FitBit GPS tracking should count towards your badges

[breezanemom]

It's not fair that if I use FitBit's GPS tracker to count my steps that they don't count toward a badge.  I logged over 20,000 steps yesterday, but about half of them were logged using FitBit's GPS tracker.  Apparently using the GPS does NOT count the steps toward your badges.

This needs to be FIXED!  I was so proud of walking >20,000 steps (I have been in physical therapy trying to work out some back and leg issues and yesterday was a big deal for me).  I was ready to get rid of the other apps I use only for GPS tracking, but until you fix this issue, I will use other apps, NOT the FitBit app, to track GPS. 

Lisa

Moderator edit: added label

[ClintC]

I have had fitbit for a couple of months. I found out that when you "track exercise" with the the application (that maps where you go) you will not get badges for walking (10k,15k). Is there any way to change that? I know if I manually enter the steps I will not get credit for it, but I'm sure there is a way for the fitbit/application to see if you have done the steps and make it "official" to get credit for those steps and earn badges.

[CenCalFlex]

Lisa - I completely agree!  If walks are tracked using GPS, they also don't count in the new Challenges steps totals.  I really hope they reconsider and get this straightened out.

[AmritaFitbit]

Thanks for your feedback about Mobile Run and badges! The team is continually working to improve the feature. We'll be sure to pass your suggestion along to them. 

[VHH987]

I really like using the GPS tracker on my Fitbit, however, I did not realize that those steps were not being counted in the overall total.  How rediculous is that?  To walk over 30,000 steps in one day is not easy and certainly doesn't happen often.  If I enter the steps manually you mentioned that doesn't count either.  I get the manually entered not counting as then you could just add whatever you wanted, but the GPS tracker?  Please fix this!

[Colinm39]

See this link. I'm using MobileRun on the Android and all of the tracker data is being used in Challenges, Badges and Lifetime Achievements. I have proved this on many occasions and have asked Fitbit to adjust the Help FAQ.

I feel there is some confusion in the Ranks between MobileTrack and MobileRun. The only thing to MobileRun affects is the calorie burn, that is low and overwrites the tracker calories.

If you don't use your Tracker concurrently with MobileRun the answers you are getting are correct. Nothing is used, so you MUST have your Fitbit with you.

[aaplfan]

Agree with this thread. Just chatted with CS about this exact same thing. Wasn't sure why I didn't receive my 45k badge and CS said it's because I "tracked exercise" using the FitBit App. He understood my concern and frustration but said that's how the system is set up. It treats "tracked exercises (using gps)" as manually entered steps.

[lostpenguine]

I totally agree. IF I dont use the gps on the app it doesnt count for half of my dog walk. Fix this fitbit!

[adumicic]

So it seems like no-one understands why these are not counted, an no one agrees that they shouldn't be counted. So why not just include them? I use MobileTrak and without using GPS, the accuracy is way off. So I basically can't compete in any challenges currently.

[OzziesMum]

I agree that activity logged by the GPS tracker should count towards the challenges.  Surely there must be a way to differentiate steps logged through the tracker from those manually logged.  Please fix this as I love to track my walks.

[whitwv]

I use the GPS to track how far I have ran in order to beat everyone in my challenges! Big mistake I suppose. I'm so glad my 6 miles aren't counting towards the challenge....:(

[kamiller]

That doesn't seem fair

[Jads73]

Agree - It seems quite misleading that your tracked activities does not count towards badges.

I participated in a 10km run the other day - and on the same day went hiking with my family. All in all this brought me to +30.000 steps, but no badges........... Which is quite annoying.

If tracked activities does not count towards badges, why is there even an option to track activities (Would be better to Endomondo to track the activity instead) ........ I suggest to let tracked activities be included in badges, or get rid of it. (Personnaly I will no use the tracker function anymore - until this matter has been resolved)

Short: No point in having the tracker function - get rid of it, or include it in Badges.

Besides that - FitBit is GREAT 🙂

[Mike11940]

Yes, I couldn't agree more than what everyone is saying.  It should definitely count towards your steps...what is the point of using the function if it doesn't!

[kamiller]

It would be nice, but I am happy that I got a badge for getting 27,000 steps the other day and I knew i did well for my first 5K fun run/walk for health and well-being. I was certainly not the first, but I am proud of myself and don't need badges to feel accomplished. The results in my body says it all. I have lost over 29 lbs as of today. I feel like a new person and I am totally looking at myself differently. So if I get a badge for my efforts, cool, but I am doing this for me--for my life. I am not someone else though, and this is a definite behavior modification for many and it has helped a lot of people. Just keeping things in perspective.

Keep going. Never give up.

[AngieB70]

Yes mobile run steps should definitely count towards challenges because after all their steps you're taking in the day to reach your goal. Truthfully, I don't understand why they don't count to begin with! Now I have to use a competiter mapmyrun in order to be notified at different breaks in my walk or run & to track my individual workouts. It was nice to be able to use the fit bit tracker but now I guess I can't & am starting to wonder if it's worth the app??

[AngieB70]

*they're not their. 😞

[Cubachik]

I agree - manually tracked/GPS activity should counts towards badges - it's a nice little motivation, and this limitation should be addressed ASAP. I'm a newbie and did my first 10k steps today, but since part of it was a manually entered walk, it didn't count towards earning a badge. Frustrating! But I love my Fitbit. Thanks!

[Illaia]

I completely agree that this is unfair for the gps tracker to not count... Especially since we are wearing the trackers! There must be a way to differentiate.... It's very frustrating.

[CoulstonR]

I cant believe that this still hasnt been fixed

[Gooders]

I'm not sure that I understand what the problem is here.  I just recently started tracking my walking using the Track Exercise option on the Windows Phone app.  But it seems to integrate perfectly with the steps from my Fitbit One.  The app records the route, the distance, my pace, etc. (and estimates my steps), my Fitbit One records the actual steps, these get integrated when I sync.  The app 'estimates' my steps whilst on the route, but the Fitbit One steps seem to take precendence once everything is synced at the end.  All of my Fitbit One steps contribute to my daily total.

Similarly, when I track a cycle ride with MapMyRide, that activity is logged on my Fitbit dashboard (via MyFitnessPal), but again any steps collected by my Fitbit One during the ride are not overwritten in the process.

Are people leaving their Fitbits behind and trying to collect steps data purely from the app?  To the best of my knowledge the app only estimates the number of steps based on distance divided by the walk/run stride length entered in your settings.  But as we all know, stride length varies depending on walking speed, terrain, even the type of shoes being worn and so this estimate is never going to be as accurate as the data from your Fitbit.

It all seems to work fine as far as I can tell.

The data that the app collects is fantastic, well done to the developers.  It is great to see exactly where I've been and my pace at the various stages of the route.  Really good data manipulation and integration.  Thank you.

[DerrickS]

@breezanemom This feature currently exists! If you wear your during a MobileRun, your steps will count towards both badges and Challenges. Click here for more information.

Thanks for posting on the Feature Request Board!

[Netty1977]

I agree! THEY NEED TO FIX THIS!!!!!!!  I just got 20k today for the first time NO BADGE. I used the GPS tracker twice today.  The funny thing is the wrist band counts the steps at the same time the app does on our phones, so why are we not getting the earn credit??????  You right it's NOT fair & a very poor design for it to be failing like this, I mean heck the wristband is counting it as well!  What is going on to make a glitch like this in the system??? Seems like something that should be fixed!!!! Why did they make that app if it was going to cancel out your steps even though the Charge HR is still manually counting them on your wrist????  The badges are so motivating and we earn them, it helps a lot of us to keep going!  Why did they release the GPS APP if it was going to be dysfunctional ???? I mean for goodness sakes our devices are still counting the steps on our wrist at the same time.  It's not like we are just relying on our phone app to read everything! I am so disappointed! They need to fix this! We all need every bit of modivation we can get! Good job to everyone who made it that far (10k or more) without a badge!!! FitBit PLEASE FIX THE ISSUE! 

[Rich_Laue]

As long as your wearing your Fitbit tracker, or have mobiletrac enabled on the phone, your steps are counted. 

If your using the Fitbit app to track your run without your tracker, your steps are not being counted, they e bf guesstimated.