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.

[Paintedhorse007]

So far there is no fix for it, from what I have heard. It's annoying and
once it starts it doesn't seem to stop. I usually have to sync several
times to get the correct reading. Some people's watches aren't even
recognizing steps, not sure if it's the same issue or not as I have not had
that happen before.

[Jessiej]

Yep! Same issue here! I thought I have been going mad this week but I checked my watch, took a photo of it at 20,000 & then it was down to 19,000.

When I got in from work, I was £14,000, the next minute I checked, I was down to 11,000 steps!

What is going on??

I've uninstalled the app & restarted my fitbit sense but it's still doing it! 😒

[Grimmi]

I have gotten so annoyed now and now I’m  having to charge the watch every two days , I do not know what my actual steps are anymore. I’ve reached 6500 steps five times today and should be on 14000 but my when I’ve sync it five times  it’s say 9789 

[Paintedhorse007]

I'm looking into either a versa 4 or pixel 2 and I think the sense 2 is also free of this bug. I love the Fitbit app so don't want to leave the family 

[Sargal]

It would be great if the watch fed the app. That way the count would always
be the correct count. I was at 8000 steps this morning, next thing I know
I’ll at 9800. So of course I synced with the app hoping to get back to the
correct count. By the time everything settled down I was at 14000 steps.
Okay, I’ll just go to 26000 steps today (I try to get 20000 a day). So now
step count and calories are telling me I can have a lot of food later
today. I gave up on the whole thing for today and deleted the app again.
Very frustrating

[Paintedhorse007]

I totally get the frustration when your going by the app to get a good understanding of what you need for food and exercise...it's very frustrating, and I'm doing 2 challenges with a third starting next week so I'd like to get a better handle on it

[Sargal]

Are you sure you won’t have the same problem with either the Versa 4 or the
pixel 2. I didn’t have any problems with my Versa 3 until recently. I have
been on the Fitbit app since July 2016. Not a problem at all with Watch or
App until 3 weeks ago. Haven’t had a good step count since then. If I don’t
use the app the Versa 3 step count is correct. If I open the app I gain
thousands of steps right before my eyes. Fitbit “help” chat had solutions,
none of which cured the problem.

[d7e]

the sense 2 is absolutely not free of this bug.  Its been happening ever since the battery firmware update on my sense 2

[Sargal]

Thanks. That is good to know.
I didn’t have any problems with my Versa 3 until recently. I have been on
the Fitbit app since July 2016. Not a problem at all with Watch or App
until 3 weeks ago. Haven’t had a good step count since then. If I don’t use
the app the Versa 3 step count is correct. If I open the app I gain
thousands of steps right before my eyes. Fitbit “help” chat had solutions,
none of which cured the problem.

[Paintedhorse007]

Oh bummer that's hard..running out of models in the family to use

[Sargal]

It would be great if the Fitbit watch would tell the app the step count
when they sync and not the app telling the watch the step count. I would be
interested in finding out where the app is even getting the numbers they
are coming up with.

[Guy_]

Hi to all new posters, to avoid confusion and/or costly or time wasting actions please consult the first post for this topic.

It provides full details of this ongoing bug. Fitbit support will not be able to help.

[SenseEdmonton]

It does not appear to matter which fitbit you have as it appears to be on the server side

[Sargal]

good to know. Thanks for that information. 

[andyyapsg]

As at this time, pleased to observe that the erroneous reporting of steps seems to have been rectified. Hope the problem is truly gone forever.

Sent from my little iPhone 8 :sagittarius:

[Suzbaus]

I think you may be right. Let's see how tomorrow goes!

[Starry2]

Thanks, I have had no success turning Bluetooth off so I’ve been on the AppStore and re rated it 1 star.

[Sargal]

I can only hope you are correct. This has been a total nightmare for me. I
have been using Fitbit watches and the app since 2016. I have quite a bit
of data and time and steps invested in Fitbit. Thanks for the update.

[Paintedhorse007]

I still had issues last night, let's see how today goes 

[Mem11]

@andyyapsg  So far so good, I haven't had any step syncing problem since last night, hopefully it's fixed. We'll see how the rest of the day goes...