Idle Alert

I would love to have an "Idle Alert" feature added where the device would vibrate if you've been idle for a certain length of time.

Moderator edit: Added labels.

1,041 Comments
SunsetRunner
Not applicable

The issue I see with any "idle" alert is that it would definitely trigger during sleep or naps.  the device has no clue if you are sitting at a desk or not.  And if you sit at a desk, then your hand is probably typing on a keyboard - which is NOT idle.  While they say they have detected typing and filter it, that is not true.  It still causes step counts.

 

  It would probably trigger when you read a book/kindle or watch a movie.  But do you want to be interupted while doing those things?

 

So this idle alarm would not likely work well.

I'm not opposed to an option, but I don't think you really need a device to tell you you are being lazy.  That is common sense.

ajaykarwal
First Steps
The Fitbit has sleep mode so that takes care of false idle alarms there. During th day it could be triggered if say the step count was less than 200 over a 3 hour period. This would allow for some 'steps' to be counted from arm movements but wouldn't ever be high enough to let the device think you're very active. Also there should be a sensitivity setting in the app (in case you have a seated job with lots of arm movement such as a working a cash register)
TMurphy
First Steps

Yes please!!!!
NEED an Idle alert for sure! 
It is the one thing that is desperately missing for sure!!!

ChargeHR 🙂

 

belbran88
First Steps

Yes please put a idle alert on the fitbit I just recieved mine, I thought it had it, and it don'tCat Indifferent. and for the money paid I would think they would have done this. now thinking of returning it, and going to a much cheaper device, that has great reviews. Up in the air, give them a update and add this feature, would be exstatic with this device if it had it.

mrsredmst
First Steps

Can't say how disappoined I am that this feature is not on th HR Charge i recently bought ... giving the price that I paid.

 

 

If an idle alert would be too confusing with the ability to track sleep; how about giving us the ability to say we are going to sleep (like you do with us having the ability to say we are tracking an activity) or something like that.

 

Or give us the ability for an idle timer to be easily set... so when we sit down (on the couch/ at our desk etc); we can set an easy alarm to remind us to move?'

 

There has to be a way to distinguish between being 'idle' and detecting sleep programatically and the answer may be in having the client be able to set  something from a menu item for it.

 

Really would like to hear from fitbit's IT team on progress they are making for this enhancement.

MMMskeet
Jogger

I'm looking into trading my One for a Bellabeats Leaf when that's released later this month.  Fitbit users have been asking for this feature since at least 2013 and while it appears "under consideration" by Fitbit, it doesn't appear to be a priority to them.  However, it is to me. 

 

I just don't think people with desk jobs are their target demographic.  

 

Also, I've heard good things about the garmin Vivofit and the jawbone up both which have this feature (meaning it should be technically possible to have the feature, even if the Fitbit folks haven't managed to figure it out yet).  I just think fitbit is targeting its product and app development in other directions.   

Lynne_ann
Jogger

The inactivity alert is actually a big reason I wanted a fitness tracker!  I was very disappointed that my ChargeHR doesn't have it already, and am considering returning it because of that.  Many of us with desk jobs would benefit, certainly.  How will we know when/if it is updated to include this feature, and would existing units be updated as well?

KMWAZ
Recovery Runner

if they, Fitbit are not going to add this feature I wish they would at least tell us they are not and why.  From the lack of their response I would suppose that they are actually making a whole new model(s) that will include this feature and in order to have it we would have to buy it.  Everyone who posted to get this...don't be surprised when this happens...

CalmSeeker
Premium User
First Steps

The people at the REI store where I just bought the Charge HR swore multiple times that the device came with an idle alert, easily set up through Dashboard. Ignorance or desire to lie for a sale, I don't know what to think. But yes, an idle alarm is perceived as such a basic feature of this kind of device, and fitbit is so popular, that I think that the salespersons could probably not even conceive the possibility that the Charge HR did not have an idle alarm. That feature is the primary reason I bought the device. In French the word for disappointment is "déception." I hope Fitbit will move this feature at the top of their priorities. As word spreads that Fitbit devices don't supply an idle alarm, the competition is sure to take heed and turn that into an argument in their own favor in their ads.

mw199999
First Steps

yes please let's get this idle alarm  going on the fitbit one

CDJ1981
First Steps

I have a Charge HR and really would love for Fitbit to add an idle alert. I get so busy at the computer some days I forget to get up and move. Other than this I'm really loving my Charge HR.   

bgreenwood2000
Recovery Runner
You can of course set the silent alarms to go off at intervals during the day - but what a pain that is!! Plus, there are only 8 of them. Here is how I would like an Idle Alert to work. It would operate between the hours you set in your profile.... You could configure how often it operates (e.g. 15, 20 minutes), and once you have been idle that long it will buzz you. If you don't move, it will buzz you again after a smaller number of minutes, also configurable.... but that feature could be turned off. I would set mine to operate between 9am and 10pm, buzz me every 20 minutes and remind me after 5 if I hadn't got off my butt yet. Could be a pain in the cinema, I suppose....
PierrePedro
Jogger
good idea..idle alert please !
BrooklynBeka
Jogger

How do we Vote? by comment?

greny3
First Steps

An idle alert feature seems to be a common request.  It would also be a great way to compete with Jawbone up users.  Please consider this in future firmware updates.

WendyT27
First Steps

+1  I just moved to fitbit from the Up24/Up3.  This is one feature I'm really going to miss and one that kept me from moving to fitbit in the past.

GinaF
First Steps
Yes, please add idle alert! Several of my friends have been talking about how they wish the Fitbit had this feature. Many went with other brands since Fitbit was lacking here
Galeeleo
First Steps
I think our requests have fallen on deaf ears? None of the fitbit people have replied, just pointed us to vote in this forum, that may or may not be read by them 😞

Monda Gunawan
WendyT27
First Steps

I wonder if there is some sort of patent issue.  Anything else doesn't make sense.

MiScusi
First Steps

Can you please add the ability for the Charge and Charge HR to vibrate after you have been inactive for a while? It would be great to have a vibration on your wrist when you haven't moved around in a while (like a desk job).

 

Also the double tap to wake seems hit and miss. Sometimes I can tap twice lightly and it turns on others I have to tap harder. Can you adjust the sensitivity or make it when I rotate my wrist the display automatically turns on? 

 

Thanks for a great product and great app!

jlswalker
First Steps

This is a MUST for those of us with desk jobs. PLEASE ADD THIS!!!

SunsetRunner
Not applicable

I agree.

The Garmin Vivo Smart has this function is is half the price of the Surge..

I hope Fitbit incorporate this feature in to the Surge soon...

Tamrsham
Jogger
I was under the impression that the flex was going to remind me to get moving! I am disappointed that it will not remind me that I have been idle for too long!! Very disappointed!!
JLev
First Steps
I'm a little disappointed I loved fitbit when I had the force that one had the idle alert which I loved although had skin sensitivity to the band and switched to the polar loop which had an idle msg that appears on the band although didn't vibrate so decided to switch back to fitbit and just purchased the Charge HR although I'm a bit disappointed there are no idle alerts which is one of the main reasons I came back to fitbit. I truly need an alert to get me going some times as I work in an office all day and tend to be consumed by my desk. Is adding idle alerts as an app update a possibility or even something being thought of????
Albyone
First Steps

Come on FitBit.... get the reminder added to this thing (Surge). I can't believe with sooo many customers screaming for the same thing that they haven't done it.

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