Fitbit Not counting Steps

Are you a Fitbit user who is always having issues with your step count on your device not accurately reflecting the steps you've taken each day? You are not the first, nor will you be the last Fitbit lover to experience this issue. It can be extremely frustrating, as for most of us the step counter function is the bread and butter function of our Fitness watch and we want to feel this is being recorded as accurately as possible. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the most possible explanations as to why your wrist-based tracker may not be counting all of your steps correctly, and all of the quick fixes for how to resolve the different issues as quickly as possible.

Why keeping track of your daily steps on your Fitbit app can be so beneficial for your health? 

The Fitbit logo and brand is something we all associate with tracking steps accurately, keeping track of your daily steps on a fitness watch like Fitbit can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to your health and fitness goals. First of all, by tracking the number of steps you do every day, you can give yourself a goal to aim for each day and look to increase your activity levels over the weeks and months. 

There is an old saying that goes, “If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” Keeping track of your daily steps on a Fitbit device is an easy and effective way to measure your activity levels and ensure that you’re getting the activity levels you need to stay healthy and fit throughout the year.

If you track the number of steps you take over extended periods of time, this will give you important insights into how high your activity levels are you’re doing on a daily basis and helping to keep you remain motivated throughout your fitness journey. Tracking your daily steps accurately each day will also help to hold you accountable and keep you on track throughout the weeks and months ahead. Second to this, tracking your steps can help you to identify patterns in your daily activity levels throughout the week that you may not have noticed without keeping track. For example, you may discover that you’re more active during certain times of the day or when participating in particular activities, and being able to pinpoint these patterns will help to ensure that your body is consistently getting the movement levels that it needs. 

Why is my Fitbit device not counting my steps?

Have you ever had that frustrating occurrence when it seems like your Fitbit watch is not Fitbit not counting steps correctly? This can be really annoying because your device doesn’t seem to be logging all of the hard-earned steps you have put in throughout the day. Do not despair just yet though; Fitstraps are here to help you! There are a few things that can be easily fixed before you consider buying yourself a new device. So, we’ve covered all the main issues that we hear about below and have tried to explain the quick fixes as best we can, so let's get right to it and make sure your device performs accurately and tracks your steps accurately again.

How getting the placement of your watch strap wrong can cause your Fitbit fitness tracker to stop counting steps correctly 

As we all know Fitbit devices are a superb way to remain motivated when it comes to activity levels, and a lack of accurate data (or just not being fully confident in the data) can be really demotivating. First things first, let’s make sure your wrist settings are correct and you are wearing your Fitbit Strap correctly on your wrist and have the right Fitbit placement. Firstly, make sure it is on the same side of your body as your dominant hand for the best tracking results and that it is situated as close to your wrist bone as is comfortable for you. If it is not properly positioned on the user’s wrist, the device will not be able to accurately count steps. It turns out that the gap created between the wrist and the strap when wearing a watch with the strap incorrectly situated can cause your Fitbit device to misread your arm movements, this can result in your fitness tracking device providing you with an inaccurate step count, as it is unable to detect small movements from your arm. If you make sure your Fitbit Band is correctly fitted as we have described above, use a Fitstrap that fits your wrist correctly to make sure your Fitbit calculates accurately. Not only will this always ensure an accurate step count is displayed on your device, but it will also reduce the risk of skin irritation around your wrist caused by an incorrectly fitted watch strap. Making sure your watch strap is fitted correctly is the first essential step when it comes to making sure your device is tracking your steps correctly. 

How issues with your GPS can cause your Fitbit model to track steps incorrectly?

Another common issue we regularly hear about is Fitbit users' GPS settings unknowingly hampering their step tracking efforts. A really simple issue with your GPS settings could actually have a really devastating effect when it comes to the accuracy of your Fitbit Correctly tracking steps. With the advances in the functions of some of the newest versions of the Fitbit devices adding GPS functions which are a superb feature if you are serious about your running and need to track your times, however, ensuring these settings are not interfering with your step count during the day is something you might want to look at. Firstly is important to understand how your device is connecting with the Global Positioning System (GPS). The accuracy of the GPS signal being sent from satellites up above us, down to your device can affect its performance. If your Fitbit app is not accurately tracking your steps, we would recommend adjusting your GPS settings on your device or fully reconfiguring them to see if this will fix your issue. Most Fitbit models have a ‘GPS accuracy’ setting that allows you to change how close your device needs to be in order to track your movements accurately. In addition to this, it may also be a good idea to check if there are any nearby devices that may be interfering with your GPS signal and turn them off or move them away from your Fitbit. Once you have done this, it is important to make sure that your GPS settings are fully up to date. Most models will ping you an alert via the Fitbit app when updates are available, if not you can manually check for them within your device’s menu. Ensuring that your device is using the newest version of its operating system is really important when it comes to ensuring that your Fitbit is accurately tracking your steps. So, if you are having issues with your Fitbit Counting steps it is important to check the GPS settings on your device and on the Fitbit app to see if this will alleviate the issue. Making sure that the signal being sent from satellites to your device is accurate, and that any nearby devices aren’t interfering with the signal can help to improve your Fitbit Fitness tracker performance when it comes to monitoring steps and tracking accurately.

How to your Fitbit having a syncing issue can cause your device to track steps incorrectly? 

Problems with users devices not syncing correctly can be a regular cause when it comes to issues with step tracking not working as it should. When this occurs, it may prevent your Fitbit Correctly counting your steps throughout the day. This can become really frustrating, as let’s face it, the step tracking is one of primary functions of any Fitbit watch. First, let's take a look at what causes these syncing problems on your device in the first place. Usually, it is because of one of two things: either the data connection between your device and its Fitbit app is unreliable, or the data it is sending to the app is incorrect, either way this can lead to inaccurate step data being collected by your device. To fix any Fitbit syncing problem between the Fitbit app and your tracker, you should run a quick check and make sure that your data connection is a stable one by checking that your Bluetooth is turned on, on both device and the Fitbit app via the device's home screen. If that doesn't fix your issue, you may to reset your Fitbit or update its firmware more on this below. 

How updating your firmware on your Fitbit can fix your issue of your device not tracking your steps. 

Is your Fitbit not counting steps? As we mentioned above, updating the firmware on your device may be all your Fitbit device needs in order to get your Fitbit tracking your steps correctly again. The good news though is that updating the firmware on your Fitbit is a very straightforward process. For those of us who are not familiar with the term, firmware is a type of software that helps your device function properly. Updating the firmware on your Fitbit will not only help with tracking steps, but it can also resolve other issues such as improving battery life and accuracy of other functions of your device. If you are looking to update your Fitbit devices firmware, you'll firstly need to connect it up to your computer using the usb charger and then open up your Fitbit app. Once you've entered the Fitbit app, find the "Firmware Update" option, click on it and follow the instructions to fully complete your update. Now you have updated your firmware, your Fitbit should be back tracking steps again like normal. However, if you are still having issues with tracking your step tracking functions, we would recommend as with any Fitbit products and services contacting Fitbit's customer support team to see if they have a Fitbit moderator who is able to troubleshoot the issue further. Updating the firmware on your Fitbit device can be a really quick fix your Fitbit when you have been having issues with it tracking steps correctly. 

Updating your Fitbit profile with missing information can make your device more accurate when it comes to tracking steps. 

This is one of the most common issues when it comes to your Fitness tracker not counting steps correctly, not only for new Fitbit users but also for those who have been using their Fitbit device for many years. When you first get your shiny new Fitbit out of the box you just want to get going and count steps with your new tool to help you on your fitness journey, with all the excitement it’s easy to overlook simple things like adding in your height or weight from your profile. Many Fitbit users are unaware that missing information from their Fitbit profile can stop their devices from tracking their steps properly! Height and weight stats are extremely important statistics that will influence the accuracy of each individual's step count due to each individual's stride length, as well as the device’s ability to keep track of your activity levels throughout the day. When you first set up your Fitbit profile on your new device, your Fitbit will ask for basic information such as your age, gender, height, and weight, this is the data that your device will use to determine your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which is used to calculate how many calories you burn while walking, without this information, your device won’t be able to accurately track and measure your steps.

For example, if you don’t update your height in the Fitbit app, it won’t take into account your stride length, which is a really important factor when it comes to your trusty watch collecting its data resulting in an inaccurate step count. It’s also important to make sure that you enter your body weight accurately into the app, as this affects how many calories are burned while walking, read more on Fitbit watches and calorie counting in this blog post here. If your profile has not been updated with all the correct stride length information needed, this can lead to your device producing a skewed reading of steps taken and calories burned. This simple check can make a huge difference when it comes to understanding and monitoring your activity level and making sure you get the most out of your Fitbit in terms of step tracking. So make sure you don’t forget to update any missing info from your profile and keep your Fitbit as best as it can! 

It certainly can become extremely frustrating when your Fitbit stops counting your steps correctly. However, as we have covered above there are a few simple fixes that you can try to get your Fitbit tracking again without too much bother at all. Tracking your daily steps is a great way to stay on top of your health goals and reach your fitness targets, so don’t allow your best piece of wrist tech to become inaccurate. With a few simple troubleshooting solutions, you'll be able to start walking and tracking accurately again in no time at all! If you liked this article and found it helpful, be sure to share the article via the buttons below.