Versa 2 won't track my heart rate accurately

[Mkerns99]

I've had repeated issues with the heartrate (HR )tracker on the Versa 2 tracking way higher than it should after a few months of use.   I've gone through support, I've done the troubleshooting steps (factory reset, turned settings on and off etc).   I've replaced it twice now - so I'm on my third one and each one still has the same issue -  after a few months it starts registering heartrate like 30-40 higher than is accurate.  I'll be sitting at my desk doing nothing and supposedly my HR is 110.   Or I'll walk up and down the stairs and suddenly I'm at 135.    It throws everything way out of wack - including my calories for the day - so pretty much makes the Fitbit useless.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hi there, @Mkerns99. Welcome to the Community Forums. Thanks for the details provided in your post and for already trying to troubleshoot the issue with your Versa 2 before reaching out. I understand where you're coming from and how you must be feeling.

Differences between heart-rate readings on your device and on exercise equipment are likely due to wrist or hand position. Make sure the back of your device is in contact with your wrist and that your band is snug.

Several factors can affect heart rate, including air temperature, stress level, alcohol or caffeine intake, immune response to illness, and medication use (source).

Exercising in cold weather can make it more difficult for your device to track your heart rate, as environmental conditions can affect skin perfusion (the amount of blood that flows through your skin). Spikes in your heart rate during sleep may be caused by sudden movements (for example, waking up and getting out of bed), or a weak signal due to wrist placement. 

As with all heart-rate tracking technology, accuracy is affected by personal physiology, device location on your arm, and type of movement. For a more accurate heart-rate reading:

• Wear your Fitbit device on top of your wrist, and make sure the back of the device is in contact with your skin.
• When you’re not exercising, wear your device a finger’s width above your wrist bone.

• During exercise, wear your device a bit tighter and higher for an improved fit. The band should be snug but not constricting (a tight band restricts blood flow, potentially affecting the heart-rate signal). Many exercises such as bike riding or weight lifting cause you to bend your wrist frequently, which could interfere with the heart-rate signal if the watch is lower on your wrist.

To resolve common issues, make sure you've followed our troubleshooting steps in What factors can affect my heart-rate reading on my Fitbit device?

Hope that helps.