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Activity GPS issues after watchOS 7 and iOS 14 updates

This morning I upgraded my iPhone XS Max to iOS 14 and my S4 Watch to watchOS 7. I then went for a run, using the Outdoor Run activity on my Watch as usual, holding my iPhone while I ran (as I was listening to a podcast with AirPods). When I finished, everything was recorded as normal, and I could sync the activity to Strava.


Later, I went for a walk. I used the Outdoor Walk activity on my Watch, but this time didn't take my iPhone. When I returned, and attempted to upload the activity to Strava, I received a warning that no GPS/route data was present. I checked the Fitness and Health apps, and sure enough, there was no route on the map - only the starting point.


I spoke to someone at Apple Support and they suggested I turned off/back on a couple of related privacy settings. I have since tried another Outdoor Walk activity, without the phone present, and the problem persists - no GPS/route data.


My wife also tried the same this evening, after upgrading her iPhone X and S4 Watch too. She had the same results - i.e. with just the Watch, no GPS/route information was saved with the activity.


This seems like a bug to me. Has anyone else experienced the same issue, or has any suggestions as to how to fix it?



[Re-Titled by Moderator]


Apple Watch Series 4, watchOS 7

Posted on Sep 17, 2020 1:24 PM

Reply
1,375 replies

Jan 7, 2021 10:32 AM in response to travelz7541

Since updated to 14.3 everything is OK, I lost 2 weeks workouts after the 14 update.

I started using MapMyWalk which has much more workout data and backing up using RunGap app which gives me even more information so I'm sticking with that setup.

I've lost faith in Apple.

Will not be updating to 15 until at least 15.5 by which time they'll have hopefully sorted out the bugs.

Not going on the update merry go around wit 15 or ever. How they can release such buggy software is beyond me. Wouldn't have happened under Steve Jobs.

Apple uses their ALL us users now as beta testers I've learned my lesson

Feb 6, 2021 1:08 PM in response to Community User

I used to have problems with synchronisation a couple of months ago. During that period I used strava directly from my Apple Watch 4. Then suddenly all worked fine again after a next update had been done which was good news after all. Now last night a new update has been installed automatically and my run this morning did not appear on HealthFit which normally syncs with other fitness apps on my phone. So the problem is back unfortunately. Very sad and frustrating when you ask me. Hope it will be solved soon again!

Feb 9, 2021 5:52 AM in response to KittyVD

On my iPhone 12 Pro with iOS 14.4 the Fitness app doesn't open anymore since the last update (I'm not sure whether it could be something with the Apple Watch 6 most recent update too?), but on the Apple Watch the App seems to continue working except I don't get updates from my Activity Challenge with a friend.

I have unpaired and paired again the Watch, but didn't help.

Feb 11, 2021 3:40 AM in response to Hageltjes

On 11th of Feb this is still an issue. And a pretty big one at that.


Both my wife's and my son's AW3 with WatchOS 7.3 are tracking workouts incorrectly (or are not tracking at all).

It's not very helpful to have half of workout tracked and the other half not.

One AW3 is paired with iPhone X, other with iPhone SE 2016.


My AW6 (paired with iPhone 12 Pro) seem not to be affected so far.


It seems there are more and more errors affecting AW3 - first the random restarts after upgrading to WOS7, now this...

I hope it gets fixed soon (although seeing this post is from September 2020 does not give me much hope).

Feb 15, 2021 1:37 AM in response to Hageltjes

I'm also having issues with AW4 OS7.3 and 12ProMax iOS 14.4.

The issue I'm seeing is that the normal workout app is working fine and transferring the data to all other apps except the activity app. Have tried resetting the AW and all the other information I found on the internet. Nothing has worked with this. Have even tried to use instead of the apple workout app sportstracker and the same issues are there also. The trainings can be seen on the health app and other apps, even the activity app, but it doesn't update the circles at all.

Hopefully Apple would find a solution to this quickly as it's a pain in the ***..

Feb 25, 2021 9:52 PM in response to MKorja

With the new 14.5 developer version I’m seeing some improvements to this. It’s not as good as before, but some minor improvements I have noticed.. yesterday was walking for roughly 60min and got in the activity app 40min of activity. Though didn’t look right after the walks of it was updated from those or from some other things.

Mar 14, 2021 10:50 AM in response to Rolcsi

This is insane and frustrating...same issue here, Apple 3 watch, using Apple’s fitness tracker... missing first 7km gps data of a 21km run (even though the full 21km records and stats look fine as you are running). Checked all the message boards, updated watch software, unpaired and repaired watch fresh...seemed ok for short runs this week and now it has done it again on a long run. I think I’ll try another app, such as Strava directly on the watch. Otherwise I’m going to Garmin and suggesting the rest of the world does the same because Apple obviously isn’t concerned about this issue with no solution YET!!!

Mar 19, 2021 5:38 AM in response to Gadgetgranny

I use MapMyWalk for my walk and cycle workouts after Apple losing some of my workouts when updating from 13.7 which was perfect to 14.0 which was a total BOS.

I backup my workouts using RunGap which gives me access to lap times etc.

I have Watch 5 and am happy with MapMyWalk and RunGap apps, will never use the Fitness app in case losing workouts again. Also Fitness very limited in workouts data compared to MapMyWalk

Mar 24, 2021 2:03 PM in response to Hageltjes

Are any of you having the problem with Apple Maps, Google Maps, etc. the dot freezing in place when enabling a training session? As soon as I start a workout my GPS dot stops updating and remains in the start location in all the apps with a map, both on my iPhone 12PM and Series 6 GPS.


If I paus or stop the workout the dot catches up and GPS works normally.

I also have the problem with workout map not updating correctly, after a workout the map shows me crossing a lake and other strange stuff.



[Edited by Moderator]

Mar 26, 2021 6:54 AM in response to Hageltjes

Exactly the same problem using Runkeeper as a stand alone app on a cellular Apple Watch recording the starting point of the run but no map tracking, all other run related data is accurate, i.e time, distance, heart rate, interval management etc etc.


Reset the watch went through all the settings usually flagged as potential resolutions such as location & privacy. Mapped by first run post the reset, then failed to map the 2nd run.


Maybe should have bought a Garmin.......


Clearly it doesn't just work.




Apple Watch SE cellular, OS 7.3.2, iPhone XR OS 14.4.1



Apr 11, 2021 2:08 PM in response to Tolinsson

Hi, I too go for a 1 hour + walk in the mornings, I find that the watch or phone don't use much power s so I don't think you need to worry about using too much battery. I always have both fully charged up and then go down by less than 10% ending up with 90%+

Only problem I find is if I go into a shop and pause the workout BEFORE going into the building the GPS keep going and it ends up sometimes adding 1 or 2kms in the workout map. I'm using MapMyWalk after losing lots of workouts in the debacle that was IOS 14 update last year.

For a bit of security I also use RunGap app to back up all my workouts, the app will also back up Fitness workouts as I found out recently when testing out Fitness on a short afternoon walk.

Activity GPS issues after watchOS 7 and iOS 14 updates

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