Versa not tracking the correct distance of my biking activities

[McCourt]

I have recently purchased the Fitbit versa and have noticed that when tracking the distance on my bike it is not recording the distance correctly. Yesterday I travelled 10miles but on the Fitbit app dashboard it said I travelled 1.86 miles. Today I travelled another 10 miles and used the Strava app but on the Fitbit dashboard it again said I travelled 1.71 miles.

If I go into the exercise section of the Fitbit app or if I log into the Strava app the correct distance is recorded but the dashboard on Fitbit is not showing the correct miles. 

Anyone have any advice on how to solve the issue?

Thanks

Moderator Edit: Clarified Subject.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @McCourt, thanks for joining the Fitbit Community, it's great to have you on board. 

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Tell me, is your Versa automatically recording your biking activities or are you starting the activities from the "Exercise" app in the Versa by selecting "Bike" inside of it? When you start tracking the activity from here your Versa will use connected GPS to automatically track your distance.

When you're tracking an activity with GPS, Fitbit calculates your distance using GPS data rather than steps. If you begin moving before you get a GPS signal, the tracker will calculate distance using steps and stride length (We estimate your stride lengths using your height and gender.) until a GPS signal is found, meaning that it's possible that your Versa was not able to connect through GPS with your phone, and as when biking you're not walking, the Versa did not count steps, which influenced on the stride length and as a result the distance recorded was less than it should. 

If your Versa is not connecting to the GPS on your phone, please check the following requirements:

• Bluetooth is enabled on your phone and your watch is connected (paired) to the phone. To confirm, go into your phone's Bluetooth settings and make sure you see Versa on the list of devices.
• (Android only) The Fitbit app is allowed to run in the background on your phone. For more information, see Why is the Fitbit app sending a notification to my Android phone?
• You selected an exercise type from the Exercise menu that uses connected GPS. To check, tap the gear icon on any exercise and check that GPS is listed and set to On.
• Your phone is within about 30 feet of your tracker.
• Your phone can identify your location and can track your location when you're not using Wi-Fi. For more information on which phone settings you may need to adjust, see How do I use exercise apps and modes on my Fitbit device?
• (Android only) If your mobile device is running Android Marshmallow or later, see Why do I receive access requests from the Fitbit app on my Android mobile device?

After verifying all the requirements, try using GPS again by following the instructions in How do I use multisport or exercise mode on my tracker?

If you're still having difficulty, try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Open the Fitbit app to reestablish a connection with your tracker.
2. Reboot your mobile device.

I hope this can be helpful, if there's anything else I can do for you, please feel free to reply. 

[Mtbike]

I have exactly the same issue.  Mileage shows up way less than the real mileage.  Did all of the suggested fixes. No change .  Android system, galaxy 8

[LProspero]

Same thing keeps happening to me too!  I rode 25 miles and only recorded 7.64.  What is weird is it shows the entire ride on the map correctly.  This is second time it has happened to me.  I have looked at my watch during my ride and it shows that its trying to connect but nothing is happening.  Meanwhile Map my ride and Strava accurately recorded entire ride.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @Mtbike, thanks for joining us, it's a pleasure for me to welcome new members in to the Fitbit Community. It's nice to see you too @LProspero, I hope you're doing well. 

I appreciate your participation in the Forums and for letting me know you have already tried the recommendations I've provided earlier. If your Versa keeps "connecting" while you're performing your activity it's possible the distance will be affected. At this moment I would like to ask you to turn off WiFi before starting a GPS activity (when WiFi is turned on, your phone will try to connect to a WiFi network instead of connecting with your watch). Then, make sure your Versa connects with your phone before starting the activity. 

I hope this can be helpful, give it a try and keep me posted!

[Cozzylu]

I was having the same trouble as well but NOW the map from GPS is correct and shows the miles biked but does not show up on the Versa or the Dashboard.  Obviously there is a software glitch here.

[OldRunnerGirl]

I received a Fitbit Versa as a gift because I wanted to log my activity throughout the day. Previously, I relied upon the ap p on my phone which did a fine activity other than I do not carry my phone all day long, so I never knew how many steps I actually took.  

So, the Fitbit Versa looks nice and is lightweight.  I didn't realize at first that I needed to have my phone nearby to enable the GPS on the phone to get the nice map of my run/walk afterward.  Once that was established, I bring it every time.  But most of the time my watch will not connect with my phone even when it is clipped to my running belt.  Or, IF it connects, it loses to the connection somewhere during the activity.  And then it records inaccurate information.  It will say I am going 2 minutes per mile slower than what I actually went.  Or record shorter distance as well as no map.  

I have tried restarting bluetooth before a run.  I have shut down my phone and restarted it.  I am very frustrated and other than being an expensive pedometer and looking nice, I do NOT feel that this watch is what I need.  My phone app is way more accurate...just hit start before a run and stop at the end.  

Should I return the watch?  Is there something wrong with it, or is this what it does?  

[debrichard]

Wish I knew as well😣

[debrichard]

I have synced my fitbit versa 2 with the free Under Armor app, Map My Walk, on my phone. It will record my activity with the app and will record distances etc. I too was hoping to leave my phone at home, but apparently not.