Sense step count is inaccurate

[Amazondoc]

I just bought a new Sense. I've owned a Versa previously.

On both watches, the pedometer has been utter trash. This morning, my Sense tells me that I've taken over 2000 steps even though in reality I've barely gotten out of bed. This is ridiculous!

Fortunately, I like other features of the watch. But seriously, Fitbit should have fixed this by now. Why should we believe anything the watch has to say, when we know for a fact that it's so wrong about steps?

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity. 

[UnguruBulan]

Looks like certain hand movements are counted as "step" by Sense, even if laying down or resting in any position.  May I ask, did you do any particular "exercise" with the hand wearing the Sense, while in bed? 😇

[Clove6060]

Maybe you should switch your watch to your non-dominant wrist…..while in bed.

[Amazondoc]

😆😆😆Y’all are both evil. But for the record, I’m a woman — and I already wear the watch on my non-dominant hand.😆😆😆

[lablover55]

you can configure it to make it less sensitive to 'those kinds' of movements... 😉 I used to get steps with folding laundry. I don't fold it anymore. 

[Clove6060]

I don’t even know what we are talking about anymore.

And at this point,,,,,,,I’m to afraid to ask.

[lablover55]

lol..all about steps

[UnguruBulan]

Literally folding laundry, or urban dictionary folding laundry? 😇

[lablover55]

Literally. 

[Amazondoc]

This is a useful suggestion. Unfortunately, the other probkem I have with Fitbit pedometers is that they FAIL to count steps in situations where I’m not swinging my arms — for example, when I’m walking around stores with a shopping cart. So the pedomater ratings are screwed on both ends of the scale!

I think the whole model of arm “pedometer” just diesn’t work very well. It’s an “arm” meter, not a pedometer.

[AndreaFitbit]

Thank you for your comments regarding Fitbit Sense step count.

You can check help article: How accurate are Fitbit devices?

Keep on visiting the forums. 

[Jamie14]

Hello,

I have a sense and my husband just got a versa 3 and his is very sensitive to movement where mine is not. We want to challenge each other but it's not realistic because of the sensitivity issue. Do you have any suggestions?  Thank you 

[AndreaFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community, @Jamie14. Thank you for sharing your Versa 3 and Sense sensitivity.

For wrist-based devices, it's important to specify whether you wear the device on your dominant or non-dominant wrist during setup:

• The dominant wrist setting decreases the sensitivity of step counting and should reduce any over counting of steps when your body is not moving. Your dominant hand is the one you use for writing and eating.
• The non-dominant wrist setting increases the sensitivity of step counting and should reduce any under counting of steps.

To start, the Wrist setting is set to non-dominant. Change your wrist setting in the Fitbit app.

I hope this information helps. 

[Amazondoc]

Jamie --

Personally, if you want to challenge each other, IMHO you'd be better off using a different device. I like other features of the Sense, but the "pedometer" actually measures arm movements -- which are very different than steps.

[eezeepee]

@Jamie14 How can you tell his is more sensitive? Only way I can think of figuring that out is if he wore both watches for a period of time and you wore both watches another period of time and the Versa 3 was truly higher both times.

[Jamie14]

We both walked up and down are hallway counting the steps and his went up a couple steps above the amount we walked and mine didn't even add half the steps we walked. 

[Jamie14]

Our* multi tasking

[eezeepee]

@Jamie14 Okay but there's still user variance. At least try wearing both watches at the same time. Or even switch watches. Remember, the dominant or non-dominant hand option as the mod mentioned.

[RamonRueda]

This helps a lot! Thank you Andrea. 

[AndreaFitbit]

Thanks for getting back to us and for your advise @eezeepee.

@Jamie14, thank you for mentioning what happens with your watches. As @eezeepee mentioned, you must take into consideration user variance. In my case, I do more steps than others because I'm shorter. 

You're very welcome @RamonRueda.

Keep on visiting the forums.