Why Your Fitbit Is Not Counting Steps and How to Fix It

Your Fitbit uses a 3-axis accelerometer, a set of algorithms, and a well-defined formula to count how many steps you take on a walking exercise. However, the device may miscalculate your steps at times or fail to track them altogether.

In this post, I share the possible reasons why your Fitbit is not counting your steps, as well as the best possible fixes to get the device back on track.

Why is My Fitbit Not Counting Steps?

Your Fitbit is not counting steps because you’ve not worn it correctly, the app doesn’t have your placement settings, Fitbit OS is not up to date, the built-in GPS is active, or important information is missing on your Fitbit profile.

In some cases, your Fitbit fails to account for total steps taken because of a sync problem caused by a system glitch.

How Do I Fix a Fitbit that Won’t Track My Steps Accurately?

Not being able to count steps accurately is one of the most common Fitbit problems I’ve had to deal with more than once. It’s also one of the easiest problems to fix. To fix this issue:

1. Wear your Fitbit correctly.
2. Disable onboard GPS.
3. Sync your device to Fitbit app.
4. Update the Fitbit OS.
5. Restart your Fitbit.
6. Update your Fitbit profile.

By following these troubleshooting suggestions, you’re able to get your Fitbit smartwatch or fitness tracker to resume accurate step tracking.

1. Wear Your Fitbit Correctly

Built into a Fitbit is a 3-axis accelerometer that measures static and dynamic motion. This sensor has to be as close to the wrist as possible for the tracker or watch to detect movement and log accurate steps.

So wear your Fitbit the right way. Tighten the bands securely around your wrist so the device’s sensors sit tight on your wrist. Change your Fitbit bands if the current ones have worn out, and ensure your adjustment fits to a snug.

Change your settings from “on wrist” to “on clip” if the device is in a clip. Adjust the wrist settings in the app to non-dominant to increase step count sensitivity and get your device to track steps accurately. 

Lastly, remove loose accessories such as pedants from the wrist on which you have the Fitbit smartwatch or tracker. 

2. Disable Onboard GPS

The built-in GPS is a good feature if you use Fitbit for cycling, but you have to turn it off if you’re only interest in counting your steps.

For a Fitbit smartwatch:

• Swipe left on your device’s home screen.
• Choose an exercise.
• Scroll up until you see GPS.
• Toggle to turn off.

If you have a Fitbit fitness tracker, open the Fitbit app, choose your tracker, check GPS Settings or Connected GPS, and tap the option to turn off the GPS.

3. Sync Your Device to the Fitbit App

The purpose of syncing a Fitbit device is to ensure you get access to real-time data. That’s why it’s important to enable “all-day sync” for accurate step tracking.

Alternatively, you can sync your fitness tracker or smartwatch manually to see the up to date steps data in your Fitbit account.

• Open Fitbit app
• Tap your profile.
• Choose your device.
• Tap Sync Now.

4. Update Fitbit OS

If your Fitbit has been tracking steps accurately but then stopped all of a sudden, it’s likely the firmware is not up to date.

• Open the Fitbit app on your smartphone.
• Tap the account icon. 
• Select your device.
• Tap the update button to update your Fitbit device.

5. Restart Your Fitbit

Fitbit glitches aren’t that common, but they can be inconveniencing if they occur. In the case where you get inaccurate step counts because your device jammed or froze, the best fix is to restart your Fitbit and try again.

For the latest Fitbit models such as Sense, Versa 3, Charge 3, and Luxe, press and hold down the button until the Fitbit logo appears on the screen. Release the button and allow the device to restart. 

If you’re rocking an older Fitbit version such as Alta, Blaze, or Inspire:

• Connect the device to a charger.
• Press and hold down the button until you see the Fitbit logo on the screen.
• Remove the device from the charger.
• Allow the Fitbit to restart

6. Update Your Fitbit Profile

Fitbit requires your stride length, height, and gender to calculate the distance you cover during an exercise. It gets this distance by multiplying your stride length by the total steps taken.

So update your Fitbit profile to include stride length to increase the chances of the device counting your steps and doing so accurately. 

7. Add Your Steps Manually

You can add steps to Fitbit by logging the data manually in the Fitbit app. You have to make a precise educated guess about how long you walked as well as the possible number of steps you took.

The steps you log manually may not be 100% accurate. However, having estimated steps appearing in your profile is better than no steps at all.

How Does Fitbit Track Steps?

Fitbit uses a 3-axis accelerometer combined with a fine-tuned step-counting algorithm to track your steps. The accelerometer detects motion direction based on the change in gravity and converts body movements into digital units.

Fitbit then uses these digital units to give you the actual number of steps you take and the distance covered.

Are Fitbits Accurate for Step Tracking?

Fitbit steps are accurate mostly for normal-paced walking provided your non-dominant hand moves freely. You don’t get credit for step count when pushing a shopping cart or a stroller with both hands. Additionally, Fitbit tends to overestimate the steps you take if you log in bumpy pathways.

Keep in mind that your Fitbit is subject to lying about your steps if GPS is active, the placement is wrong, Fitbit OS is outdated, or the device freezes and jams.

Updating Fitbit OS and recalibrating stride length can enhance the accuracy of the steps you take. But wearing your Fitbit properly on the non-dominant wrist is the first step to getting the device to work correctly.