Issue with GPS Tracking on Fitbit iOS App

[user456w]

I wanted to bring up an issue I've been experiencing with the Fitbit iOS app recently, and I'm hoping someone here might have some insight or solutions.

It seems that the app is not marking all GPS points accurately during my activities, and at times, it's even skipping waypoints altogether (drawing lines over none pathways etc). This has made it impossible for me to trace and record my data accurately, which is incredibly frustrating as I rely on this information to track my progress and performance. mi pretty stable in my routes so I know what the data output should be.

I'm not sure if this is a widespread issue or if it's just affecting a few users like myself, but if anyone else has encountered similar problems or has any suggestions on how to fix it, I would greatly appreciate your input.

I've tried restarting my phone and reinstalling the app, disable/enable the location permission but unfortunately, the issue persists. If there are any troubleshooting steps I haven't tried yet, please let me know.

[tomscot2]

I'm having the same problems with my IOS Fitbit app. I start tracking my walks from the app, not the Charge 5. My trip today:

Google Maps Timeline track, which perfect: Fitbit app track, about the distance.
Google Maps Track on iphoneFitbit app track

[KAustad]

That’s it exactly. Plus what used to track as 2 miles now tracks as less than a mile. 

[Runrepeatrepeat]

Heeeeelooooooo @JuanFitbitand colleagues. Please give us a sign that you are listening to your customers. Or at let us know hot to return your product if you cannot fix the service essential to it.

[stuhuck]

Today’s walk tracked correctly!

[tomscot2]

MIne is working today after going to App Store and updating the app to verion 4.16 which was added 4d ago.

[tomscot2]

Update 4.16 posted 4 days ago fixes the problem.

[stuhuck]

Sleep tracking is working!

[KAustad]

The update didn’t totally fix mine. GPS is still wonky. 

[mhouse]

Same here, still only getting a couple random points along the route and totally inaccurate distance. 

[JuanFitbit]

Hi everybody! Thank you for those who confirmed that the issue got solved for them and those who mentioned that are still having issues. 

Please to keep the Community in order and avoid confusing other users, I'd like to ask you to keep on the subject of this thread. (GPS issues with the iOS app) . 
For other issues (eg. Sleep, food log, etc) please use the corresponding thread or open a new one. 

[Runrepeatrepeat]

Well, @JuanFitbit it sometimes works with my phone’s GPS but I did not buy a GPS enabled band to rely no my phone. As you know, the Charge 6 has a real problem connecting and keeping the GPS signal when the watch is strapped to the arm. Which is another feature annoying us runners who need to keep an accurate HR which requires snug fit. 

[GeorgeScott]

Started walk from watch today post-update.  Mileage was roughly correct, and GPS roughly tracked the route (rather than sharp lines between few points), but wobbled off route by as much as 100 feet.  My starting point showed on the map about 3/10ths of a mile from my actual starting point (and behind someone's house, not from a road).  Endpoint was roughly accurate. 

[tomscot2]

My iPhone has the same variation for all GPS apps.

[Lopaolo]

and I'm not flying 😉App updated (4.16) on April 30th.

I walked on May 4th, but the GPS didn't track my walk.

Mine is an iPhone 13 PRO, IOS 17.4.1.

When will the app track my walks efficiently?

[RBennie]

I am still having issues. The tracking has at least started working again. It hadn’t been working for me at all. The problem is that it is very inaccurate. I tracked my walk yesterday on FitBit and on another App. Fitbit showed my distance as 2.11 miles and pace of 46’06/miles. My other App showed distance of 3.10 miles and pace of 22’05. That’s a huge difference and not at all acceptable.
Sent from my iPhone

[pmcraig67]

I did not know there was an update
Sent from my iPhone

[Welshwood]

Is this still a problem? (Today is 9th May 2024).

My partner’s Fitbit tracking has exactly the same problem, whilst mine was fine on today’s shared walk. I am wondering if this is something to do with different devices? Here’s some details:

Her set up (giving obvious tracking mistakes):

iPhone 11 Pro (iOS 17.4.1)

Fitbit app 4.16 (41637… (number goes off screen!)

Fitbit Luxe Version 20001.194.91

Mine (where tracking looks to be accurate):

iPhone 11 Pro Max (iOS 17.4.1)

Fitbit app 4.16 (41637035)

Fitbit Inspire 2 Version 20001.124.84

[KAustad]

I’m still having the same problem. I have a Fitbit Versa 4 and a 14 iPhone. Hoping they get their act together real soon. The 4.16 update didn’t fix a thing for me. 

[ColtsFanDay]

You have to keep the app open and visible all of the time.  It will not track in background.  It has to be the app on screen or gps doesn’t work.

[Welshwood]

Yep - both iPhones had the app open the whole time. Mine tracked very accurately - you could see every twist and turn of the journey. My partners was obviously not tracking as regularly, with straight lines drawn on the map through fields we didn’t walk through, obviously only picking up occasional gps positions. Under Privacy & Security > Location Services is On, and Fitbit is set to “While Using” on mine (the accurate one) and “Always” on hers (the one showing errors). I would have thought “Always” was better than my “While Using”,  so I doubt that is the problem 🤔