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Apple Watch GPS not accurate

Apple Watch Series 4 GPS.

I go to a track. The watch shows I reach one lap which is one quarter mile which is 0.25 before I go one lap. Every lap it shows I go a lap way before I do. It just gets worse each lap. So if I go 2 miles it says I’ve gone over 2.5 miles. The track is open and GPS signal is not the issue.


Factory reset does nothing. I’ve had the Series 2 or 3 and now Series 4 and it had the same problem. Any Watch OS version too. I’ve had several different iPhones. All same issue with the watch.



Apple Watch Series 4, watchOS 5

Posted on Jul 30, 2020 8:18 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 2, 2020 11:31 AM

Greetings, Daniel!


It appears you've been struggling with tracking your running activity on the Apple Watch Activity app. We'll do our best to assist.


Based on what you've mentioned, this happens on multiple software versions, paired iPhones, and Apple Watch models. Get the most accurate measurements using your Apple Watch will help to check the fit and calibrate the watch.


Do you use the following steps to start a run: Run with your Apple Watch


If it continues, test out another run using a third-party app, like the Nike app; to isolate this further.


We hope this helps!

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8 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 2, 2020 11:31 AM in response to Daniel Moilanen

Greetings, Daniel!


It appears you've been struggling with tracking your running activity on the Apple Watch Activity app. We'll do our best to assist.


Based on what you've mentioned, this happens on multiple software versions, paired iPhones, and Apple Watch models. Get the most accurate measurements using your Apple Watch will help to check the fit and calibrate the watch.


Do you use the following steps to start a run: Run with your Apple Watch


If it continues, test out another run using a third-party app, like the Nike app; to isolate this further.


We hope this helps!

Aug 17, 2020 1:36 PM in response to Daniel Moilanen

Hi Daniel,


It sounds like these suggestions haven't resolved your issues with tracking your workouts on the Apple Watch. Allow us to provide some additional help.


You mentioned that this has happened across multiple devices and resetting or restoring hasn't helped. Have you tried to unpair and erase the Apple Watch as new? Meaning, did you always use the backup after restoring? If so, we'd suggest to unpair and erase the Apple Watch to set up as new to test it out: Unpair and erase your Apple Watch


If you have been restoring a backup, this issue could be within that backup data being transferred from one device to another. Hopefully testing this out gives you more information on how to proceed.


Take care!

Aug 24, 2020 9:24 PM in response to Daniel Moilanen

Here's my Note 10 Plus. Its got the same problem as the Apple Watch. Notice the checkerd flag bottom left. Thats where I started and ended. Now look at the numbers 1 and 2. Keep in mind this is a track. So the watch and Note 10 plus says I've gone 1 mile at the 1 which is father then 1 mile. It gets worse ever y lap and says I've gone 2 miles at the 2. Thats way farther.

Aug 17, 2020 11:28 AM in response to Daniel Moilanen

It doesn’t matter. Nothing is accurate. NRC said I went 1.72 miles instead of my real 2 miles. Same thing for the workout app run or walk. None have ever been accurate on any Apple Watch I’ve had. And I go to a track so I know the watch gps is inaccurate.


Each lap gets worse. I’ll go one lap. The watch don’t say that. It says less. It eventually says .25. When I’ve gone lap 2 it won’t say it. Where it said .25 on the previous lap it doesn’t now. I have to go father then it says .50. Third lap same thing. Eventually The watch says I’ve gone a lap when I’ve gone past the lap and halfway on the next lap already. So it’s worse every lap.

Aug 20, 2020 4:12 PM in response to Teddy_B

i already know. I knew from the beginning. It’s the watches. They suck for gps. Any one I’ve ever had has same issue. And it’s not related to any phone I’ve had. Apple needs to do better. And I’m not going to pay them to tell me they can’t fix it. I know they can’t. It’s a lost cause. I wouldn’t pay them for support. I have no money. Specially when it’s their fault.

Apple Watch GPS not accurate

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