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.

[Mem11]

Your thinking is wrong @vee , I have no other health app on my phone and have had this problem for at least a week. It's not user error, Fitbit/Google broke something and they need to fix it.

[vee]

OK thanks for the info. I’ve seen that people have the problem but no one but you ever answers if they have a health app or mobile track going as well. Hope it gets fixed soon and that I don’t encounter it! 

[Scott337]

Hi vee. What do you mean by "health app"?  I would say almost everyone has the Fitbit app on their phone. The Fitbit app on our phones is causing this step count problem right now, that is what we are saying.

[mandiejoy82]

I am having the same issue. My sense watch will show I hit a certain number of steps and then when I look later it will drop 1-2k steps. This happens throughout the day. Very frustrating.

[vzg2vp]

Yes, same issue. Been happening for about a week now. Really annoying as I can't trust the watch display for my step count. I need to go into the app and resync then drill down into the step count icon to the step details to get the correct count.

[mandiejoy82]

I can't figure out how to get my count to correct. Syncing manually isn't
working.

[ArcadeTechGW]

Sad to report that both my wife and I have and continue to have the same issue on both our Senses.

I hit 10,000 steps 3 times yesterday.  And don't get me started on meeting my weekly goal at 12:00 midnight Monday.

[MtP]

you can count steps with just the phone. 
How do I track my steps with Fitbit with my phone? - Fitbit Help Center

so the theory is fitbit suddenly being confused by steps  counted on the phone AND the fitbit device itself.  
Personally i think its been better since i disabled the fitbit read from health, and then reenabled it.  But who knows.  i'm not active every day. 

and where does the ios health app get steps from.  i see it can learn from a 'habit' app i have.  which seems rather circular.  Perhaps its poisoning the data, and i should turn that off. 
and before you android folk start saying "i dont have a health app" you can also learn steps from the phone, see first link.   And you may also have other apps poisoning the fitbit data.   

[vee]

Hi Scott,  right I didn’t mean the Fitbit app I meant do people have Google health or Apple health or something called mobile track so they don’t always need their Fitbits on them? if you click on the picture of your Fitbit a page comes up and shows what’s connected.  mine shows my Fitbit connected and asks “add phone?” 

 

[motoscribble]

At 3:01 PM today and at 3:05 PM today. This goes on every day at various times. This began after the latest firmware update.

At 3:05 today

At 3:01 today

[vee]

I haven’t gotten the latest update so when it appears I won’t load it! what version is that? 

[motoscribble]

From what Google said in their email, if you do not run the update, the update will be pushed to the watch at some point in the next month whether you want it or not.

[Mem11]

@MtP As I noted before I have no 3rd party apps that interact with my watch nor have I enabled the phone to count my steps(didn't do it, as I figured that might screw something up). The only plausible answer for my problem is Fitbit/Google broke something and they need to fix it.

[Scott337]

Everyone, please...the step count issue has nothing to do with the battery update. These are two completely different things. The battery update is for a specific model battery in some specific watches. This step count issue is affecting multiple watch models, different phone models. Let's not confuse these two different things, please.

[BlazeRich]

The step count on my fitbit is also incorrect throughout the day.  In both directions.  it has jumped 2,000 steps in a matter of seconds.  On the flip side, I was watching my step count on my phone as I walked in place.  I actually saw the step count go backwards about 800 steps more than once.  The "good" news.  It seems to even itself out at the end of the day.  I check my step count the next morning and it's actually pretty much where it should have been for the previous day.  My step counts have been pretty consistent from day to day.  I know that doesn't fix the problem, but it's some consolation.

[Suzbaus]

 interesting, I have asked if this is the proposed fix for the issue we are all suffering through! I'll let you know the response

[ShellyBroSch]

This has happened to me on an almost daily basis!! So frustrating. Any answers?

[Lamia80]

I have the same Problem wirth Versa 3 since the last update because of the batteryproblem🤷‍:female_sign:.

[Scott337]

The battery update and the step count issue are two completely different things. It is only a coincidence that the step count problem appeared a few weeks after the battery update was rolled out to a select group of watches.

[Koda]

I couldn't agree more and I feel the same way about Apple. Note; I've had Fitbits since 2014. My first was the Force (recalled for allergic reactions) then the Charge, Ch HR, Ch 2, 3, 4, 5, Versa 2, and now the Sense. That being said I do use the Apple AirPods Pro. You know the ones they say won't work with anything but an iPhone. They work beautifully with my Samsung Note 20 Ultra 5G. I have a sneaking suspicion that if you want to cough up the bucks, their are other superior Apple devices that will also work. Just hate the cost and wedding bells that go off when I think about buying anything from Apple.

Having used Fitbit and tracked extensive data for 11 yrs there are 2 things that have kept me with them.

1) The extensive amount of data that would be lost (they don't allow you to export everything and you need extensive tech knowledge to do anything with the format its downloaded in.) I've yet to find a conversion app that is accurate and uses all the data I have. Lastly if you use a 3rd party app you're giving all your health data to another company with privacy policies that blow me away! 

2) Every other tracker/watch that I've looked at has their own world of problems and lack of support, including Apple Watches, Garmin, Samsung etc. 🤦‍:female_sign: