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 

[matkinson]

I read through this thread and couple others about the Inspire over counting. Because I am really sick of the Alta being so tall and not being able to slide under a dress cuff I went ahead bought the Inspire HR anyways and decided I would do some testing against my Alta HR and report back. Here's what I found:

TLDR: Inspire counted more but I believe it was more accurate than the Alta.  
- For two days I wore both the Alta and Inspire on the same wrist. I also kept my Google Pixel 2 (Google Fit steps) with me for every step I took.
- The Inspire counted 14.91% and 14.87% more steps than the Alta on day 1 and 2 respectively. Google Fit counted 3.95% more on day 1 and 8.33% on day 2. Total steps were less than 5,000 per day
- Also, I walked around my home and counted out 114 steps then check what each device recorded. Alta - 108, Inspire - 115, Google Fit - 135
- I only wore them both for sleeping one night, but the Alta tracked 6hrs 4mins and the Inspire 5hrs 57mins.

[markwbd]

Hi matkinson. Thanks for the data. A number of us have done the 'step count' test. I have. Indeed when I walk in a straight line and count my steps the Inspire HR is pretty accurate. The dilemma seems to be that it also counts steps if you are not walking. There are reports on this thread of counting brushing hair as steps, and driving. I guess the inherent problem is that the accelerometers (which will be used to identify the 'step') will be affected by any change in inertia / movement of the hand or arm. Indeed I'm typing now so I expect this to log as some steps. The smart bit is for FitBit to be able to identify which profile of changes in the three (?) accelerometers actually represents walking. They clearly feel they can identify between different types of movement as the Inspire HR is supposed to be able to automatically log some types of exercise, for example elliptical, weights, swimming. Mine has certainly spotted when I do an elliptical machine. So the conclusion has to be that whatever algorithm they are using for 'steps' just isn't quite smart enough to eliminate the 'noise' of say shaving. By the way I perceive my iPhone to be pretty accurate at loging steps, but it is worth noting I keep it in my trouser pocket not on my arm, so there is inherently less extraneous 'noise'.

[Treetop10]

That would be close enough for me... I am impressed at your effort!👏:musical_notes: but I have already moved on😩

Sent from my iPhone

[matkinson]

Hahahaha, thanks! I am metrics obsessed. 

[RicardoFitbit]

Hello again, I'm glad to continue assisting you with your difficulties, my apologies for the delay in replying. Welcome aboard @AdelaArguijo @LunaLu1999 @LunaFC @Fnarf @matkinson.  It's always nice to see you again participating again @KarinaU @Channel11 @markwbd and thanks for your replies @Barb1260 @Everuby @SloCyclist @Vega76 @Treetop10.

I'd like to begin appreciating your patience with this situation, I can totally understand how frustrating this matter can be for all of you. Let me confirm that any update about this issue will be posted in this thread as being monitored by our team. Fitbit is always working hard for improvements in our products and services as per previously mentioned. Therefore, I cannot provide a specific date this will be resolved but I recommend you guys to keep your Fitbit app updated and the same for your Inspire HR devices because with every update we improve. As per my previous posts, thanks for sharing your experience, comments, suggestions that were posted on this thread, I assure you that we take in consideration all the feedback our users provide.

@LunaLu1999 To restart your device please follow the steps form our help article: How do I restart my Fitbit device? and let me know how it goes. In regards the battery life of your device, let me share with you that our Inspire HR was designed to last 7 days but the battery life also depends on how frequently you use its features. Therefore, I recommend you charging your Fitbit with a USB port from a computer or a UL-certified outlet into the wall, then turn off all the features that you don’t use too much. You can check this help article for more tips and recommendations. Keep me posted.

@Fnarf If you're unable to sync your device, please check our help article: Why won't my Fitbit device sync? and take in consideration the information that is specified there. Please let me know how it goes 

@matkinson Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experience with us, the details that were provided in your reply can be helpful for other users. 

Your understanding and patience are appreciated. Let me know if I can help with anything else. 

[SunsetRunner]

Inspire HR fitbit does not count steps, it counts air molecules! My device counted 5000 when I did not wore it. I just left it on the desk for about 5 hours and when I put it on I found out that I made 5000 steps. If it will continue this way until tomorrow I will count 100000. I tried to restart, I followed every instruction on this site but it does not work. So disappointed. I paid for a garbage device. Thank you, Fitbit!!!!!

[RicardoFitbit]

Hey @SunsetRunner welcome to our Community Forums.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us and for restarting your device prior posting, I totally understand how frustrating thi can be for you. Please take in consideration the information that was shared on my previous post. The feedback that was submitted on your post and your comments are appreciated. 

I'll be here if you need anything else. 

[Barb1260]

When are all these complaints going to be taken seriously and stop giving the same answers because your suggestions don’t work?  These are your customers who in reality get you your pay check. 

[Barb1260]

We would like a for real answer from your manager 

[AletaBeta]

Hi,

I've tried everything that you recommend, but my fitbit inspire HR still counts more than double the actual steps. This can't be right. I am so disappointed as I got one for each of my daughters as well to give them daily goals and improve their health. 

I have doubled my daily goal to 20 000 steps, but it doesn¨t feel right to have to do that.

Also, I have a relative who is ill and got one to track her daily, extremely important training. I hope hers are showing the correct step count, I haven't asked her as I don't want to worry her yet.

Will you make some kind of software update or not?

Best regards

Elisabeth

[KarinaU]

After months of waiting, same responce from Fitbit support team. See attached image. 

[Asb51]

I have Inspire and my issue is with distance, i.e., I do 4.30 miles in the treadmill and Inspire reads only .4 miles. I have a very good treadmill so I trust the machine. I do use the Inspire on left ankle as I have noticed it reads the steps better.

[Jasont65]

After having a Fitbit One for over three years, it finally went out on me. I loved that thing and it's accuracy. I don't like wearing watches but I decided to give the Inspire HR a try. This thing is awful! On a normal work day, at work I would average anywhere from 4500 to 7000 steps. With this inspire, I am at 10300 right now. I literally watched the steps climb higher and higher as I drove in a vehicle today. Only had this thing for 3 days and I have had enough. I might give it a week or so to see if an update is released for it, if not is going back to the store. 

[Treetop10]

I am wearing another brand and am having inaccurate readings 😩. I just wear mine for monitoring my sleep and giving me a heads up if my phone is in another room for calls and messages

Sent from my iPhone

[Houseman]

I have had a Pacer app on my iP7 for quite a long time and it pairs with My Fitness Pal app. When I first installed it I went through a period of testing it by actually counting my steps (usually over a distance of 500/1000 steps) and found it extremely accurate, usually to within 4/5 steps over 1000. My wife bought me an Inspire HR at the weekend and I do like it (although the phone app eats battery to the point where I have to keep it off and just sync it once or twice a day with the watch) but the step counter is actually fairly useless. Compared to Pacer, which I know to be extremely accurate, it is way, way out by up to 50% or more. I have tried waving my arms about to see if arm movement affects it greatly but vigorous arm movement doesn't seem to make any difference. There is something fundamentally wrong with it and all the people on here can't be using it wrongly. Like many on here I have sat motionless watching TV or even at my desk at work and the steps just pile on. The readings for my workouots seem to be accurate but I also worry slightly about the heart monitor as it had my avereage heart rate during my weight training at 132 with a peak of 162 when I know, because of a low at rest heart rate, that I struggle to get my rate up to 120. I want to keep this as it has a nice look and feel but it seems a software update of some kind is desperately needed or it will lose fans very quickly.

[EveyLR]

Hi,

thanks for the update, how do you do a factory reset please?

Thanks

EveyLR

[Asb51]

Hola,

I would return it. I don't use my Inspire on my hand because I practice piano and do knitting so I don't want to mislead myself. Now, I am having a wicked experience with my device: if I enter the information of how many miles, how long I walk and how many calories manually, the result is around thousands of steps. That's crazy. Now I have to decide what is more important to track, steps or miles walked.

[Houseman]

I’ll probably keep it because I have Pacer on my phone that is very accurate stepwise. I can use the Fitbit (until they correct it) for when I havent got my phone on me. I can manually add steps to my Pacer. I just have to remember that what Fitbit says to reduce it by about 33%

Sent from my iPhone

[Treetop10]

Good luck

Sent from my iPhone

[SloCyclist]

---

@Jasont65 wrote:

 I might give it a week or so to see if an update is released for it, if not is going back to the store. 

---

Good luck with that! I've had mine four months this week, and there has been zero improvement in step accuracy. Over those four months, the only thing that there's been a lot of is copy/paste irrelevant and repetitive replies from a series of RandomName@Fitbit telling us that we're doing it wrong, or we need to reset/reboot to fix it like we've all done ad infinitum...

Saturday and Monday I had 15,000 and almost 13,000 steps respectively, and I never left my home. I wasn't working out, mowing, jogging in place, etc. I was watching TV, eating, and spent a couple hours each day moving furniture and removing the carpet in our dining room, rolling it up, and taking it out to the street.

At least my battery has lasted a week per charge since new, so I can have a terribly inaccurate step count longer than the folks whose battery only lasts a day or two. I sure wish I'd never bought my Inspire HR!