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My series 7 Apple Watch does not record distance in open swim mode while I’m swimming in the ocean. It stays at zero. It does however show how many calories I burned. You know how to fix that?
Apple Watch Series 7, watchOS 8
Problem SOLVED!! I spoke with Apple support and they walked me through my settings on my phone ….go to privacy, then location services, then system services, and then motion calibration and distance. Motion and calibration distance was turned off. I turned it on and put my watch on swim mode walked around the room and there it was! It was recording the yards! Thank you all for your help!
Problem SOLVED!! I spoke with Apple support and they walked me through my settings on my phone ….go to privacy, then location services, then system services, and then motion calibration and distance. Motion and calibration distance was turned off. I turned it on and put my watch on swim mode walked around the room and there it was! It was recording the yards! Thank you all for your help!
Greetings Hawaiianoceanturtle,
Based on the following article under section ‘Get better results’ Swim with your Apple Watch
Open Water Swim: GPS will only provide distance when you do a freestyle stroke. Water might prevent a heart-rate measurement, but calories will still be tracked using the built-in accelerometer.
Are you using a freestyle stroke? If so, are you noticing anything similar with GPS while using a work such as an outdoor walk, outdoor run or other outdoor workout that tracks distance? Keep in mind, if you swim without your iPhone nearby, you’ll want to replicate that as well when testing.
Thanks.
Hawaiianoceanturtle,
Is your Apple Watch also all up to date? Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support
Have you had a chance to restart both our Apple Watch and iPhone since you noticed this behavior?
Restart your iPhone - Apple Support
Restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support
If so, you'll want to reach out to Apple Support so they can look into this behavior further: Contact - Official Apple Support
Take care.
Thanks for your support. Calories are tracked. Heart rate is tracking. Yes, I am swimming freestyle. I have cellular on my Apple Watch so my phone shouldn’t be needed. I am including two pics of yesterday’s swim.
I will go read that article now. Thanks!
Hi Lee,
I am not sure what you mean when you ask if I have tried this. Have I tried what?
When I swim in the ocean, my calories register but distance doesn’t. I have submitted pictures of my swim work out display, Thanks for your help!
Hawaiianoceanturtle
Hi Anni,
The GPS works great for outdoor walks, indoor walks too. Thanks for trying to help. The watch is the newest model (7 I think)
Hawaiianoceanturtle
Hawaiianoceanturtle,
Have you been able to try this with swimming yet? When you do, if the issue persists you can reach out for additional support here: Get Support
Take care.
How can I make my Apple Watch show my swimming distance in open water swim? It stays at zero no matter how much I swim
