Versa 2 heart rate inaccuracies after the update

[Maddieduffield]

I updated my Versa 2 at the weekend and since then my heart rate has been inaccurate during workouts. I do hiit classes, and last week my average heart rate during these classes was normally around the 170 mark. It's now around the 120 mark. 

I've tried cleaning the back, fully charging and restarting the device - nothing has worked. I've only had the device since September, so it breaking after 4 months is ridiculous. 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[memrie]

I contacted fitbit as my Versa 2 started doing this as well (I mean, not hitting 'cardio' in a spin class that I was above cardio in the day before the update???). They just told me to restart the device, and do another workout. If it's a problem, I have to contact them again. I've just done another workout. 

I have another heart rate monitor I use in spin classes (peloton one). Usually, the Fitbit is pretty close to the peloton one. Today during class, peloton said 160, and Fitbit was reporting 80... DIRECTLY AFTER A SPRINT. This update was clearly not QAed properly and it is an issue associated with this update I'm thinking. The restart did help slightly, I mean, it reported 154 as the highest and at least had cardio today vs. yesterday. Still not accurate, however.

[N.C.F]

Hi
I contacted FitBit after attempting to trouble shoot myself by restarting etc.. and they have asked me to remove the data I had on the "custom heart rate zones" as well as clearing the cached data on the app and wait for my phone to sync so I can update the tracker software - there are currently syncing issues with Android users. My issues have been happening prior to the update, unlike everyone else here it seems! I will update once I speak to them again after the sync, if that ever happens!

[AngVRRT]

I have been having the same issue after the update and it's driving me nuts. Fitbit needs reconcile the issue because the fix is not restarting the device, or clearing settings or cache data. It's obviously a software issue with the update and it's up to them to fix it. 

[GvlRunner]

I also contacted FitBit. They were insistent that it was not an issue on their end. Wonder if they ever look at this forum??They told me everything looked good and said it must be an issue with the information I entered about myself, even though I didn't change a thing. ugh

[GraceEW]

I’ve compared mine to another tracker and old fashioned counting for 15 seconds and multiplying by 4 and my Fitbit is approximately 50-60 beats lower, so unfortunately I think it is actually an inaccuracy in the new firmware. 

[MarreFitbit]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for letting us know about this issue with the heart rate inaccuracies after the update. We've informed our team about this and they're now  are working to identify a resolution as quickly as possible. 

We're sorry for any trouble. We appreciate your patience and look forward to getting you back on track.

Have a nice day! 

[MrMarv]

@MarreFitbit -

Maria - first off, let me say it is good to see you still on the boards.

And please remember I have always thought, and still do, that FitBit has the potential to be the best in the fitness device/app pairing. But over the past year your company has pushed a six-year customer to the opposition.

Where was the "Team" after the recent fall firmware update and last spring's firmware update, as well?

I have posted about heart rate reporting issues on the Versa 2 since February of 2020. Look at my January 22nd post on this thread. The image is from a December 8, 2020 treadmill session. That image is in a post from December, as well.

I shouldn't have to point out any more as that alone should tell you the issue is not a new one. I take Beta blockers and it is virtually impossible for my heart rate to exceed 120 (I can run on the treadmill and have trouble talking because I am breathing too hard and my heart rate is 116) and yet that record shows a five minute period where the Versa 2 reported rates in excess of 140 bpm and peaking at 156 bpm - and I was walking at an average of 2.9 mph.

I finally decided I couldn't trust your company's product and went elsewhere for heart monitoring.

Be well, Maria.

Marv

[AEBH]

I’m having the exact same issue since I ran the update.  I have checked it against my own pulse count, and my pulse oximeter. All used to line up within 3-5 bpm’s of each other, and now my Fitbit won’t read over 109bpm’s. I’m very frustrated as I just upgraded my Fitbit in May, and now all I have is an expensive step counter. 

[clintlalonde]

Here is today's heart rate oddness. Apparently making dinner and then eating that dinner are intense physical activities. Whaaaaa???

 

[Sayanney]

It appears as though Fitbit has no idea what all of us are talking about with this issue on the Heart Rate Monitor?  The silence and lack of response from Fitbit shows me things have not gone well with the Google take over.  Is releasing an update to reverse the damage of the last one an option? I've been with Fitbit for 8 years... I'm done

[ckana66]

Same problem here, during weight training and dog walking my HR is measuring around 20 bpm low. I have manually measured and compared. I’m also having and an issue with it reading high on my runs. Before the update I was averaging 140bpm on a 5k run, after the update it’s around 170 which is supposedly above my max heart rate. I’m finding it hard to believe I can run a 5k with a HR higher my max without passing out. I haven’t stopped the run to measure my HR but it’s definitely measuring about 30 bpm higher than before the update on runs. Is there a way we can go back to the firmware version we had before the lame 35.72.1.9 update?

[AEBH]

It’s so upsetting.  I’ve had a Fitbit for at least 5 years, and just moved up to a versa 2 in May, and this update has rendered the thing basically useless.  How they can ignore this many people with the same problem is beyond me.  Not going to keep customers that way, that’s for sure! 

[SunsetRunner]

I am so extremely disappointed with FitBit right now. I workout everyday and got it exactly for that reason - to track my progress. Ever since this update the HR has been sooo inaccurate. During my HIIT workouts where I'm gasping for air it stays between 85-120, barely reachig 150 for some seconds. During weightlifting sessions where it uses to stay above 130 all the time it shows 90-120 rn. And judging from the response here they're not really taking the issue into consideration. Wouldn't recommend this watch to anyone. Barely had it for 5 months and it's already not working properly. 

[Wraith308]

Throw my name is the hat of discouraged customers. Since the update my resting heart rate readings have been fine but my workout heart rate is at least 20 -30 bpm off. I also noticed that my Versa 2 is missing the first few hours of my sleep cycle. 

[SunsetRunner]

I've also been experiencing this problem for the past few weeks, so I'm glad to know it's not just me. I tried all of the fixes that were listed in your suggestion, and none of them helped. My hr is suddenly rarely going over 100 bpm when exercising. Previously doing the same exercises would get my hr to 140-160 bpm. I've also been taking my hr manually during these exercises to make sure that it's an issue with the fitbit, and each time I try this, my device is reading about 50-70 bpm lower than my calculated hr. However, when I'm just sitting around, the device is relatively accurate, so it's just an issue when I'm working out hard. I'm so frustrated, since I care a lot more about my hr during hard workouts.

[notasfastorfit]

Very similar to my problem but for me when it is reading 115 -120 ish and seems to be reading ok, if I put the extra effort in it goes down to 70 and locks in at this totally inaccurate level. Think is going back under warranty if not sorted quickly
Kev

[memrie]

Spent over an hour shoveling several inches of snow the other day and today. Never got above 114 bpm and only received 4 'active minutes.' For me, the HR is entirely inaccurate when doing any real physical activity. If I am sitting and doing nothing, it is usually fine. Otherwise, it's 60-70 bpm lower than it should be. (If only this didn't impact more than the fact I can't even get 'active minutes' slots in a group fitbit-bingo...with the 'easier to get active minutes' thing they've got going on now. *sigh* 😒) 

Tried to contact support via chat today to continue to ask about the problem. It keeps giving me an 'error' of  "Sorry, that page is following a different trail."

https://myhelp.fitbit.com/chaterror?co=US&l=en_US

That's 'reassuring.' 🙄

Please fix this, Fitbit.

[Shan01]

Exactly the same problem here, ive only had mine since Christmas so just over a month! Before the recent update, I never had any issues at all and my heart rate readings were accurate. I also do HIIT and weight classes, where my heart rate always averages at about 160.

Since the update, my averages have been about 130 if I'm lucky. I've checked the heart rate graph after a workout and the differences are SHOCKING. Pre-update, it would show a pretty steady path between 150 and 180. It nows shows VERY big drops and increases, shooting up to 160 and then shooting down to 100 within a second - I don't think my heart rate changes that quickly! And then it takes AGES to come back up again.

I reported this to fitbit too, and they eventually sent a replacement after getting me to try the normal tips/resets (NONE WORK). I did a workout with the replacement without downloading the update, and it was perfect. Downloaded the update, did a workout and back to square 1.

There is definitely something wrong with the update that has messed with the heart rate readings, and I'm pretty fed up now. For a company that is supposed to be a leader in smart watches and fitness tracking, I find it abysmal that Fitbit can't even get an update to roll out without any issues. Won't be getting a Fitbit again and certainly wouldn't be recommending one.

[Juliusw1984]

I have the same issue. I called customer support and they just kept repeating themselves and acting like it was the first they had heard of it. Poor service and crap update. I am in training and it is misreporting my progress which is affecting the way I fuel my body for recovery. 

[SunsetRunner]

I had this issue since the update, nothing managed to fix it from the things the customer support suggested (restarting, factory reset, unpairing  nd so on). Got sent a replacement and received it yesterday, set it up and it works perfectly fine only because it has the previous firmware version. Did 2 workouts - 1 weights session and one cardio session, the stats were the same as before the update (130-170 the whole workout). I had forgotten what it was like to have a HR above 110 the whole workout 😂