Versa - same step bug as Fitbits in 2016

[ChickenIsMe]

Hi All,

Am posting here in the hope to let people know of a problem that has existed since 2016 and affects the versa as well.

fitbits quite often will log large amounts of steps while driving, at least it does for me. On research this problem has likely existed on fitbit products since at least 2016. The versa has a lot of things it can monitor, but if the steps are out, so will be your guidance on exercise and calories, etc.

I have contacted support but unfortunately all fixes /suggestions at this stage have not worked.

It is a problem easily rectified in my opinion, so I assume this is just not important to fitbit. For example they could have a simple screen or option on a screen to turn of monitoring for a period - simple. Personally I would like fairly accurate data and not to think or blindly guess.

Please do your own research and do not rely just on my post.

[cactusjack]

There are a couple of threads about this. One by me and a bit of a work around which I think works pretty good so far......

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Versa/Steps-from-driving-not-clearing/m-p/2662034#M8669

[ChickenIsMe]

Thanks for the tips, Not sure if it has changed or not, but the solution of adding an activity for driving was the latest thing I was trying. But simply cannot find the screens support advised. The real point is for anyone researching before purchase. As fitbit have known of this issue for 3 years but failed to fix (and perhaps not even tried to fix). In my might, very minorsoftware changes would fix butseems is not a priority.

[ChickenIsMe]

How do you add a manual activity of Driving? I cannot figure that part out.

On the app if I press the "+", the only thing close is "track exercise" which does not have a activity of "driving" or "automotive" (as I got instructed by fitbit support).

Fitbit support give me instructions of:

"Sign into your Dashboard and click the 'Log Activity' icon from the menu at the top of the screen"

However both on the website via PC and the App, there is no "menu" per say (assume though they mean the little envelope type icon), then inside that there is no "Log Activity" option. Posting here as they don't seem to be responding to emails anymore.

As I said above, it is very disappointing that a fault exists like this for years, without having a suitable fix and instructions and with new products coming out in between.

[justin.]

I was surprised as well. This issue has not been resolved in years, but instead “workarounds” made. Why ask for feature suggestions when one of the very main features should be steps? Or at the very least add a driving activity under “Exercise” with the other activities that will counter act the added steps. Or create a driving app that we can just click on when starting and click off when done. 

[Rachel-Fit]

Logging driving is pretty straightforward from the app. 

When you click on the ‘+’ at the very top off the screen there are 2 options. The first is ‘track’ which is gps for running, walking or hiking you’re about to do. 

The second is ‘log’ you use this one to add previously exercise. In this section search for driving and add the start time and duration. It’ll completely remove steps tracked during the exercise. 

[ChickenIsMe]

Thanks Rachel, this was the type of instruction I was after, but unfortunately it is different for me. I am curious if you are using apple iOS as I am using android.

The plus button is down the bottom right for me, not the top. In that I only have "Track Exercise", "Log Food", Log Sleep", "Log Water", "Add Friend", "Scan Barcode", "Log weight".

The "Track Exercise indeed does have a "log Previous" section, but as you pointed out this is only exercises, no ability to add driving.

[Rachel-Fit · Accepted solution]

Yes I am using iOS. This is what I see when I go to add an exercise, so ‘+’ then ‘track exercise’ brings up this screen. 

At the top I switch over from track to log and type in driving. 

This is the exercise you need to use to eliminate steps. 

[ChickenIsMe]

Hi Rachel,

Awesome, I have located it with your help!

Support told me "automotive", that was completely wrong. Additionally it does not appear on the drop down. All I had to do was type driving, but why is it so hidden? Cannot thank everyone enough as I was ready to return this watch - but will see if this fixes the issue rather than counting my chickens before they hatch. For anyone else with android: