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

[timfisher]

@Katie.C1990 I suspect you have an older version of the Fluid Arcs clock face. It looks like what is in the store now for newer devices does not display Active Minutes. I believe it was with version 5.0 of the SDK that FitBit made Active Minutes no longer even accessible to display in a clock face. Only Active Zone Minutes.

[Katie.C1990]

@timfisher 

thanks for letting me know, yea I have a versa 1 so definitely older fluid arcs clock face. What a complete bummer. So disappointing that Fitbit trashed active minutes me, like most people that was our main focus. 
I will not be buying another Fitbit after mine dies. 

[Jlockwood99]

I had bought a new one and returned it. Such a silly thing to eliminate (and so easy to provide access to active minutes again.)

Sent from my iPhone

[timfisher]

@Katie.C1990 Right? When I got my Sense, the clock face I had been using was not in the store so I decided to make my own (developer by trade). That's how I discovered that it's no longer available to put on a clock face even if you wanted to! I keep hoping they'll bring back Active Minutes and give us the option to use one or the other because I love everything else about it.

[Katie.C1990]

@timfisher

im right there hoping with you friend. I love everything else about it too. 
hope you are doing well stay safe 

[AN22]

Please allow Fitbit users who updated their device to revert their app back to active minutes versus active zone minutes. I fast walked on my treadmill for 45 minutes and found that the new active zone minutes only counted 18 of those minutes. Upon speaking to customer service, I was told that if you are doing the same activity, it stops counting.

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This new update is very exclusive to people of different abilities. For people who have disabilities or injuries that don’t allow them to get their heart rate out of a certain zone, Fitbit is deciding that their hard work is not worthy of being counted in their active minutes. Some people can only walk or do moderate activity and that should be accepted by their device for the full duration of their workout, not just part of it. This is not an okay mindset for a fitness company to have. 

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @AN22, thanks for taking the time to share this suggestion about having the option to see active minutes again. I've moved it into a similar request. You can see more details about it here: What are Active Zone Minutes or active minutes on my Fitbit device?

You can learn more about how Fitbit decides what suggestions get released in our FAQs. Thank you again for your participation in the Feature Suggestions Forums.

[_FitBob_]

It would be appropriate if we could replace "Steps" with "Active Minutes"  (Not "Active Zone Minutes").

It seems that what we have here is a glorified step counter, not a fitness device.

All fitness activities involve being "active", but not all include "steps". (eg: Yoga, Rowing, Cycling, Swimming, Skiing, etc).

The orientation of forcing "steps" as the primary metric is flawed by design.

I am aware that one can select a main goal of "Active Zone Minutes". However, that is not the same as "Active Minutes", and it does not remove steps as the primary metric on the device. (ie: That watch face still includes Steps and Miles).

Thanks for listening.

[scriptboy]

Yeah, I'm thinking of returning my Versa 2 for the same reason. I liked the active minutes feature in my previous fitbit. 

[_FitBob_]

The Google Fit app used to do "Active Minutes", then is changed to "Steps" and became useless, so I uninstalled it.

Wish I could uninstall Steps from the FitBit too.

[melissamoys]

I am so disappointed that until this am at 6 before the update I had active minutes now it’s all zone minutes. Bring it back. I’m sure the moderator will reply I’ve move this request and more lip service. This feature is a huge problem and has not been resolved since it brought in. Seriously 311 comments asking for this to be changed dating back to 2020 and they have still done NOTHING to meet what the customer wants is absolutely mind boggling to say the very least. The disappointment for my Xmas present is heartbreaking as I don’t even want this anymore. I called customer service and basically told too bad so sad. I’ve been with Fitbit since the blaze came out and actually wished I hadn’t got rid of it because I would go back to the old one in a heart beat if I could. What an absolute waste of peoples money with no one over at Fitbit listening to what the customer wants. I am beyond mad that I did the update and think their customer service and this forum has done nothing to fix it. Guess they really look at the bottom line rather than customers for life, which until today I would have been. I had the option for an Apple Watch but chose Fitbit because I tracked all the time, it met my goals and active minutes I was striving for. When asked what trackers could I exchange it for their reply was you can shell out more money but we aren’t going to do anything to give a price break or help you, just shell out more money cause that all the really care about. What a joke… customer service even a bigger joke to even help. They said oh wait for the next update…. Seriously so many negative reviews on the zone minutes switch with no options to go back to active minutes and NOTHING IS BEING DONE. Don’t waste you money on anything Fitbit related. I use to rave about fitbits products and now I will tell everyone and anyone what a joke this product is. Thanks Fitbit you’ve lost another lifer, apple is getting my hard earned money now. 

[Jlockwood99]

Agree 100%!!! It’s terrible customer service.

Sent from my iPhone

[Ole805SB]

Does Fitbit currently sell any devices that do Active Minutes? 

[AN22]

melissamoys I couldn’t have said it any better myself! This is EXACTLY how I feel about Fitbit…and the fact that the first comment about this was back in 2020 and there is STILL no action done tells me that Fitbit doesn’t care about customer satisfaction. I even had the same customer service call as you. I don’t want my device anymore either, which is sad because it was a Christmas present too. 

Ole805SB—here is the closest thing I could get to answering your question. This is from their website:

These devices track Active Zone Minutes:

• Fitbit Charge 4
• Fitbit Charge 5
• Fitbit Inspire 2
• Fitbit Ionic
• Fitbit Luxe
• Fitbit Sense
• Fitbit Versa series

All other devices track active minutes

[Phoenix211]

A nicely written sentiment! A shame that Fitbit won't listen.

[melissamoys]

Your right they gave a non solution email, saying you can’t change back before the update. I’ve tried tirelessly on any hacks to get it back and nothing works. I wrote back exactly how non helpful their email was… they replied with we do hear our customers and read what I wrote in the community page and that they are striving to make their product what people wanted. I did again reply they haven’t listened since 2020 and many people wanted the change. Didn’t respond after that. So basically bs and they don’t really care why I bought it and there is no options. But I guess I could shell out more money to get the ones with active minutes.  A week later still no solution and the run around. Why an absolute terrible company, never will they get my money again…. Customer service fail….don’t waste your money to anyone wanting a product that works right.

[Jlockwood99]

I agree. I returned the new one I bought. It’s ridiculous and annoying.

Sent from my iPad

[Sammiebeee]

Ho, can toy please bring back the active minutes on the Fitbit.

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I found it more encouraging to be active when I had  the active minutes available. It showed me how active I was throughout the day and was quite encouraging. Please bring the feature back! 

[DavideFitbit]

Hi @Sammiebeee, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback about the possibility of having the option to see Active Minutes. I noticed that a similar feature suggestion already exists, so I’ve moved your post here, this helps to keeps the boards more organized. Make sure to add your vote as well to support this suggestion, this helps the team of developers to keep track of popularity and demand over time. 

Thank you again for your participation in the Community. 

[melissamoys]

I’m amazed that it is the same moderator script each time. Like seriously the problem is a huge issue for many others going back to 2020. Don’t expect it to change. They don’t listen to there customers…. Their solution is let’s just move your comment, equivalent to let’s just stick this in a folder and do absolutely nothing to fix or address 311 comments saying to give an option from zone to active minutes!!!! So ridiculous! 

[Katie.C1990]

@melissamoys  🤣😂🤣 I know right!

It’s pathetic 

[geronimo819]

Loved the One and was OK moving to the Alta and Inspire since I could get third party clips.  Sadly the Inspire 2 does not allow active minutes to be tracked.  Here’s one thing for FitBit to consider - I love playing Bingo in premium.  I won’t renew my membership now since my new tracker won’t count one of three types of Bingo squares since I don’t use Zone minutes.

[meggawatt]

I agree with this suggestion above, to allow us to keep seeing our Active Minutes data. Active Zone Minutes do not reflect what I need to see, and as a result I am so disappointed with the purchase of my new Charge 5. I never would have bought this thing if I'd known I was giving up the most useful and relevant feature - the entire reason I wear a fitbit in the first place. I really really don't like it and can't believe fitbit made this change. Have to see if I can still return it. 

[girl1dir]

Revert back to the previous method of tracking active minutes or have the ability to NOT require active zone minutes in order to participate effectively in Premium Paid Features (like Bingo).

[girl1dir]

Online chat yesterday suggested changing the Heart Health --> customize range section in the App. It's working to show more active zone minutes for me. I think it will take a lot of adjustment and monitoring to figure out what is right for me.