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 

[leesa]

I did an experiment today by wearing both the inspire HR and my alta on the same wrist with the same exact settings for the day. It wasn't a very active day for me, mostly cleaning, laundry, and household chores. My least active day of the week. Here are my results:

Inspire HR:

7,907 steps

1,541 calories

3.24 miles

Alta:

7,147 steps

1,516 calories

2.98 miles

The inspire HR logged about 750 more steps than the alta. Again, these devices are being worn at the same time on the SAME WRIST for the same period of time. They should be much closer in my opinion. In a normal day I log about 12-14,000 steps which means the inspire HR would be over by about 1500 steps. It is better than the first day or two that I was using it but still unacceptable as far as I am concerned.

[Treetop10]

Thx for helping them solve this aggravating problem

Sent from my iPhone

[SergioUSA]

I decided to return my Inspire HR and got a Charge 3.
After 2 days, I can now say the Inspire HR really has a problem.
My new Charge 3 is giving about the same results as my 2 old Flex were.
So Fitbit, have someone look at the Inspire HR to find the problem.

[Treetop10]

Is a Charge 3 completely different from Fitbit?

Sent from my iPhone

[phatlad]

A charge 3 is a fitbit device. I currently have it and its step count is WAY off as well. Thousands of steps and dozens of floors while driving.

While actually walking or running, the step count is correct, but typing, driving, dishes, washing hands, brushing teeth, etc., all adds steps on my charge 3.

[Treetop10]

😩😩crazy!

Sent from my iPhone

[markwbd]

Hi witchesjelly. Tried setting to 'dominant hand' but doesn't seem to have fixed the problem. Shame as in most other respects I'm enjoying the Inspire HR.

---------------

Hi AlvaroFitbit. Hmmm. Whilst adjusting the step count by login other activity is clearly 'a solution' it does raise the question 'do I need to do this for washing my face, combining my hair, cooking toast, etc., etc.?' These are among actitivies people have indicate cause step overclocking. I've also tried the 'dominant non-dominant' thing and it doesn't seem to make much difference. From the various posts it sounds like other Fitbit devices are not experiencing this problem, so what is it with Inspire HR?

[Jolijndh]

First day of using my fitbit, and when I biked for 15 minutes this morning I gained about 1000 steps.. seems not right. Also, i've been sitting at my desk for about an hour now, and gained another 1000.. 

[dottymc]

I replaced my beloved Fitbit One this weekend with the Inspire HR.  I NEVER had a problem with step count with the One, which was either in a pocket or clipped to clothing.  Now my step count is way up.  I would have purchased a new One, but it is not available, nor is there a product that is similar.  Fitbit offered me a 25% discount on a new product, but it was cheaper to buy the Inspire at Best Buy.  I would switch back to the One in a heartbeat if it was available.

[SunsetRunner]

I'm also seeing massive over reading of steps. But also with calories. I've been sat in meetings all day today, and yet somehow used over 3,600 calories! Clearly a problem!

[Treetop10]

I wish Fitbit would stop sending me messages congratulating me over achieving my step quota. How sad it is so messed up. I’m checking out the Apple Watch this week. My daughter-in-law has one and loves it.

Sent from my iPhone

[SilviaFitbit]

Great to see you around  @Ieesa. Thanks for the details that you've mentioned. I appreciate the tests that you did while wearing the Inspire HR and your Alta. 

I can see that your steps and miles aren't showing quite the same. I would like you to confirm that you have properly entered your stride length in your Dashboard. Also, it might be a good idea to restart your Inspire to help refresh your tracker's system. 

Hey there @Treetop10. Sorry to hear about the issues that you've been having with the Inspire HR. In this case, I've shared your post with our Support team, they will continue assisting you on this matter. 

Thank you for sharing with the Community that you got a new Charge 3 @sergioUSA. 

Hey there @phatlad. Thanks for continue sharing those details. You can delete the steps that you're getting while driving by logging this activity in your Dashboard. Have you checked this article about accuracy of Fitbit trackers? 

Thank you for getting back @markwbd. Sorry to hear that changing the dominant hand hasn't helped. When you're setting up the stride length, you can calculate by following the steps on this article: How do I measure and adjust stride length for my Fitbit device?.

Regarding your question about the steps that you're getting when you're washing your face, it doesn't need to be logged but you shouldn't be receiving that many steps as they are daily activities. Please enter your stride length and continue checking the data that you receive. 

Welcome to the Comunity @Jolijndh! When you're biking, it might give you extra steps. You can log it as an activity to show better results of it. Regarding the steps that you receive while you were sitting on your desk, you might want to restart your tracker. 

A warm welcome to the Community @dottymc! Sorry to hear that your Inspire HR isn't tracking your steps properly. I would like you to make sure that you've entered your stride length and that you've restarted it. Can you provide me with more details about the step count that you're getting?

Welcome to the Community @SunsetRunner! I would like you to make sure that your personal information is properly entered in your Dashboard, because your calories burned are calculated based on it.

I'll be around if you need further assistance. 

[Treetop10]

4564 on Fitbit...3471 on the step indicator😬😩I restarted it last night

Sent from my iPhone

[SunsetRunner]

Yes, I miss the Fitbit One for that reason. I think my Inspire HR is going back, too. 

[SunsetRunner]

Due to this issue, constant trouble with syncing, and a new issue this morning (31 minutes of activity tracked while sitting at my desk), I have decided to return this device.

Maybe these problems are inherent to all fitness trackers?

I really wanted to like this device. But it's more work than it is fun. I have to go through several steps more than once a day to sync the device and it simply is not accurate.

I tried all of the suggestions and spoke directly with Fitbit support. I'm just spending too much time worrying about what is on my wrist instead of enjoying the benefits  of it.

I hope others have better success than I did.

[SergioUSA]

I have been using my Charge 3 for almost a week now and it is really "Day and Night" compared to the Inspire HR.
The Charge 3 results (Steps, Calories, Sleep) are real close to what my 2 last Flex devices were tracking.
For me, this confirms a major flaw in the Inspire HR, whatever the Fitbit moderators can say.

[ronaldtv]

Hi, I’m also having troubles with the counting part of the Inspire HR. After three days I’m done. My previous trackers work far better. Now I see that it’s not an individual issue I will not replace the one I sent back with a new one. Potty, because it’s a very nice tracker. Design, features and so on. But getting indeed already 160 steps by just putting the device on the table at night, sorry that’s way off. Best, Ronald

[leesa]

@SilviaFitbit , yes the stride length is the same for both devices and I restarted my inspire HR several times. It was actually worse the first time I used it.

[Treetop10]

They are working on it so let’s give them a week or two before we give up

Sent from my iPhone

[SloCyclist]

I've been waiting since the first week in February and there haven't been any improvements since. (Currently at 2640 steps sitting in front of a computer all day...)