GPS accuracy with iPhone 11

[shirll]

I have always used the Fitbit app to track my walks.  With my new phone the GPS is measuring incorrectly.  It says I am walking 6 miles when I only walk five.  Anyone else have this problem with the new iPhone?

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity 

[RicardoFitbit]

Hello @shirll, welcome to the Community Forums!

I appreciate the information and details that were shared in your post, thanks for bringing this to my attention. To better assist you with the GPS inconvenience you're currently experiencing, can you please let me know when was the first time you experienced this and if the GPS issue occurs with an specific activity or with all of them? Keep in mind that all devices with GPS sensors require a direct path to GPS satellites to calculate location. A weak GPS signal might affect the accuracy of your route and other activity data. Your device uses your step count to calculate distance until it finds a signal, so the total distance calculated for a workout may be slightly less accurate when GPS isn't available for the entire time. 

Let me know if you have any additional questions, I'll be around. 

[SunsetRunner]

I’ve been saying the same thing for a few weeks now.  Sent screen shots to Fitbit “support” and tweeted them, as well. I was told that’s perfectly normal. They refuse to recognize that they have yet another problem. I’ve been training for two races, one of which was two weeks ago. It’s become nearly impossible to use Fitbit as a training tool. My husband’s Fitbit One’s GPS is also off, way off, just like mine. 

Fitbit doesn’t care about quality control or their once loyal customers.  

[shirll]

With my old phone the GPS was perfect. It's the new iPhone 11 that is so
off it's not even usable.



Shirl

[SunsetRunner]

Shirl, I know exactly what you mean. I have an Apple XS. My GPS has increased my running time by 4-5 minutes a mile... in one day! How can I properly train with such inaccurate information? I have no idea as to my real time or miles run. They should be ashamed that this is their new standard! Remember, I’ve been told they view this as normal for Fitbit, even though for three years, it worked fine.

Here is my post about it. Read it fast before they delete this:
https://community.fitbit.com/t5/iOS-App/GPS-Inaccurate-after-Fitbit-app-update-NOT-SOLVED/m-p/374840...

>>> If you’re planning on purchasing a Fitbit, ask me why I regret it. “If it ‘ain’t broken’, don’t fix it”. If it IS broken, FIX IT! >>>

[shirll]

Ricardo, I got my new phone Thursday night and when I walked Friday morning
it was immediately off in the mileage. I do not remember if it said poor
GPS signal or not. I only walk but this morning I could pick run or hike to
see if it makes a difference.



Shirl

[lugates]

Got my new iPhone 11 yesterday and I am experiencing the same issue. 

[shirll]

I called support yesterday and they said FITBIT hasn't certified the iPhone
11 yet.



Shirl

[shirll]

Until FITBIT certifies the iPhone 11 I will not use the app to track my walk because once it syncs with the FITBIT nothing is accurate.  

[SunsetRunner]

Unfortunately, we might have to wait a long time, if not forever. I’ve given up. It’s been impossible to accurately extrapolate data feedback for my runs. AND they still didn’t restore avg. HR graph while using GPS. During my last race, it became a safety issue. Had I been able to see a graph, I would have known sooner that I was heading into an overheating danger zone. Shame on you Fitbit!

I don’t know what changed a few months ago to cause Fitbit’s overall downgrade but if they don’t turn around their gross incompetence, they will lose more than stock shares.

I’ve told them, I’ve posted screenshots of how off GPS was during my runs, but they still refused to acknowledge the problem was due to their mishandled updates.

[shirll]

I started using the RunKeeper app since the Fitbit app (tracking exercise) is not working correctly with the iPhone 11.  RunKeeper works perfectly.  I will continue to use it until Fitbit certifies the Iphone11.

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks for the info. Looks like I’ll get that app, too.

[chrishemphill]

Same problem -shaved 30-60 seconds off per mile in one day! iPhone 11 all up to date. Have been using this app forever with older phones with no issues. Bummer! 

[shirll]

I WONDER WHEN THEY WILL get around to certifying the iPhone 11?



Shirl

[SunsetRunner]

I have the same issue with my iPhone XR.  My girlfriend and I walk.  She uses Run Keeper which is always accurate.  The Fitbit app is always 0.05 miles less per mile.  By the end of our 4+ mile walk the Fitbit app shows a quarter mile more than Run Keeper every time!  There's really no excuse.  GPS is a known quantity and getting accurate measurements from it down to 3 feet is super basic.  Fitbit is just being lazy about it and doesn't care about their customers which wasn't the way they started.  In my mind Fitbit is the Kmart of fitness trackers.  They once were great and as their decline accelerates so does their attention to quality and customer service.  Too sad. 

[SunsetRunner]

The GPS accuracy on the iPhone app is dismal.  I've read through several threads in this forum with the same issue and they've all been dismissed.

I walk with a friend that uses Run Keeper and that application on the iPhone has flawless GPS accuracy.

With my previous iPhone 6+ the Fitbit app accuracy wasn't too bad.  In a 4 mile walk I was usually just a 0.15 miles ahead of the Run Keeper.  Now with my iPhone XR, I'm consistently 0.25 miles ahead on every 4 mile walk and we do our walks all over the country so it's not a GPS issue in a specific area.

There really isn't any excuse for the bad GPS tracking.  GPS has been around for years and it's not rocket science to do the math and get within a couple of feet accuracy.

After reading all the similar post, I attribute it to Fitbit not wanting to fix it or even address it.  I mean how hard is it for them to turn on their apps and walk a couple of miles and see it for themselves.

[shirll]

Yes it sure is a shame-especially because I was using it for years with my
old phone.



Shirl

[SunsetRunner]

Hello and welcome @SunsetRunner 

I’m sorry to see you’re experiencing issues with your GPS Accuracy. I noticed that you posted this same issue in another thread here: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/iOS-App/GPS-accuracy-with-iPhone-11/m-p/3914499#M124028 I’m moving your post there to avoid cross posting and confusion in the forum.

I would try restarting your Fitbit Tracker to see if that may resolve the issue for you. Here is the proper way to do so: https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1186 In addition this help article may be helpful to you: https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1874/?q=Gps&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1#troubleshooting

😃 I hope restarting your Fitbit Tracker and reviewing the help article provides you with some answers 

[SunsetRunner]

Restarting the tracker did absolutely nothing to improve the iPhone application GPS accuracy.  Please at least investigate the problem and provide a real solution.  Thank you.

[danielcastro]

Hi, definitively facing the same issue with GPS in my iphone 11 pro. The other problem is the maps are not being saved and my pace is not registered as well.