Have you noticed that your Garmin smartwatch doesn’t track your steps as accurately as you would like? In this blog post, we will explore some of the reasons why this may be the case and offer some tips on how to fix the issue.
One of the most frustrating things that can happen with a fitness tracker is when it stops tracking your steps correctly. There are several possible reasons for this, the most common of which is software malfunction. This can be caused by an incorrect setting on the watch or by a problem with the Garmin Connect app.
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If you suspect that your Garmin is not tracking your steps correctly, there are the reasons why your smartwatch is not tracking your steps.
Table of Contents
Why your Garmin watch is not tracking steps?
1. Doing arm fixed works
If you are doing anything that keeps your arm fixed, can be a reason your step counter is not counting your steps. It is very simple to understand. Your smartwatch counts steps based on the accelerometer and motion. Your smartwatch needs to have a complete swing to count it as a step. If you fix your arm, it may not count the swing. Some daily tasks can be the reasons for not counting steps accurately in a smartwatch.
- Pushing a shopping cart or bag
- Pushing a stroller
- Pushing a lawnmower
- Holding something while walking or running
- Riding on a bike
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2. The activity monitor is turned off
To get the most accurate tracking possible, it is important to make sure that your activity monitor is turned on. The Garmin watch has a feature called activity tracking, which can be turned on or off from the Garmin Connect app.
3. The software is out of date.
Garmin updates its software regularly to ensure the best compatibility and tracking. If your smartwatch uses old software, it can have activity tracking issues. So it is important to check if your software is out of date.
4. Loose fit on the wrist.
It is not very common, but it can impact your steps counter. If you wear your smartwatch loosely, it can be a reason for not counting your steps correctly.
5. Malfunction and pending restart
Sometimes, your watch can malfunction, and the steps counter may not respond. So if your smartwatch is having steps counter issue, don’t forget to check the functionality and pending restart. It also causes steps to counter not to work.
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How to fix the not tracking steps problem in Garmin?
It’s especially annoying when you’ve been walking or running for a while and suddenly realize that your steps aren’t being counted. If this has happened to you, don’t worry, there are some common fixes for the issue. Just follow the steps below and try these. I hope it will solve your step counter issue.
1. Make sure the activity tracking is ON
The first solution for enabling the step counter is turning on your activity tracking. You can turn on your activity tracking by going to the Garmin app and your IOS app. Please note that all of the models may not have the feature. If your smartwatch doesn’t support this, try to next solution.
Turn your activity feature ON by following the steps:
- Open the Garmin Connect app on Android or IOS
- Open the Menu (For IOS, Select More):
- On Android: Select top left, On IOS, Select more
- Tap on Garmin Devices.
- Tap on your Garmin watch.
- Tap on Activity Tracking.
- Toggle Activity Tracking on or off.
- Tap Sync to synchronize your watch.
2. Upgrade to the latest software/firmware
If your steps aren’t being counted even though your activity setting is turned on, it’s likely that you need to upgrade your firmware software to the latest version. This is a possible software malfunction that can be easily solved by upgrading the software on your tracker.
Many fitness trackers have an automatic update feature, so you may just need to check that this is turned on. Once you’ve upgraded the software, you should start seeing accurate step counts again. In the meantime, try to stay positive and keep moving towards your fitness goals!
To update the software manually, follow the steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Start/Stop
- Go to System
- Select Software Update
Additionally, you can update the software using a USB device. Here is the full guide from Garmin to upgrade your software.
https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=3BiZjGHCQS95xhFsfu5QD7
3. Reboot the device
It resolves malfunction and any pending restart issue. It is the last try to fix the issue. To perform a reboot, please follow the steps:
- For a Smartwatch with a button: Press the Power button and hold it until the watch turns off. After turning it off, press the button again to Turn On the smartwatch.
- For a Smartwatch without a button: Plug a USB cable on the smartwatch, then plug the USB cable on an external power source such as a computer USB port or charger, then disconnect from the cable. It means a restart for a non-button Garmin watch.
If none of these solutions work, it’s possible that there is a hardware issue with your watch and you’ll need to take it to a repair shop. However, most smartwatches come with a warranty so be sure to check that before you spend any money on repairs.
Here are some of the related issues to the step counter that you also can check:
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Video solutions for steps counter not working.
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How accurate is the Garmin step counter?
According to the Garmin users, it is fairly accurate if you follow some specified steps according to the watch manual. But if you wear it the whole day and do multitask, such as washing the car, feeding pets, lawn mowing, etc., it will give you more or less results that may not accurate.
Garmin steps are not syncing. What to do?
Mostly the steps are not synchronizing because of the software issue. Update your software, and it will resolve your problem instantly.
To update the software, open the Garmin Connect App, go to settings> Go to About and check the Updates> follow on-screen instructions. Generally, opening the android and IOS app will automatically prompt for the update.
Garmin forerunner 35 not counting steps?
If you find that Garmin forerunner 35 is not counting steps, there are a few possible causes and solutions. First, make sure that your activity monitor is turned on. If it is, try updating the software. If that doesn’t work, restart the device.
Sometimes, all it takes is a simple reboot to get your Forerunner 35 back up and running smoothly. If you’re still having trouble, consult the Garmin website or customer service for further assistance.
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Can I manually add steps to Garmin?
Yes. Garmin allows adding steps from the app. When you cannot record your daily activity because your smartwatch had an issue, you can update the app with a manual activity feature. To update with the manual activity:
- Open Garmin Connect App
- Go the Menu
- Select Activities
- Tap on Create Manual Activity
- Select Steps and enter the value
- Tap on Save.
Can I edit my steps on Garmin?
Once you have your steps data uploaded to your Garmin Connect account, you can edit the steps by the following method:
- Tap on Menu
- Tap on Activities
- Select All Activities
- Select Steps
- Select the three vertical dots.
- Tap on Edit Activity, edit the value
- Click Save or press the back icon.
- You are done!
