbit device to log extra steps, such as vibrations & excessive hand movements. To learn more about how your tracker count steps, please see: https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1141#steps.

Furthermore, you can negate those extra steps, here's how: https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1306#steps. Then, give a few restarts on your Inspire HR as instructed here: https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1186. Then, observe its step counting behavior. For any issues that may arise, feel free to reach out to us and we'll do our best to help."

I followed these suggestions, but it didn't help. I hope that FitBit is reading these posts and that they can solve this with a firmware update. Like you said, I like the model and features, but it has to be accurate.

[SloCyclist]

I've had my Fitbit Inspire HR for about six weeks, and it has consistently read double and more the number of steps on my Withings Pulse and iPhone XS. Similar results when comparing to my wife's Apple Watch.

I've been tempted to wear it on my non-dominant arm but leave the setting as dominant to see if that has any effect, but I wear a regular mechanical watch all the time, and that would be cumbersome.

[franskemper]

I tried that to, but didn't make any difference for me.

[Adeuk]

After persevering with changes to get a reasonable battery life, in which I succeeded but why should it be needed, given the steps etc reading today ( and previous days) I have given up with this product.

So I can apparently help negate over counting, but why should I need to when my Galaxy  watch and iPhone work accurately without my input?

Today, I walked 1.1 miles to and from the office, where I was chained to the desk for 7 hours. Fitbit clocked almost 7000 steps and 3.3 miles! Three times what I did!

It is a shame, but I’ll be returning mine tomorrow

[markwbd]

It won't be any consolation but I seem to have the same problem. Huge number of steps each day, even given I'm using it on the non dominant hand. I'd guess a 2 to 3 times overestimate looking at my iPhone. I did do a straight-line test comparing counted steps with recorded steps and the Inspire HR was only slightly high, so it must be something to do with hand movement not associated with walking. I'm guessing that the reason iPhones / etc. are more accurate is that you tend to keep the phone in a pocket  (especially a trouser pocket) not constantly in your hand. It's a problem. I'm telling myself 'keep an eye on the trends not the detailed data' but... I see you can get a clip for the basic Inspire that you can attach to your clothing. Would be interesting to know if anyone doing that has the same issue.

[Ohnoetry]

My inspire HR just logged 17 steps while I was sitting completely motionless on the freaking toilet.  No arm waving or even moving at all was happening. This happens constantly throughout the day, I look down after sitting in a chair for twenty minutes and Bam apparently I've taken 50+ steps.

I've tried every available troubleshooting option offered by the forum moderators just to get some accuracy and nothing has worked. This device logs thousands of steps during my drive each day and the moderators here constantly blame that on old cars and bumpy roads (I drive a prius on perfectly fine freeways) or worse, on user error. They tell you to "fix" the miscounted steps by logging them as an activity to cancel it out. Talk about unreasonably inconvenient. What about people who are in and out of vehicles all day like paramedics or rideshare drivers? No real solution for them is there? Not only that, it ruins the goal setting feature because any time you log a drive it counts as exercise toward your goal. 

I'm at the point of returning this junk. It is absolutely more trouble than it's worth. And if one more mod says "we've worked very hard to ensure that our devices do not count steps while driving" i'm gonna lose it, because it's NOT ENOUGH. 

MODERATORS - DO NOT EDIT MY POST TO DE-EMPHASIZE THAT THIS TRACKER HAS MOVED BACKWARDS IN TECH RELIABILITY. 

Moderator edit: Format -Updated subject for clarity.

[LanuzaFitbit]

Welcome to the Forums @Monale.

Thanks for sharing your experience on the matter.  I will be moving this thread to the Inspire board as I think it is better suited for it.

As for the step counting. It is important to mention that the way the Fitbit and your phone track steps is different and thus we cannot fully say which is one strictly more accurate.

As for the additional steps, it is certainly possible that it counted more steps while biking and swimming. You can click here to read more about what could be happening. If needed, you can also click here to find steps on how to delete steps.

Feel free to let me know if you have any further questions.

[CindiLi]

I “think” this may be an issue with just the Inspire?   But it counts a good 500 steps anytime I am styling my hair for the day or even when I gave my little dog a bath in the sink.  My arm movements are certainly not like exercises while I shampoo my dog.  It kind of makes the step counter worthless if its going to do this.  

My sister has the Alta HR and has not had this problem.  I purchased this because I really love the swipe screen and other features that the Alta HR doesn’t have.  I also like that its swim proof.

[leesa]

I am having the same issue. I've had other fitbits and have a pretty good idea of my activity level and average step/distance counts. I got 50 steps while washing my hands this morning. I had over 18,000 steps yesterday. I was busy at work but I have never logged that many steps in a day including days with aerobic workouts.

I am really disappointed because the device is beautiful and comfortable. My primary interest is step count though so it's useless in its' current state.

[sailorbear510]

Well I guess it can be counted as exercise as dishes and washing the dog can be tedious tasks! But that sounds odd. 

Probably to keep us active or something I honestly do not know why it does that. 

[JohnnyRow]

Any wrist-worn tracker detects steps from the normal swinging of the arms while walking.  Fitbit tries to differentiate other activities from walking, but still other movements are sometimes interpreted as steps, especially rhythmic continuous movements.  Most people find the difference is not significant in a full day, but for some activities you might find you prefer to take the tracker off during them.  This can be a good time to charge the tracker. Other activities that can lead to extra steps include knitting, playing drums, brushing hair, etc

[Crazylady59]

Way too many steps.  In fact more than doubled.  Compared it to my Apple Watch app and pace which both matched.  Sleep says I went to sleep at 1:00 am which was when I woke up and went to bathroom.  If it is not going to be correct I need a new device.  I lived my old Fitbit.  Perfect sleep details and steps.  Bought this mainly for the sleep.  

[CindiLi]

I see what you’re saying excep my sisters Alta HR doesn’t count the same activities as steps.... makes me think there is an improvement that could be made here in the SW.

Other then that and now once or twice has not tracked my sleep at all or has me falling asleep two hours late I love the design and functionality of the Inspire.

[JohnnyRow]

Could it be difference in which arms worn on, say maybe sister's worn on wrist not as active in those activities?  Just trying to think of anything.