Versa 4 won't track my steps while on the treadmill

[precy]

I have Versa 4, My question is. While walking do my arms have to swing  in order for the step feature to work? When walking on a tread mill, my hands are on the side support and not swinging. I am not sure that my steps are being counted. Thank You Chet

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[JohnnyRow]

If your fitbit hand if held steady on handrail, you probably will not get credited steps, as fitbit will not see any movement.  Like any on-wrist tracker, it cannot actually tell what your legs are doing, but can only infer steps from the regular rhythmic movement of your arms/wrists as in normal arm swing while walking.  But you will still get heart rate readings for calorie burn and active minutes.  If step count is more important to you, you could try putting fitbit in your pocket while on treadmill, but then lose heart rate readings and all measurements that go with that.

The same issue is often seen pushing a shopping cart or baby carriage.

Some people find they can manage just holding one hand rail and let the fitbit arm swing free, but of course balance and safety are more important.

[MarreFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hi there, @precy. Welcome to the Community Forums. Thanks for the details provided in your post. 

As @JohnnyRow has mentioned, please note that your Fitbit device may not detect the number of steps if your arm is not moving. If you walk with a normal arm swing on the Treadmill/Elliptical, it should count the proper number of steps and calories. Take a look at the article: How does my Fitbit device calculate my daily activity? 

If you are using the Treadmill exercise mode on the Versa 4 it will use the Walking Stride Length and not the Running Stride Length for calculating distance from the number of steps. This will cause the distance to be off substantially. So, if you are running on the Treadmill/Elliptical, it is better to use the Run exercise mode, assuming you have correctly set up the stride lengths for Walk and Run. However, keep in mind that it is important that your arms swing freely in order for the Versa 4 to count steps, and not held next to the body.

Hope this helps.