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 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.

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.

[DerPeisi]

Same strange behaiviour here. 

[Rubitooz]

Done it again this morning.

I was at 4600 by 8.30am. At 8.45 had dropped to just over 3000. This is getting ridiculous
Sent from my Healthy iPhone

Moderator Edit: Personal info removed

[siskiou]

Ah, thanks! I understand now. I don't think there are different versions, but I could be wrong.

Maybe there are different versions, depending on the country it was made for? In Europe you get 2 years warranty, but that's the only difference I'm aware of. My husband and daughter's Sense are both American, and both needed the recent Firmware updates.

[lkiley1]

Having the same problem. Really frustrating. I can't get to 10k steps and I'm doing way over. I'm losing at least 3k steps everyday. I've tried shutting everything down and nothing works. Always been fine before. Started about a week ago. 

[Mom2Jacob]

Don’t sync to app until night.  Make sure you shut off Bluetooth, if possible, all day.  When you sync at night, go to device instead of pull down sync.  Once there, turn on Bluetooth.  The sync will automatically update.  It will run twice, at some point turning on device lock.  This process is what screws up the amount.  If you hit sync one more time, when you go back to today it should match pretty close to what your watch states. I find it helpful to either take a picture of watch amounts or jot down amounts because the process will change your watch to whatever it says on app.

[Paintedhorse007]

Do you think a factory reset would fix it?

[Rubitooz]

Same. I’m so over it. Seems to be a thing since I started with the google addition
----

Done. Didn’t work

Sent from my Healthy iPhone

[ArcadeTechGW]

This is a confirmed FitBit server issue at this point.  The best thing to do is nothing (other than repeatedly restart and re-sync) until Google figures out what happened and how to correct the problem.

From what I have read (and I know, 11 pages), it was though that this was an update issue.  Maybe it is, maybe it's their server.

Stuff like this shakes my brand loyalty.  It is probably time to start looking for a better more dependable watch.

[Paintedhorse007]

I have had mine for a long time and up until now I have had no issues with
it. If it's something that will continue to fix itself that's one thing but
if it gets worse I will need to update it. I got it over 4 years ago.

[SenseEdmonton]

I did a factory reset night before last and it did a watch update and seemed ok but then I had a quiet day. This morning there was a Fitbit app update from the Android play store and tested by walking my usual route which is about 10K steps on average.. I was showing well over 15k when I got home.. hit sync a few times and it shrunk to around 10K.

This is getting to be pretty useless for trying to walk to meet goals and never knowing what you will end up with at the end of the day. I started the Fitbit  journey April 3, 2014 and since google took over I see all the things I grew to love get taken away like the Fitbit Bingo, Step Challenges. Now it seems  that after 11 years of loyalty to be useless as a device to track my fitness..  I may need pull my McDonalds Step Counter off the shelf and use it instead

[SenseEdmonton]

I think we are all with you now. Taken a device that started out ok and in my 11 years seem to want to drive us to other products

[Rge]

All of these posts with people having the same problem but yet fitbit hasn’t publicly fessed up and address the problem.

 

[Uschbar]

I think this was my last fitbit

[Mom2Jacob]

A weird thing happened this morning, the main steps at top of today are locked at my morning steps.  If you move to individual steps, it’s my first 5555 steps notification which I sync to get my oxygen level.

 

 

[FunGuyInLA]

As of today it is not fixed 3.8.25

[andrewbrobinson]

Hi all.  I’ve been following this thread as I’ve had the same issues.  I’ve done all the things recommended here and elsewhere to no avail.

I chatted with them a couple days ago and they said they are aware of the issue and are working on it.  Keep watching for app updates and keep it up to date.  IOW, they said there is nothing we can do to fix it ourselves other than ensuring we update the app when updates are available.

[Fd-156]

4.38 their newest version is out.But no avail.There is still a problem with losing your steps!!

[MWJ]

I'm having similar problem.  My sense watch show about 3000 steps higher than I anticipated.  Then sit for an hour & I have 3000 fewer steps.  Ssomething is draining the phone battery now. 

I see lots of people with same problem but NO fix!  How do you fix this.?

[MB555]

Yes my steps keep doubling then going back to accurate. Obviously I know it's not my Fitbit sense so definitely a bug in the works. Does go back to accurate but slightly annoying. When getting the "yay you've met your goal" then of course realise...em that's not right 😀

[Carolyn-b]

Although annoyed I am glad to see I am not the only person with this issue.  I woke up this morning and it said I had over 7,000 steps.   I am really trying to improve my exercise and this is most annoying.  I've had it not even count steps over the past 3 weeks. I suspected it and did a check and yep.  20 min on an eliptical and nothing... really fitbit.    I hate to say it but I will probably be moving to another platform.. This has been going on too long now.