Low step count on Steel HR

I have much the same problem. Step count is extremely low. Worse, it just doesnt count short movements, i can take 10-20 steps and about half the time the device will register 0 steps. This means it isnt even a useful trend to follow over time. There are lots of good things about the device, but the step counting is terrible.

I’ve owned Fitbit, Garmin, and now the Steel HR Sport. Fitbit way over counts steps and Withings and Garmin tend to undercount them. I do find that Withings (although undercounted) is actually closer to reality than Fitbit. That being said, it really isn’t about absolute accuracy, it’s about noticing a trend over time (as mentioned above) and adjusting how much you move.

When a device doesnt register anything for short movements the trend only applies to other kinds of movement. The time my steel hr registers the most steps is when i tell it i'm cycling. A device that registers 0 steps from walking and lots from cycling isnt remotely close to reality. The numbers and the trend have very little to do with how many steps i take in a day and arent useful for anything. Maybe i have a defective device but i cant over state how disappointed i am with the steel hr sport.

I ended up returning my Withings Steel HR Sport because of the low step count issue (along with the fact that it only comes in 40mm so looked like I was wearing a kid's watch).

We went to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World and I didn't make it to 10,000 steps! With my old Fitbits and Android Wear OS watches, I never got below 15k steps during a day at Disney and was usually closer to 20k steps. I know that Fitbit notoriously overestimate steps, but to not get 10k steps at a theme park is crazy. We even walked all the way to the car when we left instead of using the tram. I think it's because I was pushing a stroller much of the day, but the other fitness trackers are able to count steps while holding things and pushing a stroller, so why not Withings?

It's too bad because I really, really wanted to like the watch. I liked the look and loved the tremendous battery life. If they just made a larger version and fixed the accuracy of the step count, I'd buy another.

I have the same problem.  I want to know how many steps I take during a normal day.  It is not possible with the HR Steel Sport.  While I can understand the trend part of it, I still want to have a closer representation of reality.  It would seem like an easy fix it there was an adjustment to the step counter's sensitivity.

Same story here, Low step count.  I have also noticed the low step count, and I started believing in the response that it is more accurate, so I started doing some testing.

1. I actually started count steps when I walked.  The HR Steel did not count immediately, so I removed the watch not to accumulate any more steps, and see if it would update later like it was described in an earlier response.  Nope, step count was not updated.

2. Did the same routine for several days, and sometimes it updated, sometimes it did not.  Therefore, not very consistent step count even though I tried to be very consistent with the routine.

Okay, so I agree it's all about trending the steps, however when you cannot rely on the data, trending analysis is no longer viable and trusted.

In addition, at work we have weight-loss competitions, and one of them is to get people up and out to walk.  So they had a step count, to get your average steps over a 1 month period.  Well, guess what, I was more than half of the rest of the participants that used Fitbits, or other devices.  No, it wasn't because I wasn't walking, in fact we sometimes walked together and compared steps.  My take-away, you can use the device to trend your steps (which I don;t trust anymore), but don't use it to compare with friends that use Fitbits or other.  You will always look like you are not walking

Now I have owned and wear the HR Steel for 7 weeks.  I WANT TO RETURN IT.  If I don't trust the numbers, cannot relate to others who are trying to improve health and lose weight, then the purpose to motivate health and weight loss by watching progress is ALL LOST.  

I am hoping that WITHINGS reads this comment and helps me either (1) return it for a full refund, or (2) suggests that I have a faulty device and replaces it.

Hi Jacqui

I have the same problem, after testing the watch for a couple of weeks. It actually seems like it decreasing the estimate. 

Is the step count all hardware or is it something that can be fixed by a software update? 

Reading a couple of other support tickets, other users have experienced the problem after an update earlier this year. 

Hope this is something that can be fixed, since I really like the watch, but the main feature of activity tracking has to work, otherwise I might as well just use an analogue watch instead. 

May 2019 had the watch since Feb. I always find my HR Sport isn't as sensitive as other trackers.

Please Withings. Update your algorithm 

The app is showing my steps correctly but the wheel on the watch is not moving. I have had this Withings Steel for a year or more and is has been working great until now.

If, as you say in your post, you have a Steel as opposed to a Steel hr, I would take a guess and say that you need to put in a new battery! If you have had a years life out of it, thats pretty good!

If, as you say in your post, you have a Steel as opposed to a Steel hr, I would take a guess and say that you need to put in a new battery! If you have had a years life out of it, thats pretty good!

Thanks -- I'll admit I didn't think of that. Actually I have changed the battery once. Also the clock hands are turning and keeping good time so I'm not thinking the battery is dead. Any other suggestions? Much appreciated! It is a Steel.

This is Withings comment "Withings watches are designed with accuracy in mind".  The only way I can get close to my actual daily step count is to exaggerate a rapid arm swing periodically during the day to make up for all the missed steps that are not counted.  What a frustrating way to get "Accurate" results.

I always felt the step count was low compared to my previous Fitbit but when I checked the distance traveled in the app I realised its certainly more accurate. Based on this 8000 steps rather than 10000 is a more realistic goal for me.

I have noticed that I’m losing steps. I had 1300 steps after grocery shopping in the morning, now I only have 1000 steps. How does that happen?

As others have mentioned, my Steel HR thinks that when I'm walking and pushing a stroller that I'm cycling, so my steps don't get counted. I'm losing about half my steps every day! This needs to be fixed. I was using a Fitbit and switched, but now I might switch back :(

I have the same issue with registering steps. When pushing a golf trolley it does not register steps. I have walked a full 18 holes (about 10 km) and it will register 4000 steps if I remember to take my arm of the trolley every now and then and swing it while walking.

I am also finding this to be the case.  I came from a Fitbit Blaze I had 2 years.  I have read FB seems to overestimate step count, but by nearly double?  Hardly seems realistic.  I haven't yet tried to really prove an inaccuracy with the Steel HR, but having used the FB for a couple years now, have a decent sense of what I walk in a day.  I can say that I have specifically noticed that some steps do not get counted at all.  I tested this by simply walking across the room several times and noticed ZERO updated to the step count.  Huh?  Of course not all the time, but I did witness this at least this one time in particular.

Further, I am seeing a different step count on the watch versus the App.  Is this because the App is including steps from the Apple Health App?

Re: steps not tracking when walking across a room

ANY activity MUST be performed for a certain amount of time (I believe it is 2minutes) before the activity registers. This is to ensure that random movements such as walking across a room DON'T count as exercise. 

Would imagine the fitbit system doesn't have this failsafe and therefore records every tiny movement as exercise thus resulting in the discrepancy. In my opinion the Withings system is more accurate than fitbit by miles!

I'm averaging only about 1,800 steps per mile which is significantly below average. I think the software needs to be tweeked.

I just bought one of the Steel HR Sports as well.  I have used a Fitbit Blaze, Charge, Apple Gen 2, Huawei and now the Withings Steel HR Sport. First and foremost I love the style and look of the watch.  I love the app as well which is really why i purchased the watch. I was hoping for a full Withings experience.  As far as step tracking goes this watch is not doing a very good job.  I walk 6 miles every morning.  I walk around a lake and have used each of the above decies.  To make it even easier I have personally counted my own steps 3 times now and gave myself an over under +100 - 100 just in case I lost my mind.  Each time however I was within 25 steps of my count on each occasion.  The lake ranged from 5975 - 6000 steps for a full lap.  I walk 3 times around each morning.  The Blaze gave me 5700, the Charge 5800 roughly, Apple Gen 2 5995.  Huawei not worth talking about. The Withings gave me 5200.  I also get up each morning and take approx. 150 steps from my bedroom, getting dressed, to my office, to my coffee pot, to my chair. None of those steps are counted each morning.  My Apple watch counted the steps the closest but I really want to stick to Withings.  However if Withings bases its calories burned for the day on both resting AND exercise, it is missing not only the steps but is WAY off on actual calories burned each day as well.  The apple health app shows I burn around 3200 - 3500 calories a day.  I eat roughly 1800 right now and will begin increasing that as my weigh drops and I lift weights more. That gives me a calorie deficit of 1400 - 1700 calories per day.  Withings tells me I am only at 400 - 600 calories a day.  So some may choose to starve themselves because they feel they are not burning enough calories simply because the steps are off.  PLEASE UPDATE YOUR FIRMWARE OR PATCH THIS!!

Only had the steel hr sport for a day, I've worn it next to my Fitbit and there is a difference of over 4000 step's!!
It's going back to Amazon, sadly not fit for purpose, it's a pity love the look of the watch, battery life and app but that inaccuracy is too much.

Only had the steel hr sport for a day, I've worn it next to my Fitbit and there is a difference of over 4000 step's!!
It's going back to Amazon, sadly not fit for purpose, it's a pity love the look of the watch, battery life and app but that inaccuracy is too much.

I find mines low as well, I can get out of bed, go down 2 flights of stairs, let the dog out into the garden then go back up to the bedroom and do less than 20 steps according to the SHR...

Yes, mine has been returned and refunded, I tried mine against Fitbit charge 2, apple watch, amazfit bip and mi band 3. All of them within 500 steps of each other on a 20000 step day, the Withings was over 4000 steps out!!

Does Withings monitor any of this?  If so, why does it seem this glaring issue is being ignored?

Its probably not top of their list to be fair, they need to engage with the users a bit more, then perhaps have them run the community side of it and then have support from Withings..

Even after the software update it is still tracking 1/2 of my actual steps. Disappointed since the tracker is the main feature I wanted to replace my existing tracker & get back to a watch. The algorithm needs reviewed! Haven’t decided yet if I will keep my steel HR but leaning towards no. Will see how it measures my afternoon walk in comparison to my Apple health app.

I have given up with my watch the step count is totally out and a wast of time, I will not be recommending Withings watches, which is a shame as the scales work well