Heart rate Inaccuracies

[GutenMorgan]

My Fitbit Versa 2 tends to work well every time I am resting or not doing exercise, but I have found that EVERY TIME I am doing a workout, my Fitbit will say my heart rate is in the 90’s or low 100’s when I am clearly at a much higher rate. I used a heart rate monitor a few times and my heart rate was 130-180, but the Fitbit did not register above 105. I clean the sensor, I make sure to wipe away excess sweat, I have even tried flipping it on my wrist so the sensor is on the inside of my arm, to no avail. It used to work when I would take it off and physically press it to my jugular it would register my heart rate was up, but now it doesn’t even do it then. I have restarted my Fitbit, changed the bands, done the whole 9 yards, but it is still giving me this issue. Does anyone have new advise?

[MikePC]

No advice, sadly. 

This will require an update to correct all the bugs from the latest firmware update, which was also supposed to fix other bugs from a previous update. 

Fitbit hasn’t officially acknowledged the issue(s), so don’t expect anything in the near future. 

So, good luck. 

[Pknaley]

I have exact same issue.  I’ve replaced the watch 2xs since my original (which worked perfectly for about5 months). New watches do same thing.  My suspicion is it has something to do with the most recent update!  I hope Fitbit can look into that and fix ASAP.  It’s the primary reason I wanted the watch so this is very frustrating!

[JohnatSML]

I have been wearing mine the same way for years was having the same problem since the firmware update.  I complained through a chat and they showed me that I should be wearing it 2 finger widths from the wrist bone during exercise and this fixed the issue.

[Pknaley]

Thank you for your tip. I will try it although after 4 months of this I’m
not optimistic but I will try it:)! Thank you for taking the time to
respond

[GutenMorgan]

Hi JohnatSML, as it says in my post, I already have tried all those
gimmicks and it still won’t read accurately, thanks for trying but that
does not work with my versa.--

Moderator Edit: Personal info removed

[H..Mac]

I tried other optical HR monitors before getting a Versa 2, and the common denominator is heart rate measurement inaccuracy complaints.  It’s disappointing to have a Versa 2 and suspect one of its main measurement functions is inaccurate, but it’s the nature of the beast - at least unt the technology improved.

[MikePC]

That’s giving Fitbit too much credit — these issues weren’t prevalent, at least in the most current iterations of the devices, until recently. For the most part, yes, these watches aren’t meant to be hyper-accurate without a matching chest strap. But they have been relatively consistent since I’ve owned one, and that’s for over five years. 

The most recent firmware update is most certainly the culprit in 99% of the issues reported over the last month or so. 

While it can also be true that where exactly on your wrist you wear the device can affect HR accuracy, for all the errant data reports to fall in line with that being the reason, you’d have to make the leap that tens of thousands of Fitbit users all decided to change how they wore their watches all at about the same time. 

[Jacq2021]

I have the same issue and when I brought it to the attention of Fitbit and told them I had tried all of their fixes and it didn’t work, they sent more questions I had already answered. They then sent me back the same fixes to try again and when that didn’t work they just stopped replying to me! 

[Pknaley]

I finally got them to acknowledge it’s a software issue with the most
recent update. It’s awful- no idea of when the issue will be fixed. They
just say to keep an eye out for the next update 👎
It’s been 4 months since I loaded the update and the watch hasn’t worked
right since. Based on this I will never buy another Fitbit!

[MikePC]

As an aside, I’m wearing a different watch now. The Fitbit app is registering an 80 HR...as my Versa sits in a drawer. 

Brilliant!

[Jacq2021]

I just did an abs workout, 40 mins kettlebell too and guess what my heart rate rested the whole time 🤦‍:female_sign:🙄 I know what it used to be but you can’t even edit the data on the app so it’s annoying!!

[Pknaley]

Sounds like exactly same problem I’m having! It’s so frustrating when you
know what your body should be registering and then, yes, you’re not even in
fat burning

Fitbit has acknowledged there’s a firmware/software problem that happened
with last update. They say they’re working on it but cannot give a time
frame for the fix.

So disappointing

[Jacq2021]

It’s ridiculous and I’m not buying a new one! You’d think these people would be able to reverse the update! So sick of it! I’m nearly over exercising because of it! Thanks for the update on them acknowledging the issue it’s good to know!

[MikePC]

@Pknaley Has Fitbit the company admitted the issue, or is it a moderator? The latter I would not consider as official spokespersons for the company...

[Pknaley]

Direct contact with Fitbit technical support

[avaperki]

Omg I literally thought I was going crazy. I spent more of my workout fixing my strap and the placement of my Fitbit than actually working out which slowed my HR even more. I tried all of their tips too! I hope they fix this issue soon or I'll be getting an Apple Watch.

[Pknaley]

I had to laugh reading your post! I have spent more time in the past
several weeks doing the same thing - total distraction during workouts
because watch isn’t working right! I can totally relate- it’s awful!! I’m
glad I’m not the only one although it sucks that people are experiencing
this

[Kjb33]

YES!! I’m having the very same issue. And have tried wearing on a different wrist, different tightness, different position, not moving my arm while exercising, resetting as a new watch.

I’ve been in contact with the support people and all they tell me is “this is a known issue that we are working on.”
So frustrating because heart rate tracking during exercise is WHY I bought this watch in the first place. Currently very disappointed  in Fitbit and will never purchase another Fitbit product.

[Jims1963]

Yea I'm having the same problem. it works fine when your sitting there doing nothing but as soon as you get going it gives you obviously inaccurate readings. ive tried 1,2,3 fingers past the wrist and nothing works.  my old fitbit alta hr worked better that this.  I am very unsatisfied with this tracker.  other brands are looking better all the time