Versa 3 suddenly massively overcounting steps

[WalkerOfSam]

I've had my Versa 3 for just over a year, and yesterday it overestimated steps during a walk, then corrected itself. Today, it has done the same overestimation, but failed to correct it. When I look at the App, the steps counting during a walk seem appropriate, but the daily total is 1000s more than it should be. The total for today is apparently 30,010, but the 5 periods of walking total only 18,542 (1,376 + 1,419 + 11,787 +3,147 + 813). There's no way that I have done 13,000 incidental steps! I've tried rebooting the watch twice and restarting the app and my phone.  Maybe the 3-axis accelerometer is faulty???

[MtP]

iphone 13 Max pro with ios 18.3.1
fitbit app is 4.3.7
versa 3 version 128.6.17

[magolkm]

I'm also experiencing this issue for the past few days...

Samsung S22

Android 14

Fitbit Firmware version 36.128.6.17

[mdr9687]

I'm experiencing the same issue as well.  

Fitbit Versa 3: Firmware version 36.128.6.21

Android App Version: 4.37

Making me consider some alternative products from some competitors.

[Leni81]

For the last few days I keep hitting my 10,000 step goal 3 or 4 times a day! Keeps resetting to the proper amount on refreshing. Annoying.

[Capon830]

This past several days, my versa 3 has indicated wrong step counts. After reporting this issue and complying with CS to reinstall app & reset versa 3, problem wasn't resolved. Since then  I've received numerous notifications from other community members they've experienced the same issue.  So 2 days ago, I noticed the temperature is indicated in Celsius despite the app settings indicates Fahrenheit. Yesterday's activity consisted of taking a long (12k step) walk. That was verified by my wife's versa 2. In addition to the walk, I played a little basketball with my grandson for about 30 minutes.  I just now checked yesterday's stats and my cardio load s indicates 1 and my active minutes is 0 (zero).  All this confirms the versa 3 and/or whatever drives the data is all effed up! If Google can't undo whatever they did, then this versa 3 is going to be tossed in trash. 

[Mummaukusa]

This is exactly what's happening with my versa 3

[ddkkppxx]

Using a Charge 6 watch with Pixel3A phone and Oticon hearing aids. This problem started in December 2024 and has continued every day since. Sometimes I lose thousands of steps when I sync and these are erased from my watch. If I sync more often it loses fewer steps each time, but continues to miscount and erase steps almost every time I sync. I have noticed that the phone will show the same number of steps as my watch but after a sync the steps will be reduced on both items but not always the same. A follow-up sync can allow them to agree and this is usually with an even lower step count displayed on both screens. I have re-installed the software two times and re-started my watch twice also with no improvement. My bluetooth is shared with my hearing aids and I have no problem with this connection so I believe there is a Fitbit app software error causing this problem.

[JenHug]

I've had inconsistent step count for a week now well since last updated. It goes up and the down then up and back down. It's very frustrating especially when your a step fixsator like me. Very disheartening. What can we do to report it and get it fixed. 

[Newfitkitty]

---

@WalkerOfSam wrote:

I've had my Versa 3 for just over a year, and yesterday it overestimated steps during a walk, then corrected itself. Today, it has done the same overestimation, but failed to correct it. When I look at the App, the steps counting during a walk seem appropriate, but the daily total is 1000s more than it should be. The total for today is apparently 30,010, but the 5 periods of walking total only 18,542 (1,376 + 1,419 + 11,787 +3,147 + 813). There's no way that I have done 13,000 incidental steps! I've tried rebooting the watch twice and restarting the app and my phone.  Maybe the 3-axis accelerometer is faulty???

---

I thought it was just my versa 3 getting old. I mean I had it for just over 5 years now. It seems to do it when the steps get into the 4,000's area. because on my days that I don't do the hourly steps thing I don't reach 4,000 something steps. I might come close but that it. First time I noticed it I didn't pay it much mind because I like to jam when listening to music and that does add steps. But when it did it again I was like mildly curious. Oh does anyone else's devices do this. When I load the app and go to sync it tells me instantly it is unable to. So, I go and click under one of my things on my device and go to the bottom to see if it has somehow lost where my phone is. Usually it is fine and all I have to do is reload the app and it is fine.

[ashdonohoe]

Mine has started this only this week. It quickly corrects itself when you refresh the app. 

[Chazwine]

Ah, just wait!!

[Mike6624]

I am also having exactly the same problem. 

[Mike6624]

Exactly the same and started at the same time . This maybe suggests it's the app causing the problem as the firmware on the versa was updated weeks ago .it's worked perfectly for the previous 18 months. 

[IzzzyWizzzy]

I have the same problem, which has only started recently. It frequently doubles the step count, and then corrects itself. It also frequently “over eggs” the Floors count, telling me I’ve done a huge amount of floors when I know I haven’t! And it doesn’t correct this. TBH, I’m getting rather fed up with it. If Fitbit are doing this so they can phase the Versa 3 out, then I will definitely look at other manufacturers. This is now the worst Fitbit I’ve ever had!

[Capon830]

I'm clueless as to understand what's happened over the past week. First I noticed my step count was too high then reset to a lower count. I called into the help support which had me reinstall the app and reset my versa 3. After all that, nothing changed. Then my cardio load and active zone minutes were not correct (not working at all). Now my weather is indicated in Celsius despite being set to Fahrenheit. 

Does anyone else have discrepancies that I haven't mentioned? 

[Guy_]

Hi All, please note that the steps bug will also affect other measurements, such as Calories, they may fluctuate up and down also.

For those who were erroneously instructed to reinstall the app, many settings may have to be redone when installing the app again.

For the weather, this link may be helpful [reference to the profile photo is now replaced by the battery symbol] - .How to change Temperature - for Weather, Centigrade - Fahrenheit, Versa 3 

The only work around for the steps bug is currently to turn off Bluetooth during the Move hours period and then to sync multiple times when Bluetooth is switched back on.

As noted in the main topic Unreliable step counting bug this server/syncing issue is not limited to any particular watch model, phone type or OS level, watch firmware update or Fitbit App version. So there are no user actions that can be performed to resolve it.

[Chazwine]

So how do we know if Firbit are going to fix this problem?

[IzzzyWizzzy]

Hi. Yes, floor count! It frequently tells me I’ve done a huge lot more floors when I’ve been at home all day, or tells me I’ve done a huge lot less when I’ve been out walking in the hills!

Sent from my iPhone

[Demonic]

A very good question.  The Fitbit response has been very poor, but then isn't it always?

An official response would be welcome I'm sure.  But do I expect one, no, not really.  

The most helpful so far has come from a community member.  That's a **ahem**ing indictment of Fitbit and their support. 

I'm sure a lot of users had high hopes when Google bought Fitbit.  Alas that seems to have been in vain.  I'm looking for alternatives now, and they won't be Apple or Google devices.  Big tech firms simply don't care about their customers.

[Manci1]

Thank you for the weather fix! I had not thought to go into the clock
setting!