Versa 3 heart rate and calorie not tracking accurately

[1995z28]

Just received versa 3 for Christmas. It’s not reading heart rate properly during exercise. I have contacted support they had me turn off auto recognize, I have disabled, removed versa 3 from IOS and set back up again. Still no fix. I consider myself to be a fitness guru as I have been working out for the last 32 years and know what my heart should be. I can’t even get the versa 3 above 110 BPM at my max (which normally is at 155 -185 BPM depending on workout). I am so frustrated with this.

I was walking at work last night to and from point a-b and my heart rate was showing higher than my regular workout of the morning (95bpm). Obviously there is something wrong with this version of Fitbit. I have owned several over the years but nothing this bad. It appears this is a common issue between the versa 3 and sense.

this morning I decided to get an accurate assessment of how off this is by doing a short HIIT workout and using the Ionic vs Versa 3. I put the ionic on my right wrist and versa 3 on my left wrist. I have a screen shot of the results but cannot attach to this thread. Even with 7 minutes of high intensity I could not get my heart rate above 99 BPM on the versa 3. (143 on the Ionic). The difference between calorie burn is:

versa3 - 7:20 min

• 84 bpm avg
• 99 bpm max
• 37 calories burned

Ionic - 7:15 min

• 119 bpm avg
• 143 bpm max
• 63 calories burned

I used “workout” for each watch to get the results. 

my quick HIIT workout consists of the following:

1. 10 burpee tuck jumps

2. 30 push-ups 

3. 30 tricep press-downs (50LBS)

4. 30 decline sit-ups.

these were down with little to no rest between each set. Just to get my heart rate up for this experiment.

The difference between the two are extreme and when using exercise app on the watch it does not register heart rate accurately.

please help and get a fix for this. My wife is having the same issue with her versa3. We are not new to Fitbit and have enjoyed them until now.

I hope the above information can help solve the issue with this Fitbit.

thank you for looking into this.

[Ranger721]

1995z28,

I have posted a reply to the same issue before. Apparently this is a common problem. I want to scream when I work out. Almost all other stats rely on the heart rate being accurate and my new Versa 3 (had it about a month) is often up to 30 bpm off during a workout. I just downloaded the latest update hoping that would solve the problem but it did not. I hope someone has an answer. 

[1995z28 · Accepted solution]

I think I found a possible solution to this problem. After many hours of research on the web, I finally tried doing a hard restart 3 different times between workouts (this is not the soft restart through settings). The first two times I completed the hard restart, it didn’t work. But the third time was the charm.

Seems to be working for now. I’m finally showing cardio and max heart rate during a workout.

Hopefully this helps other people who are having the same issue. I will update if it reverts back to not going above 99bpm.

How to hard reset: press and hold side button for approximately 10-15 seconds until versa 3 shuts off and you see the Fitbit logo. (I had to do this 3 times between different workouts over two days.)

[Statiraroyal]

I'm having this same issue and have tried the hard restart as suggested. The first time I did it was Jan 4 after my workout, after reading this suggestion. 

The second time was Jan 5 during my workout and it seemed to pick up correctly on the second half of my workout. 

Today (Jan 😎 I tried it again before my workout, as it hadn't seemed to correctly reflect previous days. No luck. I worked out for 30 minutes (12 of them straight, no rest against a clock so I know my HR should have been higher --- it never got above 100). 

I don't see any updates available for the Versa 3 and am looking for other suggestions or solutions. I'm also interested to know if yours is still functioning correctly or if the issue has returned. 

[Ranger721]

I am still having issues with the heart rate. I have tightened the band one more notch during workouts and it seems to be tracking a little better, especially at the beginning of the workout. About 30 minutes into the workout I have issues with it dropping off again even thought the intensity has not decreased. As soon as I stop it starts tracking correctly again. I wish I had better news. Good luck!

Sent from my iPhone

Moderator Edit: Personal info removed

[lawler801]

I also just received Versa 3 and am having similar problems.  My usual spin class -- where my HR on my last fit bit averaged 130 bpm - was in the low fat burn area.  Maddening.  During my session lifting weights this morning -- I hovered between below fat burn and fat burn -- despite my usual strenuous exercise.  I'm not seeing a solution that's proven effective.  Hard resets as suggested has not had an effect.

[1995z28]

The hard reset is not a permanent solution to the problem. It’s a temporary solution. I have to start my workout and notice about 5 min in I’m not even in the fat burning zone, I stop, do the hard reset and then it start again. For me it shows me up in the cardio range.

Fitbit needs to get this fixed. I’ve been reading everywhere that this is a common issue with all versa 3 and sense models.

Apparently they need to come up with an update to permanently fix the problem. You would think they would’ve know this issue before rolling out this new model.

I completed a quick HIIT workout (7 min) wearing my ionic and versa 3 to show the difference in heart rate/calorie burn. The difference is almost half the calories are being shown. Max heart rate and avg heart rate are on opposite sides from each other. Again, this was a quick HIIT program, where I wore each Fitbit on each arm during the workout (same time).

Fitbit!!! Please correct this issue. So frustrating!!!

[ashleigh347]

Having a very similar problem, switched from an Alta HR to a Versa 3 at Christmas. Was burning an average of 2200-2300 a day on the Alta, now struggling to reach 1900 doing the same daily routine 

[Statiraroyal]

I contacted support about this (and I also referenced this thread) on Jan 8 and they made a ticket to be escalated to a senior support team. I chatted with Clarissa today as I hadn't heard back regarding my ticket. Per Clarissa, Fitbit is aware this is an issue but had no timeframe on the resolution. She also said that the senior support team was fixing this issue on a case by case basis. So with that being said, I would encourage everyone to contact support if you'd like the issue resolved (and to let them know there really are multiple people experiencing this) as it didn't seem like there was a patch in the works. Or if there is - tier 1 support was not aware of it. 

The only suggestion that was given to me was to make sure you are wearing the official Fitbit band that came with the tracker. Until then, it appears there is nothing that can be done until I receive an email from support. 

[nso]

Fitbit, are you reading all of this???  We DESPERATELY need a software update.  This product really doesn't work as advertised.  It shouldn't be this hard.  My Charge 2 and Charge 3 were both better at tracking than this device.  

[Karlgco]

I have the exact same problem.  My workouts are tracking at 25-30 beats less than my Ionic.  How can such a defect be released in such an expensive product???  

[Karlgco]

My recent interaction with support offered no solution.  The message from the agent was that the Versa is just better technology.  Lol.  So, does that mean that my Ionic was just really poor technology?

[nso]

I really think a software update is the only actual solution.  Customer support has offered little help to me either.  I hate to be a whiner, but I truly cannot wrap my head around releasing a product with so many bugs and issues.

[Statiraroyal]

I contacted support again today after not hearing anything from them in the past week. The chat support agent wants me to send my device to them and they will send me a new one. I'm still skeptical since everyone here is having the same issue - but I guess I have nothing to lose. I'm hopeful that I just got a faulty device and that the new one will work great. I will keep everyone posted when I have the new one in hand. 

[1995z28]

Looks like you’re one step closer to getting a resolve. I have contacted support on two separate occasions and they still just give me the generic answers without any help with this issue. 

I thought maybe if I let it go on long enough that maybe the “algorithms” would help fix the issue. But the result is still the same. When I’m panting and can’t breath during a workout the versa only shows 99BPM at my max. The hard shutdown only fixed the problem a few times.

This is the most inaccurate version I’ve ever dealt with. I’m ready to send it back and stick with my ionic instead.

Statiraroyal, let us know if they are able to fix your versa3. We would love an update.

Respectfully,

Mike

[jumperniowa]

I was so mad today, stair stepper showed my heart rate consistently over 170 but fit bit never got above 120. This happens every day, drives me crazy!

[Laurawil234]

Also having this issue - yesterday I struggled to move my heart rate even out of the fat burn zone even though I was doing non stop HIIT and was so out of breath I was panting. On my inspire HR that would have shown up as the higher end of cardio if not peak. I did almost an hour of HIIT/upper body supersets (body was screaming!) and at some points it was even saying I was below zones, then after I had stopped exercising moved into cardio! It’s incredibly frustrating and demotivating when you feel like you’re putting everything into a workout but your fitbit denies you’re even moving 😂 

not sure what to do - will watch these boards closely to see if an update or fix comes out.

[KTB86]

I’m having the same issue with an almost identical experience. I do almost exclusively HIIT workouts and have for some time. I know that my HR should be in the mid to upper 150’s, yet my Versa 3 reads 97bpm for at least the first 15-20 mins of the workout. Eventually, with lots of coaxing, it will suddenly begin reading more accurately but my avg HR, calories and overall zone minutes are ruined bc the reading was so off for so long. 

I called support just now and the tech said there was no record of this being an issue, which is baffling to me. I mentioned this thread and others that very clearly show this as a widespread issue. The only solution I was offered was a replacement device. I know this will not work. I may swap it out anyway just so I can call back and prove that it’s a systemic problem. I’ve been a Fitbit customer for 6-7 years and I hate to do it but I may have to request a full refund and switch companies after this experience. 

I asked the tech no less than 5 times to escalate this to a higher level of support. I hope they finally do. I really can’t believe how unaware the company is, even after multiple people on this thread alone have called in. Best of luck, everyone. 

[nso]

I guess we all need to call repeatedly to get this on Fitbit’s radar. Clearly, nobody with influence reads the threads. A fitness tracker that cannot track fitness. Hmmm...

[PoodleMamaof7]

Same problem with the Versa 3 I got for Christmas. I contacted support 3 days in a row and they sent me an email to send mine in. But I also got emails that my new Versa 3 was on its way. I didn't have to send in my first one and the second one arrived in about a week (they obviously know they rolled out a dud). It works no better than the first one 😞 My heart rate doesn't kick up to where it should be until 15-18 minutes into my workout.  Very frustrating because I like so many things about the watch. Hope you have better luck.