Unreliable step counting bug

[Guy_]

There is an issue with the step counting as shown here, with the dated Core Stats.

At 15:38 the watch was indicating an erroneous 13,256 steps

After a sync it was showing a more accurate 8,536 steps

How or why this bug has appeared is unknown. It is due to improper syncing/server processing.

There is nothing a user can do to fix this bug, any attempts could make matters worse and be a waste of time.

If the watch is not connected to the Fitbit App, by closing the app [often not possible] or better by turning off Bluetooth, and the steps are correct it would confirm that as the cause.

For Versa/Sense users [not Versa 4 or Sense 2], the SimpleCheckUp app [first screen] might help to know on the watch when the watch last synced.

When turning on Bluetooth again, it is necessary to manual sync a few times to get the correct steps to show.

This bug is NOT related to any watch firmware update or Fitbit App update and applies to all phone and watch types. There will be no update issued to fix it.

Steps counting bug - Update March 20th

It seems this is still not entirely stable and Google may still be introducing changes.

Small adjustments can appear when auto syncing [every 15 minutes about depending on connectivity] or even manual syncing randomly.

Steps counting bug - Update March 19th

After some more testing and in the absence of any official information from Google - the app finally appears to sync correctly without any unwanted adjustments.

Of note, no action by the user was/is necessary for the syncing to be correct, as the error was only at the Google end.

Steps counting bug - Update March 17th

Some people still noticed minor adjustments to the watch steps when syncing, meaning the problem is still not fully fixed.

Steps counting bug - Update April 7th:

The ensuing minor steps adjusting bug that was still prevalent seems also fixed now.

Steps counting bug - Update March 13th:

This may finally be fixed - check steps on your device and manually sync, If the app then shows the same for you it is fixed. However some minor adjustments still seem to occur.

Stress Management Score - Update March 7th:

The missing Stress Management Score that affected all user types [regular or premium] is supposedly fixed now without any user intervention. Though the missing history is not recovered.

For those still not getting it yet please make a separate post/investigation.

[Sargal]

Remove watch from Bluetooth so it can’t talk to phone. Don’t open app. Not sure my last post was clear on that. 

[Starry2]

Thanks for helping

Is anyone else thinking ‘It’s not fixed then’? Why are the users of this app having to make adaptions to try to make it work? Come on Fitbit/Google sort these step issues out on the App there’s  loads of feeds about this same issue. Started with google.

[ArcadeTechGW]

As far as I can tell, for a Sense (we have two between myself and my wife), this appears to be corrected at least step count wise.  I've had plenty of chances to see the "You've hit 10000 step" mistake in the past few days, and it hasn't happened.  My step counts appear to track properly.

I've probably just jinxed myself, and it will start doing it again as soon as I press "send" but for now, this is the fact I'm living with.

[Guy_]

Hi all, Steps counting bug - Update March 17th

Some people notice minor adjustments to the watch steps when syncing, meaning the problem is still not fully fixed.

What shows on the device is supposed to represent the activity at the time of syncing and be uploaded to the servers but is getting modified during the syncing or second syncing.

Thanks to those who reported this.

[Mikasa48]

Why do we users have to jump through hoops to get around this problem while there seems to be no help/solution from Google/Fitbit? This is very frustrating as Fitbit Premium members are paying for this service and we seem to get no solutions/fixes. I'm getting tired of endless syncing/resyncing, disconnecting/reconnecting. I'm unwilling to completely delete & then reload the Fitbit phone app for fear of losing my years of accumulated stats. Is this a legitimate apprehension or are my stats safe?

[Sargal]

Mine was back to normal today. Knock on wood. Make sure you have update
4.38. Then you have to 1. Remove Fitbit app 2. Turn watch and phone off and
back on 3. Reload app which for me made me start from scratch with the
install of watch 4. Try it out. Good luck.
I was very happy. 😊

[Sargal]

I have an iCloud backup every night. I have deleted app and brought it back multiple times because of this bug. Of course I was forced to to move Fitbit account to a Google account a while back. The only “data” I can get now is through app and my different earned badges, so good luck with that. My watch and app (latest version, 4.38) are back and working. 

[Guy_]

Hi all, Steps counting bug - Update March 19th

After some more testing and in the absence of any official information from Google - the app finally appears to sync correctly without any unwanted adjustments.

Of note, no action by the user was/is necessary for the syncing to be correct, as the error was only at the Google end.

Thanks to those who reported this.

[Guy_]

Hi all, Steps counting bug - Update March 20th

It seems this is still not entirely stable and Google may still be introducing changes. It works sometimes and not others.

Small adjustments can appear when auto syncing [every 15 minutes about depending on connectivity] or randomly with manual syncing.

[Paintedhorse007]

 clearly it's now under counting 

[Sargal]

Mine is better than it was. I’m not losing steps. The last two days I’ve
had to restart my versa 3 to get it to sync. When it did sync it took a bit
for it to get my count right. The other glitch is if I’m using AirPods for
a call the app doesn’t seem to sync very well, if at all.

[ManuFitbit]

Hi everyone.

Thanks for the steps that you tried and the additional information.

I'd like to share with you that this issue has been fixed. Your Fitbit device should be counting your steps correctly now.

Once again, I appreciate your patience. 

[Paintedhorse007]

I usually wear Bluetooth headphones...they have never bothered before. But
my watch is reading half of what my phone is, and I'm guessing neither are
accurate.

---

And it continues, my app says 11000, my widget says 10954 and my watch says10132.

[Paintedhorse007]

And it continues, my app says 11000, my widget says 10954 and my watch says10132

[Sargal]

The only time that happens to me is when my airpods (also Bluetooth) are
on. You are correct it didn’t used to be that way. Only recently, since the
count started going crazy. When it happens now I just turn the app off or
leave it on and it catches up and it accurate eventually. Yeah, I’m a
nervous Nelly until the final count. Maybe we should see if others have
been having this problem.

[6down3togo]

Sense (v1, current app on my Android v15 phone. I often use BT earbuds while recording with the "Walk" function.  Steps are accurate.

I still get that failure to refresh fairly often when pulling down the screen.  I swipe it out of memory, reopen it, and then it usually refreshes .

.

[Guy_]

Hi @ManuFitbit - thanks for the information but on checking again it is still adjusting steps on the watch, up or down by a small amount at times, after a sync when it shouldn't.

So it's not fully fixed yet.

[Sargal]

I sure hope they keep trying to fix this.

---

Good to know. I’ll try that. Thank you.

[Rge]

My app is still wonky when syncing. I have to sync 3 or 4 times to get my Sense to agree with the app on the steps, but who knows if the step count is accurate?

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[Sargal]

Just a guess. I am on 4.39 version of Fitbit. My versa 3 and app agree. I
usually have once a day problem with syncing. The problem could be in my
internet. Not sure.