Level 1

88 points

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

Top-ranking reply

Pillow1337

Level 1

4 points

Posted on May 8, 2021 11:43 PM

It also seemed to me, as if turning wifi off on the phone and watch helped. My theory is that the phone doesnt use GPS on an active workout and thus falls back to locating me via nearby wifi SSIDs. This would also explain the extreme rubberbanding of the position indicated in Apple or Google Maps on the phone while a workout is running on the Watch. But some time ago I was pretty sure that I turned Wifi off and still got really low quality of location tracking on a workout....

I think there is something wrong with the phones location API that doesnt want to go into "full power" GPS tracking during a Watch workout so the watch just receives garbage location data...

The only real 100% working workaround is turning on Airplane Mode on the Watch before workouts so it has to use its internal GPS. This has always lead to perfect tracking for me.

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1,375 replies

s20055

Level 1

12 points

Sep 13, 2021 1:27 PM in response to Bossworld

Wouldn’t be any need to follow this procedure if the GPS functionality was used in analyzing the data:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204516

MBirdCZ

Level 1

4 points

Sep 19, 2020 10:41 AM in response to Hageltjes

iPhone Xs updated to v14, S4 Watch updated to watchOS 7.

Did a Outdoor cycle open goal workout today and after getting back I noticed exactly the same issue :(

As a matter of fact, I went on the ride with my father and his S3 watch (also updated to WatchOS 7 just this morning) experience the same issue.

Only start point being recorded on map, rest of the metrics (like heart rate, speeds and distances seem OK though).

Hageltjes Author

Level 1

88 points

Sep 19, 2020 11:25 PM in response to ManuTesson

I tried unpairing/re-pairing, but no change. I even went as far as setting up the watch from scratch, after deleting all previous watch references (and hence losing years of history/achievements), and now the watch is not even syncing new data :(

Sep 20, 2020 4:40 AM in response to Hageltjes

Same problem here, Apple Watch Series 6 (watchOS 7), iPhone 11 Pro (iOS 14).

I can confirm resetting the fitness calibration data from the Watch app (aka outdoor walk workout for 20+ minutes) does not resolve this problem.

And it’s ironic: Outdoor walk does not show up in the Fitness app, but is taken into account on my rings progress.

Also the same issues as a lot of you: outdoor cycling only shows start GPS location, but no route in Fitness app. And a 40+ km. cycling workout does not show up at all.

Finally: unpairing my previous Apple Watch 2 nor unpairing and pairing my new Apple Watch series 6 did the trick: still no correct workout data or GPS routes in the Fitness app.

mtbhill

Level 1

8 points

Sep 20, 2020 5:21 PM in response to Hageltjes

I am experiencing this problem. In addition, my 4th Outdoor Walk activity was never synced to the Activity app on my phone. And since iOS14 update on the iPhone, the Health app is not including Watch steps/distance in the overall daily total. I removed the Watch and re-synced, to no effect.

Sep 20, 2020 8:07 PM in response to barthq

I also use HealthFit, but currently, after moving to iOS14/WatchOS7, it can't read the old workouts (shows an error).

So unless you have done the backups already, you are out of luck. BTW I often get low heart rate notifications from my watch, they are also not being loaded into the Health App. So it seems there is something borked with loading into the Health database (which Fitness/HealthFit etc read).

rberman

Level 1

17 points

Sep 21, 2020 1:27 AM in response to Hageltjes

Same issue. Using iPhone XR and Series 3 Apple Watch. Tried checking all location services on as they should be. Then tried un-pairing and re-pairing my phone with my watch. Has made no difference. Guess we’ll need to wait for a further upgrade from Apple.

Sep 21, 2020 1:54 AM in response to Hageltjes

I’ve got an exact same issue!

I did a 25k cycle with my watch 4 and it did not sync to my iPhone at all when I got home. All rings were fully and successfully synchronised but the workout is completely omitted.

I then did a 3k cycle again to see if it’d work. After completing my workout, it synced with my iPhone but only the starting position. Both times I’ve not carried my iPhone with me.

Really really annoying considering a key feature of the activity / fitness app is not functioning properly! 😡

TobiasV

Level 1

4 points

Sep 21, 2020 2:12 AM in response to viereins

Same Issue - Gen 3 Apple Watch with watchOS7 - and iPhone 11 Pro with iOS 14

Went running and had the same image on my map - the workout distance was captured but the actual GPS map wasn't used. It also seemd to be out compared to normal.

Hopefully a Fix will be out soon. I have a virtual race on Thursday.

Sep 21, 2020 5:24 AM in response to Hageltjes

Exactly the same has happened to mine. I went a walk Saturday and it worked. Ran Sunday and today but not picked up my route. Been trying everything. From reading the comments it seems like its a bug!

Hope its sorted soon!

Sep 21, 2020 6:42 AM in response to Hageltjes

If only I found this thread Saturday I first found runs had problems, both gps and then entirely missing. Initially thought Healthfit and Strava had problems before seeing that Workout Activities and Health had problem earlier in the syncing. No more hours wasted problem-solving, will wait on Apple, but at least no not alone now!

Sep 21, 2020 6:51 AM in response to Hageltjes

Incidentally, Strava Apple watch 4 App sends correct GPS route and map data through to Strava on iPhone 11 max. What a shame it doesn’t show ‘’current pace’ when running activity, only Average Pace and Split Pace.

Sep 21, 2020 7:00 AM in response to Hageltjes

Same issue here, iPhone 11 iOS 14 and Watch 4 OS7. Working perfectly fine until made the update, my history is unaffected just workouts since the update showing no mapped info just starting point whilst using only the watch.

Sep 21, 2020 12:07 PM in response to Hageltjes

Exact same issue for me. Went out for a run this morning, no gps route recorded. It did Mark my starting point correctly.

It’s worked seamlessly before today. All privacy and location permissions are set correctly.

iPhone XR on iOS 14 beta.

adamll2

Level 1

4 points

Sep 22, 2020 4:03 AM in response to Hageltjes

I am having same issue.

first couple days after update all worked well and was recording workouts and GPS
then yesterday morning 21st it only recorder cycling workout without GPS data (km cycled, calories, time all recorded ok)
yesterday afternoon 21st walk workout not even synced to Fitness app
today morning 22nd cycling workout not even synced to Fitness app but I could see calories burned on Fitness app

Anyone having same issues when workouts are not even synced to Fitness app? Really frustrating not having my progress recorded!

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Activity GPS issues after watchOS 7 and iOS 14 updates