Fitbit Losing Steps? Google’s Arm Swing Rule, Two Settings
A Fitbit losing steps on a walk comes down to one rule Google prints: the arm has to swing for the tracker to count steps, so with a hand on a stroller or a cart Google says the total may be slightly lower than usual. Google’s line: “For your device to count steps during a walk or run, your arm must swing back and forth as you move.”
Google’s fixes are settings, and there are two to check: the wrist setting and your height. The rest of this article is what Google says changes the count.
Why does my Fitbit lose steps when I push a stroller or cart?
Because the wrist is still. Google’s accuracy page answers the arms still question with a lower total, with its own qualifier: “If you’re doing something like pushing a stroller or shopping cart, your wrist-based device will count your steps but the total may be slightly lower than usual.”
Google’s fix for that walk is GPS, which captures route, pace and distance outside, and its calculation page says you can use GPS for distance and calories when you need both hands for the activity.
Which wrist setting stops a Fitbit from losing steps?
The non dominant setting counts more, the dominant setting counts less, and Google’s default is non dominant. Google’s line on the one that counts more: “The non-dominant wrist setting increases the sensitivity of step counting and should reduce any under counting of steps.”
The dominant setting does the reverse, and Google says it should reduce over counting when your body is not moving.
Google’s default and where to change it: “To start, the Wrist setting is set to non-dominant. Change your wrist setting in the Google Health app.” If you moved the tracker to the other arm, Google’s calculation page says to update that setting too.
Does my height change the step count?
Height changes distance, and Google lists it beside the wrist setting as the second thing to confirm when the count looks wrong. Google’s lead in: “If you feel that your step count and distance are inaccurate, confirm the following are correct in the Google Health app:” followed by “Your wrist settings” and “Your height”.
Google uses height to estimate stride length, and it says: “you may want to measure and manually adjust these values if your legs are longer or shorter than average.” Its calculation page gives the formula in plain words: “Your stride length is determined by your height and sex.”
Why do the first steps of a walk not show up?
The first steps of a walk can lag on the screen. Google: “Sometimes, when you start walking, your steps may not update on your device right away. After about 10-15 continuous steps, you’ll notice the steps catch up and start updating in real time with each step you take.”
Does where I wear the Fitbit change the count?
Yes, by a little, in Google’s words. A wrist tracker worn while your body moves and your arms stay still, or the reverse, may show a slightly different count than one clipped to your clothing.
A loose bangle or pendant is the other case Google names, with the same “slightly different step count” against a classic band, and its fit rule: “Make sure the band fits securely but isn’t too tight.” Google also says to confirm the wear setting when a tracker rides in a clip: “WORN on Wrist” or “CLIPPED on Body” on the Inspire 3, and “On Wrist” or “On Clip” on the Inspire and Inspire 2.
How do I fix my stride length on a Fitbit?
Run with GPS, or measure it. Google: “After you track a run with GPS, your stride length updates automatically. For best results, run at a comfortable pace for 10 minutes or more.”
To measure it by hand, Google’s three steps are to go somewhere with a known distance such as a track, count your steps over at least 20 of them, and divide the distance in yards or meters by the step count, converting to inches or centimeters if needed.
To enter it, open the Google Health app, tap your profile picture or initial at the top right, open Google Health settings, then Activity, then Stride Length, and “Adjust your Walking or Running stride length and tap” Save.
Why does my Fitbit add steps I did not take?
Arm movement without walking can add steps, in Google’s words: “When working at a desk, cooking, or performing other activities with arm movements, a device on your wrist may add some steps.” Bumpy bike trails and bumpy roads get the same may add some steps from Google, and its line on scale: “For most customers, the number of extra steps added by arm-based movement isn’t significant when compared to your overall stats.”
To take extra steps back out, Google’s calculation page says: “You can’t delete daily activity data.” Instead you “log a non-step-based activity, such as driving, to override them.”
What Google’s pages do not say
An earlier version of this article blamed a firmware bug, a sync error and a low battery for lost steps, and offered a factory reset. Neither Google page cited below names a bug, firmware, a reset, a sync error, a battery or charging as a cause of lost steps or as a fix; the only hit for sync on either page is one link title in each page’s Related articles list, about medical records on the accuracy page and about workouts on the calculation page.
If the tracker’s steps are not reaching the app at all, that is a sync problem, covered in a Fitbit not syncing in the Google Health app. For the app move itself, see where the Fitbit app went, and for a night that logged with no score, a Google Health sleep score that is missing.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Fitbit not counting my steps accurately?
Google’s two checks are the wrist setting and your height, both in the Google Health app, and its rule for a walk is that the arm has to swing. Google’s calculation page names the sensor: “Fitbit devices use a 3-axis accelerometer to count your steps.”
Should I set my Fitbit to dominant or non dominant wrist?
Google’s default is non dominant, which counts more. Set dominant if the tracker adds steps while you sit, because Google says that setting “should reduce any over counting of steps when your body is not moving.”
Does a Fitbit count steps on a treadmill?
Google’s two pages cited below print no treadmill rule for steps; the one treadmill line is about floors: “Fitbit devices don’t count floors on stationary exercise equipment, such as a StairMaster or treadmill, or when you go down a flight of steps.” A hand on the rails is the arms still case, where Google says the total “may be slightly lower than usual”.
Why does my Fitbit count steps while driving?
Google says it should not on a normal road: the device “shouldn’t add steps when you’re traveling under normal conditions.” On bumpy roads it may add some, and Google’s fix is to log the drive as an activity for that time so the steps come out of the total.
i am doing my steps as normal the fitbit watch is recording the steps but then it is reducing them by 1.5k to 2k to a step count of 4347 – this has happened on two occasions within an hour. how can i fix this to record accurate daily steps.