How To Fake Fitbit Steps

Why bother to conquer the 10,000 steps challenge on Fitbit when there’s a way to fake the achievement?

The saddening truth is that in any competition there’ll be at least a few contestants who would try to cheat. And believe it or not, Fitbit challenges and targets are no different. A quick Google search and you’ll find various explainer videos that feature the latest and greatest Fitbit hacks.

The following paragraphs will present you with some of the most creative ways to beat your friends on Fitbit. Though, you should know that these hacks are no secret. Your peers might call a bluff and ask you to own up to the 100,000 steps in a real race.

How Does Fitbit Work?

Fitbit is outfitted with several sensors that track your motion. There is an altimeter that picks up on every 10 ft you climb or descend. And according to the company, you cannot fake altitude with exercise equipment like inclined treadmill, for example.

On top of altimeter, there is also a 3-axis accelerometer and a GPS to track the distance you cover. Based on the hack you use, you might be able to cheat both of these sensors. But the accelerometer is the one that’s of your interest since it counts the steps.

This sensor picks up all movement and translates it into digital measurements. Fitbit then analyzes the data about duration, intensity, pattern, and frequency to calculate the steps taken, as well as calories burned.

In theory, the app’s algorithm should be advanced enough to recognize fake steps and prevent you from cheating. However, the reality seems to be different, at least according to what some users report.

Coolest Hacks to Fake Fitbit Steps

Good Old Arm Swing

Quite a few new Fitbit users try this out just to check how the device works. And if you want to fake the steps, swinging your arm while seated is probably the best and safest method.

On the upside, you should be able to get a steady pace of 100 steps per minute without even lifting your foot. The algorithm is not likely to sniff you out and the same should apply to your friends. But keeping up with the arm swing is easier said than done, especially over a longer period of time.

The bottom line is that you might add a couple thousand steps every week if you don’t mind the oddity of swinging one arm.

Rock, Rock, Rock Your Chair

Recline comfortably in your rocking chair, Fitbit on your wrist, and start rocking vigorously. While you’re at it, rotating your wrist might help. And don’t forget the occasional arm swing.

This method should yield the same results as the previous one, or about 100 steps per minute, maybe even a bit more. Rocking in your chair with a wrist rotation and an arm swing every now and again might be even more tiring than arm swings alone. So, it’s not something you can sustain for long.

Then again, your peers and the app shouldn’t see through your cheat.

Ride a Harley or a Lawnmower

A Twitter user reports that riding her Harley adds thousands of steps to Fitbit.

There are also claims that the same happens if you ride a lawnmower. Honestly, the lawnmower cheat is much less glamorous than riding a Harley, but the principle is the same.

It’s safe to assume that Fitbit picks up vibrations and motion that transfer to the device through your wrist. If you get a chance to test this one out, feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.

Give Fitbit to Your Child

Children are always out and about. They keep running, climbing things, taking gym classes, so you’ll surely ramp up the steps count if you give the device to your child. Of course, Fitbit is completely safe for children and he or she might even appreciate the chance to sport an adult’s wearable.

If you think parents don’t really give Fitbit to their children, there are tweets to prove you wrong.

Ingenious Ways to Fake Fitbit Steps

Certain users go to extreme lengths to get more steps on Fitbit. We don’t recommend trying any of the following methods since you might damage the device and the algorithm is bound to recognize something is off. Nevertheless, here’s the list just for the fun of it:

1. Strap Fitbit to a fan and run it at medium speed.
2. Attach the device to your dog’s collar.
3. Strap Fitbit to a power drill and keep pulling the trigger for some time.
4. Attach the device to your mixer and do some whisking.

Fake It Till You Make It

Cheating your way into enviable Fitbit scores defies the purpose of the device in the first place. That being said, you should be able to get away with a few hundred extra steps every week as long as you keep up with the exercise routine.