Inaccurate sleep and step recordings

[sisco1196]

I really want to love my fitbit versa, but I've only had it for 5 days and have issues with it not being accurate with my steps & sleep.  My examples are:  I was petting my dog with the arm my fitbit is on and it was recorded as steps.  Another example is the sleep recordings, just last night my fitbit said I was asleep at 9:06....I wasn't even home yet from a dinner with friends.....anyone with the same issue or have thoughts on what I may need to change?  Thanks for any help!

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[LiliyaFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community @sisco1196. I am sorry for the delayed response. 

I appreciate your participation in the Forums and sharing the details of the issues you're experiencing with your new Fitbit Versa. I understand that you would like to enjoy your device without any issues and I am glad to assist you with your concerns regarding the sleep and step tracking. 

Fitbit devices have a finely-tuned algorithm for step counting and may add some steps when you're performing any activities with arm movements. For most customers, the number of extra steps added by arm-based movement isn’t significant when compared to your overall stats. For more information, see How does my Fitbit device count steps?

Regarding the sleep tracking, autodetection is based on your movement. When you haven’t moved in over an hour, algorithms assume that sleep has begun, which is then confirmed by the length of time your movements only indicate sleep behavior (rolling over, etc). Morning movement tells your tracker that you’re awake. If you’re not moving but not asleep for long periods of time it’s possible for your device to falsely record sleep, in which case you can delete the sleep record from your dashboard by following the steps from this help article: How do I change my sleep history? I recommend confirming that your sleep settings are normal and not sensitive and that your watch is snug on your wrist. 

I'll be around if you need further assistance. 

[sisco1196]

Thank you.

Now I am finding that I have to re-sync the app on my phone, log out and turn off my fit bit daily in order to get my exercise & sleep history.  I am really frustrated that this fit bit is working like it is 10 years old and time for me to replace it!

[LiliyaFitbit]

Thank you for your reply @sisco1196. 

I appreciate your time and efforts, thank you for sharing the steps you need to do in order to see your exercise and sleep history. I understand how you're feeling and appreciate your feedback. We're constantly working on improving our products and services. I recommend keeping your Fitbit device and app up-to-date to ensure optimal performance. Please try the following steps if you are experiencing difficulty with syncing: Why won't my Fitbit device sync?

Let me know if you have any questions.