Why does my Fitbit think I’m swimming? (ANSWERED!)
Why does my Fitbit think I’m swimming when I’m not? It’s a common problem that many Fitbit users face. Here are some of the reasons for it.
Fitbit includes an altimeter, which measures the changes in altitude and can detect if the user is swimming. This is why Fitbits sometimes think you are swimming even when you’re not in water. To avoid any false alarms, it is important to make sure that the Fitbit is configured correctly.
As a Fitbit fan, I have faced this issue several times myself as well. However, I want you to know what I didn’t know earlier. Let’s look at the reasons why your Fitbit thinks you are swimming.
Why Does My Fitbit Think I’m Swimming?
A Fitbit includes an altimeter, which measures the changes in altitude and can detect if the user is swimming. This is why Fitbits sometimes think you are swimming even when you actually are not.
This technology is a great help for swimmers looking to track their progress while training. However, it can also sometimes cause some people to experience false alarms on their devices when they jump or run around causing Fitbit to think they are swimming.
To avoid these false alarms and any confusion, it is crucial to ensure that your Fitbit is configured correctly. You can do that by enabling the automatic detection of swimming in your Fitbit’s settings and adjusting the sensitivity so that activities like running are not mistaken for swimming.
How Does My Fitbit Know I’m Swimming?
The Fitbit uses an altimeter to detect when the user swimming. The altimeter works by measuring air pressure changes to calculate altitude. When you jump into a pool, the air pressure goes up. And as you submerge in the water, the aur pressure drops. The Fitbit uses this data to determine that you are swimming.
Does Fitbit Track Swimming Accurately?
The answer to this question is a bit more complex. But, in short, the it’s yes, but not without some caveats. As swimming takes place in water, it is much more difficult for a Fitbit to track your movements than it is on dry land.
The accuracy of the readings varies depending upon several different factors, including the size of the pool and the amount of movement in the water. For example, if you’re swimming in a large pool, the accuracy of the Fitbit might be low as well as when you’re swimming slowly and not making any dramatic movements in the water.
It is also crucial to note that Fitbit does not measure caloric burn while swimming. This is because our bodies use different muscles when we swim than when we run or walk on dry land. As such, there is no direct way for Fitbit to accurately measure caloric burn during this type of exercise.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that some models of Fitbits are better suited for aquatic activities than others. The newer models are designed with water-resistant features and can track your movements in the water more accurately.
How Do I Get My Fitbit Off Swim Mode?
Getting your Fitbit out of swim mode is easy and straightforward. There are two main options, depending on the device you’re using.
If you have a Fitbit Charge 3 or newer, you can do so by opening up the app that came with your tracker and selecting the ‘Device Settings’ option from the list at the bottom of your screen. Once there, you can simply toggle off Swim Mode before pressing ‘save changes’ and exiting the app.
For older models, such as Fitbits Flex 2 and One, you need to select ‘Swim Tracking’ from the main menu, toggle off Swim Mode, and press save changes.
Once you save your changes and exit the app, your Fitbit should be reset and no longer in swim mode. If you notice that it is still in swim mode, do not worry. Sometimes it can take a few extra seconds to update after making the change within the app settings. All you need to do is wait a few moments for it to catch up with what’s going on, and then you’ll be good to go!
How Do I Change My Fitbit To Swimming?
To switch your Fitbit device to Swimming Mode, open the app on your smartphone and select ‘Settings’. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and tap on ‘Exercise Modes’. Tap on ‘Swim’ and then toggle it On. You can now start tracking your swims with your Fitbit device.
Before you start swimming, make sure that you’ve turned the Exercise Tile for swimming mode from Off to On. You can do that by accessing this menu by tapping on the home screen of your device and selecting ‘Exercise’. Once in this menu, select ‘Swim’ and make sure that it is set to On before starting your swim session.
Key Takeaways
- A Fitbit uses an altimeter that can detect if the user is swimming.
- Some people may experience false alarms on their devices whenever they run around.
- To avoid them, adjust the sensitivity for automatic detection of swimming from settings.
- Fitbit tracks swimming accurately, but with some caveats.
- Fitbit does not measure caloric burn while swimming,
- To switch your Fitbit device to Swimming Mode: > Settings > Exercise Modes > Swim.