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've decided to return mine, I don't think that fitbit wants to acknowledge that there is a problem. In all of this I was able to resurrect my old alta so I will just use that until either fitbit updates the inspire or comes out with a better alternative.

[Treetop10]

I’m going to hang in a while longer. I do believe they are really trying to fix it and even though Fitbit is my very first for all this monitoring their product seems good in so many ways... but good luck

Sent from my iPhone

[suzannewei]

It's driving me crazy...I reset last night...I picked it up this morning. 0 steps....so far so good...577 calories ---that's amazing that I can burn so much without a step. Is it also tracking calories when I sleep?

[Monale]

That has nothing to do with the step count problem... Your Fitbit takes your daily caloric budget (BMR) and divides it into 24 hours. Every hour, the calories you spent (just by sleeping or doing nothing) will be added. So having 500 calories when you wake up does not sound unreasonable.

[Treetop10]

I am waiting until 4/15 before I think about Fitbit’s problem... then I’ll re-evaluate 🙏:musical_notes:😊

Sent from my iPhone

[Ladyjessop]

I just got my Inspire to replace my old Flex and am also having a problem with too many steps. It’s recording steps when I’m sitting but moving my hands and also when driving. It’s also recording too many steps for light activities like folding laundry and washing dishes. I’ve seen suggestions for entering manual activities and turning the device off in order to overcome the inflated step count but find this unacceptable. The whole point of wearing a step counter is to get an accurate step count! I’ve been a FitBit customer for several years and have never had this problem. The company needs to fix this! 

[KarinaU]

I have done the same experiment with the inspire hr and the Alta, same results. The inspire over counts significantly compared to the Alta. 

[KarinaU]

Putting on shoes gives be about 40 extra steps. Washing my hands is about 80 extra steps. It's rediculous. No point of wearing a fitbit! 

[SunsetRunner]

I have noticed the same that the step counter is way off.  For my own curiosity I checked my steps when I got into my car to drive to collect my daughter from school and it showed that the counter had gone up

[Ladyjessop]

In addition to recording 1100 steps during my hour long drive this morning, I am now noticing that my new Inspire is also recording steps while I'm sitting at my desk working. This negates the entire purpose of wearing an activity tracker! FitBit needs to fix this very frustrating problem. 

Edited to fix typo. 

[KarinaU]

I understand that some inaccuracy is expected. But why would a new model (inspire hr) be so much more inaccurate compared to the older Alta?!

I have restarted both trackers, made sure the correct dominant hand is set, adjusted the stride length to be the same... And still, while wearing both trackers on the same hand - the Inspire HR keeps over counting compared to the Alta. 

[leesa]

It boggles the mind, doesn't it. I'm disappointed that fitbit has yet to acknowledge that there is an issue. I did return my inspire and purchased and Alta HR on Amazon. Fitbit still got my money but I really hope they fix the inspire. All I can think is the folks that never had a tracker don't realize how much their step count is inflated. 

Good luck everyone and I hope that there is a fix soon for those of you who are holding out in hope of an update!

[KarinaU]

Received this from Fitbit Help
[Image]

[dottymc]

I returned mine and ordered a Charge 3.  Hopefully it will be more accurate.  

[Channel11]

Although I've never worn a step counter before I know the Inspire HR is way off with step  counting; no way do I walk 20,000+ steps a day! I too reported it in this forum but admin sent me a private message saying they removed my post because I posted 2 times (?? only posted once). That's over a week ago and no response yet to my private message to them. I hope they will put out a firmware update very soon, otherwise I will return it.

Moderator Edit: Format

[CindiLi]

Thats very strange, I got a similar message from them and had no idea what they were even talking about. 

To some extent I think all wrist based activity trackers are going to add in "some" steps, as they are not true pedometers, the keyword being some, not hundreds or thousands.  I ended up sending mine back and went with the Garmin Vivosmart 4 instead.  It counted some extra steps but not nearly as many as the Inspire.  With certain activities (like drying my hair), I've learned to just remove them.

[Channel11]

@CindiLi , thanks! Yes that is strange that you received a similar message. They are getting a lot of posts about the Inspire step count problem and may have decided to randomly delete some so it doesn't look so bad? I will keep the Garmin Vivosmart 4 in mind if I return my Inspire HR. 

[Ladyjessop]

I took a 2.5 mile walk yesterday and got the step count I would expect when I was using my Flex. However short walks around the office and home and also steps recorded for simple household chores and tasks are inflated. And of course, those pesky steps while driving. (I got another 1000 steps on my commute to work, ugh!) I had a chat with their support team and they didn't have much to say other than to express sympathy; it sounds like they are aware of the problem and I am going to hold on to my device for a while longer in the hopes they can fix with a firmware update. 

[Treetop10]

Is a Flex a Fitbit? Sorry... I’m not very knowledgeable on all these things 😊

Sent from my iPhone

[Ladyjessop]

@Treetop10 yes Flex is an older model FitBit and like the Inspire you could wear them on your wrist so I consider them comparable. My Flex and all other FitBits (I’ve been using these trackers for 8 years) were always accurate and I never had a problem. That is why I’m trying to be patient. I know that FitBit has the technology to make an accurate tracker and I really hope they will issue a firmware update to resolve this problem.