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.

[Vasco32]

I agree. My experience is that the GPS facility is good publicity but rubbish in practice.
It’s unreliable. And doesn’t use GPS distance but steps. Which makes it pointless.

[Kenfused]

Over the past few weeks my Fitbit watch including the GPS works fine.  The sync is still working also.  The # steps, the miles, the active minutes, heart rate, and exercise days all sync just fine to the app. What is gone is the map of the run, and the 1 mile split times.   I can see the run activity, but not any of the splits or the map of the run.  I have checked and upgraded the Iphone to 17.7 version. Updated the fitbit app on my iphone 15 too. I have looked back at history and days in past where maps used to exist, are no longer there. 

All help appreciated. 

[mwit]

End of august my Fitbit was still syncing my GPS-tracked runs fine and uploaded to Strava automatically. After that the runs still sync to the fitbit app but without GPS track and also nothing synced to Strava.
Is this related to recent changes made by Google requiring new permissions?
To reply to most found suggestions: I am using a Surge watch. My phone is up to date with Android 14. App was updated to 4.27 recently. Watch restarted and phone rebooted before my last run. Still not working.
there are no error messages, run activity just shows up but without GPS track. Please help. 

[umbrellaman]

The GPS problem continues. I have to uninstall the app, restart my phone and my Versa 4, and then reinstall the app on my iPhone 15.  The GPS and run tracking is then restored for maybe a week. Then it all starts again. The app won’t track my runs, and the maps are straight lines if they show up at all.  

[RiekoC]

Hello @mwit 

I'm not familiar with the Surge watch. As far as I know, that's not a Fitbit device.

[JuanFitbit]

Hi everybody ! Thank you for your reports and keeping us updated. 

@RiekoC , The Surge is one of our oldest model. Personally, my favorite Fitbit. 

To everybody else:  I moved your post here, as our team is still working on this. I merged the messages so that you all receive the info at the same time. 

[RiekoC]

Thanks @JuanFitbit for letting me know that the Surge was an older Fitbit device. Now I learned something new. 😁

[abernt]

My issue is similar but details are a little different.  I have noticed that FTIBIT is overestimating the distance run by about 10% (with corresponding overestimate of the pace)  When I zoom into the maps it shows on the APP I can see that it is because it has by path wiggling back and forth around the path I am actually taking.  Sometimes going out into the street and sometimes going off the sidewalk into yards.

It is also no longer showing time for each 1 mile lap.  Instead when it shows laps it shows the whole run as one lap.

When I set the FITBIT to use the internal GPS then the distance is accurate, but the no maps are displayed.

When I set the FITBIT to use either Hybrid of Phone GPS it does make the maps, but with the wiggles and the over statement of the distance traveled.

[mwit]

Hi Juan,

Thank you for your message. I am a bit confused that my message was moved to this iOS topic since I am an Android user. Also fact that the topic is marked as “Anwered” does not mean it is resolved, correct? At the time that answer was posted I was not experiencing issues yet. 
Now, when I look back in the Fitbit app it seems that even for older GPS-tracked runs (e.g. August 29) my data is disappearing where it did appear last week. Thank God this info is stored in my Strava account. I do hope that the Fitbit team can resolve this issue and I can use my good old Surge for its main purpose again. I do wish you good luck with this challenge. Thank you.

regards, Maarten, 

[JuanFitbit]

@RiekoC Thank you for your message. Yeah we learn something new every day! Glad that I could help. 


@abernt Thank you for letting me know about your issue. This is the thread dedicated to the missing maps, wrong GPS tracking or GPS not recording anything. 

@mwit Thank you for your message. You are right, the mark as best answer, doesn't mean, that the issue has been solved. This is so, for cases when users visit this thread, they are directed to the post, that informs them that our team is working on this. I merged your post here, so that you receive the updates that are posted at the same time as everyone else that is experiencing this.