Option to turn off step count (or add "Driving Mode") to avoid erroneous steps/floors

[MacWade]

I just got home yesterday from a driving 6 hours in my car and I checked my Fitbit. I was really suprised to see it had given me almost 8,000 steps, 3.24 miles, 134 floors, & way more calories thank I burned while I was sitting in my car.  I looked on the forum to see how to easily delete the steps, miles, floors, and calories so my data would be accurate.  The only way people are fixing it is by manually logging the activity "Automobile or light truck (not a semi) driving" and entering in the duration.  I think that is a cumbersome way to fix the issue everytime I drive because I have to make sure I write down what time I get into and out of my car so I know the start time and duration.  And how does it automatically know the calories burned when everyone burns calories when they are sedentary at different rates.

I think they should add a "Drive Mode" feature that when turned on it won't add steps, distance, floors, & will only add calories burned equal to you sitting in a chair.

You could access the "Drive Mode" either on your Fitbit One or on your phone app to turn it on/off.  If you have a Fitbit One you could press the button till the "Drive Mode" icon appears then hold the button down for 2 seconds to turn it on or off.

On the phone apps you would just go to your device under "Account" and there you could turn it on or off.

You could also have the option to give you an alert when you unlock the phone that reminds you that it is in "Drive Mode" so you don't forget to turn it off when you get to your destination.  It would also be cool if you could use Siri to turn it on by saying "Turn on Fitbit Drive Mode" or "Turn off Fitbit Drive Mode".

[Boogie007]

my suggestion had to do with counting steps while riding in a golf cart. an individual, yojanafitbit miss read the suggestion and thought i wanted to turn the tracker OFF. No i just want the tracker to count steps not the ride. must be something to do with speed since the tracker does count steps when i drive a car.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @Boogie007, thanks for explaining why you would like to have the option to track your steps not the ride (golf cart) while playing golf. 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.

Thank you again for your participation in the Feature Suggestions Forums.

[2Paps]

What a crock! This is the same blather you've been feeding fitbit users for 6+ years and there has been NO FOLLOW UP ACTION!

Ed

[Boogie007]

In other words tough luck.

[Hippie22]

Same issue as others of adding floors, steps and badges when riding my motorcycle but with a Charge 4.

The Charge 4 allows you to have 6 quick select activities stored on the wristband (walk, run, bike etc). It would be good if you could add 'Driving Mode' or 'Off Mode' as one of the activities then you could easily select it before driving, motorcycling etc. At the moment I have to log in to my account and remember what times I was riding my motorcycle, then remove the additional steps, floors etc, and then contact support to remove additional un-earned badges.

This spoils what is otherwise a great device. Can this be solved with a firmware update please.

[Boogie007]

I agree, a good update to handle this problem would be great. Previous
trackers used a measured step instead of GPS to count steps. They were a
little more accurate in that regard, so maybe an update would be the ability
to choose GPS or measured step.

[kevinkuan0]

I am, too, disappointed that Fitbit directed me to this forum after I sent an email to them addressing the same issue. They don't event reply to his post like they don't care. Maybe it is more productive to leave a negative customer review on Amazon than here.

[Harsh1000]

Brought fitbit versa 3 for serious health goals....feel really cheated by this pathetic issue that fitbit won't fix...

Can somebody suggest good/accurate fitness tracker from their experience?

[Crappies]

In short there should be a driving mode to easily turn on and off. My stress level is rising as I try to figure out how to get rid of all the extra steps that I know I didn't take. A simple button push is all it should take, not that formula of do this and do that. I am very disappointed. I thought certainly this would be a feature to help with the accuracy of my day. The formula is not user friendly.

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[Rich_Laue]

@Crappies to remove steps, see this help doc. 

[4k_hiker]

Yeah, that doesn't work. Never has.

[Rich_Laue]

For this to work, @4k_hiker the user must tap the entry that pops up. 

They also have to put in the correct start time and duration. 

I'll admit that it can be a hassle but it does work. 

I'm not sure if the android app called Travel Bit is still in the app store, this app automated the process. 

[Twizzler225]

A driving mode that will stop step tracking and an easy/quick way to switch modes.

[DavideFitbit]

Hi @Twizzler225, thanks for sharing your suggestion about including a Driving Mode that will stop step tracking. I noticed this feature suggestion already exists so I’ve moved your post here. This helps to keep the forums more organized and to keep track and popularity and demand over time. 

Thank you for your participation in the Community. 

[2Paps]

I see another user has been added to this useless 7 year old thread.  I can only hope Twizzler225 reacts the way so many of the rest of us have and find a fitness watch that actually matches their needs.  Good luck and happy hunting Twizzler 225!

[SunsetRunner]

Posting here will do no good. Post a link to this thread on your social media profiles. Make those posts trend. Then Fitbit will fix the issue. Guaranteed.

[Tt11]

Agreed, these complaints have been made for over 10 years now with zero
action by fitbit. Getting this to trend or starting a petition may help. Or
leaving negative reviews anywhere that sells fitbit. I wish I had known
about this before purchasing.

[Holden11]

Scroll down from the main home page on Fitbit. Go to Quick Settings and click a steering wheel Icon and when you click it, it stops counting steps. Or a walk Icon so it doesn't count steps.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @Holden11, thanks for taking the time to share this suggestion about having the option to stop counting steps with your Versa 2 while driving. 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.

Thank you again for your participation in the Feature Suggestions Forums.

[Arctycfox]

Add the ability to turn off activity tracking, for a duration. Such as when riding a motorcycle (as the vibrations get counted as false steps). Garmin already has this feature. Simply go into the app, or device, and turn off activity tracking. Once done, turn it back on. Easy.

[DavideFitbit]

Hi @Arctycfox, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback about the possibility of disabling activity tracking for a duration. 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.

[Suj1981]

Its a shame, in 2022, this problem still exists. i just moved back to fitbit after 5 yrs, bought a charge 5 two weeks back.. and false steps while driving, still remains an issue. 😞  

[Alison2016]

Given how long this has been asked for its obvious Fitbit are happy to loose customers

Sent from my iPad

[SunsetRunner]

I'm outta here, throwing the Charge 3 in the bin and moving on to a manufacturer with some kind of customer service ethic.

[T-Dawg99]

Still posting about this unfixed problem?  Buy an Apple watch and have greater accuracy in your results.