Allow us to choose between "Active minutes" or "Active zone minutes"

[ophelialnc]

Please include a data field for real time active minutes, an essential metric you took away to replace with Active Zone Minutes or be able to choose which I want to see. I had to return my Charge 4 because it was missing this info. I just need a field that tells me how many total real minutes in a day I spent in active heart range. I cannot use active zone minutes in the same way.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Tiffanyk44]

I would like to have an option on whether I use active minutes or zone minutes.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @Tiffanyk44, thanks for explaining why you would like to have the option to see active minutes again on your activities. I've moved it into a similar request. I think that a lot of users would like to have this option on their Fitbit devices.You can learn more about how Fitbit decides what suggestions get released in our FAQs.

[BullehShah]

I’ve just upgraded to a Charge 4. I am absolutely gobsmacked to find the tried and tested HR zones have been re-defined without any warning! I’m a 73 year old male with multiple cardiac stents and I need plenty of cardio exercise. I would get into the zone with 103 bpm, but now that is suddenly increased to 112! So I’m missing out on many, many cardio minutes! 

This Activity Zone Minutes thing may be nice to have, but please allow us to revert back to Activity Minutes and the old HR zones. My motivation is almost gone and I’m seriously thinking of returning my Charge 4!

[Smossoo]

I am very disappointed there is not a choice between Actual Active Minutes and Zone Minutes on the Inspire 2 ....   not everyone is able to do aerobic type exercise that creates zone minutes, yet they walk over 10,000 steps a day and cover over 4 1/2 miles ... I want to know my actual active minutes ....   I can choose between my wrist band and clip band but not between the active & zone minutes.  Please make this software adjustment ....  thank you .... 

[SunsetRunner]

Bring back active minutes to the devices that show active zone minutes, not everyone walks within the AZM so can be discouraging, to go on a walk and not be credited with the activity as active minutes

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @SunsetRunner, thanks for sharing this suggestion about being able to track active minutes with the Versa 3 with us. This idea was already requested in the Feature Suggestions board, so I’ve moved your post here. This will help us to keep the forums organized and make sure the suggestions don't get confused, or split a popular vote. Click on the thumbs-up to show your support.

[zirc21]

I give up. I've been through this with support a few times, this last time it finally got escalated to 2nd tier. And they still don't care. No one at this company seems to care that they've broken their devices for so many users.

I purchased a Garmin Venu. The fitbit is going on craigslist.

[SunsetRunner]

Just had a look at the venu, looks good, tempted to change 🤔

[Babysittingjake]

Please add the Active Minutes to both the App and the Computer dashboards so that both the Active Zone Minutes and Activity Minutes show.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Babysittingjake, thanks for sharing this suggestion about having the option to see your Active Zone Minutes and active minutes in both the Fitbit app and the website with us. This idea was already requested in the Feature Suggestions board, so I’ve moved your post here. This will help us to keep the forums organized and make sure the suggestions don't get confused, or split a popular vote. You might also be interested in this other suggestion. Click on the thumbs-up to show your support.

[Marprelate]

The change from active minutes to zone minutes is not useful for your older clients who use Fitbit to monitor their activity. My husband, for example, who is a 75-year-old ex-marathoner with a resting heartbeat of 52 to 54, has osteoarthritis that prevents him from exercising intensively enough to reach the zone as defined, but still manages to walk up to ten miles a day. Zone minutes are of no use to him. Activity minutes are. 

[Babysittingjake]

Very well said. Hopefully this post will start getting "enough likes and
interest" so Fitbit will make the adjustments necessary to show both
activity minutes or let the user choose which is more helpful personally.
Thank you for replying.

[Marprelate]

I can see that zone minutes will be useful for younger users, and perhaps some older ones too, but not all. The original aerobics generation is now in its seventies. We want to keep active, but a lot of the more intense activities are now closed to us. The point is: we’re still moving! But our tracking needs are not the same as a 20-year-old’s. So I agree with you: show both, or let us choose. 

[Ole805SB]

Two ways to see Active Minutes:

1. Log in to fitbit.com using the browser on your phone. Switch to the browser when you want to see active minutes.

2. Install another app on your phone that retrieves data from fitbit.com, such as stridekick, which displays active minutes among other things.

Of course, we would much prefer to see active minutes on the watch.

[Ole805SB]

I propose that this suggestion needs to be treated differently than a typical suggestion. Why?

It's not really about adding a feature, it's about undoing the removal of a feature.

[Ole805SB]

Attention moderators:

Is it possible to add more info at the top of this topic? It seems many are returning their device, perhaps unaware that there are other ways to see Active Minutes (using your phone).

[Marprelate]

I agree totally about treating it differently. If it's on the computer dashboard--and I see now that it is--there is no reason why it can't be restored to the watch and/or the app; those for whom it is less useful than zone minutes can turn it off in the app, and vice versa. My husband had no problems until he accepted a software update last week when he bought a new tracker. Until then, he got the information he wanted.

Thanks for the suggestions about other ways to get at active minutes, but I hope that Fitbit will listen to its users and just add what we want back in to the watch and app software. There is a niche for useful trackers for seniors, and our needs are not necessarily the same as younger users'.

[Ole805SB]

@LizzyFitbit @YojanaFitbit  I'm suggesting again with moderator links.

Fitbit is losing customers because they don't see active minutes on the device nor in the app. Maybe put ("pin") the workarounds at the top of the topic. I just look at my Stridekick app or fitbit.com on my phone to see my active minutes. Back when I was using Flex 2, I would look at Stridekick anyway because it updated active minutes (getting it from the website) more quickly than the fitbit app.

[Babysittingjake]

It was updated to the current category by the moderator believing it would
get more hits.

[Babysittingjake]

Very well said.
I would LOVE to see both available minutes to "PIN" on all. The app, the
webpage and on my device. These are your "Active minutes" and of these are
your "Active Zone Minutes"
I prefer to only use the one Fitbit vs Sidekick or Garmin etc... I do not
want to run around trying to accumulate and find my stuff. All of my data
in one spot. I prefer the watch face that has it in one there too. So much
easier. Who has time to go "searching" it should be available as an
"Option" to the User.

[Sarajane133]

While active minutes not being visible in the app is certainly a reason for me abandoning Fitbit, more upsetting was whatever software change resulted in the watch’s inability to accurately track heart rate during intense workouts due to zones being added as the only way to count. Whatever that change was, it resulted in my watch saying I never make it to cardio or peak heart rates. 

[Ole805SB]

Until just a few days ago, I was using a Fitbit Flex 2, which has no display, so I'm accustomed to checking my stats on the phone. 

[Zonkersmom]

Exactly!!!

Sent from my iPhone

[NickyN]

I don’t think Fitbit realise how many of their customers they have alienated by removing real time active minutes and replacing them with ‘heart zone active minutes’. They should acknowledge that thy have misinterpreted the World Health Organisation guidelines and restore real time active minutes. The guidelines refer to a weekly (not daily goal) of heart zone minutes and this only applies to adults who DO NOT HAVE a physical or medical condition that affects their mobility. So well done Fitbit for penalising people with mobility difficulties. 🤬

[Marprelate]

Well said, and exactly what I was trying to get at. It's a miracle that my husband is still walking, with arthritis and two joint replacements. He would dearly love to run, but it's just not possible. So don't discourage what he can still do by telling him, effectively, that it's not exercise and doesn't count.

There are two kinds of users, so by all means have two kinds of points. My own needs at 73 are not the same as they were at 33.