Step counter doesn't count when I mow my lawn?

The accelerometer has to sense a movement similar to walking in order to register as walking. If you're holding on to the handle of the mower, then that would not happen consistently.

3244021 said:

Do I have to swing my arm while I mow for steps to be counted?

Yes, you do. Or keep the watch in the pocket, as you found out yourself too. Or attach it to the ankle instead, when your arm(s) cannot move. No steps can be sensed on the mower handlebar. 

I have the opposite problem – when I just stand and swing my arm it is counted as a step, even as multiple steps for a single swing motion.

Is it expected?

Same solution as above - keep the watch in your pocket, or on the ankle, if the arm moves too much (or does not move enough). Steps are detected by the motion (more precisely by the accelerometer), so as long as the arm (better told the watch) moves, yes it is expected.

The official advice is, "Carry the watch in your pocket when pushing a stroller or lawn mower."

Erm... and then how is it going to measure my pulse? Pretty disappointed with that!

I've just bought an Instinct 2 Solar and even my old Amazfit correctly counted steps when I was mowing the lawn!

Someone here said the 'newer' models don't have this issue, but I'm here to tell you, the Instinct 2 does!

Surely Garmin can do something about this? Even if it's an option related to movement/being active/elevated HR? The Instinct 2 did notice I was 'active' (body battery was decreasing) but it didn't figure out I was walking behind a mower. Come on, folks! 

Rob_in said:

even my old Amazfit correctly counted steps when I was mowing the lawn!

If it really did, then either it is just a random generator of steps, or it counted the vibrations or bumps of the lawn mower. Neither of it is correct.

If the watch is reposed on a support that moves continually, it simply cannot detect any steps. It does not have any sensor on your feet (unless you use a foot pod), and it has no eyes to see what you actually do.

If you want the steps counted while mowing, then you have several options:

• hold the handlebar of the mower with a single hand, and keep the one wearing the watch freely swinging
• tap the handle bar in the rhythm of your steps (with the hand wearing the watch)
• wear the watch on your ankle (it measures your HR there too)
• carry the watch in the pocket, and a chest belt HRM if you need the HR data for that time
• use a pedometer such the Garmin Vivokí (some HRM belts, and foot pods may work too)
• use a scythe instead of the grass mower
• do not mow the grass, buy a sheep

So when Garmin advertises that it's wrist based devices count steps, what they really mean is they count how many times one's arm swings back and forth?

In fact, yes - that's exactly what it does! I've just remained completely motionless apart from swinging my arm and it registered a load of steps. Absolutely useless!

Don't tell me - the Vivoki & foot pods measure how many times a leg swings and does not actually detect impacts against the ground either? You'd be able to run miles just by sitting on a stool swinging your legs?

The difference between Garmin and I is: I don't claim to know how to count steps with a wrist based device.

They do. Under conditions. specified on their website, and in the user manual.