The official statement of elevation gain per “floor” counted is “about 10 feet”. Yesterday I hiked an elevation gain of 741 feet (no ups and downs, all uphill, elevations taken from USGS topo map). My iPhone 13 pro Health app shows 17 floors. This equates to over 43 feet elevation per “floor”. I have had similar results previously with the model. Any ideas why?
iPhone 13 Pro, iOS 15
Greetings gevan1952,
When looking at your iPhone in the Health app, where you see that a flight of stairs is counted as approximately 10 feet (3 meters) of elevation gain, does it also show that to be approximately 16 steps? The way this information displays may differ per device, which is why we ask. Additionally though, since we’re talking elevation gain and different terrain, could your steps/strides have been more/less than what they would have been on different terrain? For example, rocks and roots versus a switchback that was gravel?
Do you use any other input source such as an Apple Watch to track your hike?
Lastly, you mentioned noticing this with your iPhone previously. Was this on the same hike a different hike or is there a hike you take where the floors seem accurate and if so, what differences are there? Can we test on actual flights of stairs? Let’s work to isolate this.
Thanks.
Greetings gevan1952,
When looking at your iPhone in the Health app, where you see that a flight of stairs is counted as approximately 10 feet (3 meters) of elevation gain, does it also show that to be approximately 16 steps? The way this information displays may differ per device, which is why we ask. Additionally though, since we’re talking elevation gain and different terrain, could your steps/strides have been more/less than what they would have been on different terrain? For example, rocks and roots versus a switchback that was gravel?
Do you use any other input source such as an Apple Watch to track your hike?
Lastly, you mentioned noticing this with your iPhone previously. Was this on the same hike a different hike or is there a hike you take where the floors seem accurate and if so, what differences are there? Can we test on actual flights of stairs? Let’s work to isolate this.
Thanks.
Hi gevan1952,
Does the elevation change recorded in the Activity app for this hike match what you expect based on the other measurements used? To investigate this behavior further, please use Get Support to connect with Apple Support.
Regards.
I’m not sure how step count plays in. My understanding is that the barometer reading is used for elevation. Whether step count by the accelerometer plays into it is unknown by me. I do know that riding chair lifts or elevators, where no steps are recorded, also does NOT add to floors count (which is logical).
I think every hike Iv’e been on since I've had this model is similarly off. I have many hikes with my prior iPhone 11 pro, and it was consistently 13 ft elevation gain per “floor” reported. Not 10 but closer.
My hiking companion still has an 11 and her floor count on the same hikes is much larger than mine - meaning far less heght per floor assumed.
so what I wonder is if all iPhone 13 pros are ridiculously off, or just mine…
BTW, on the last hike I used the compass app to record elevation, and against topo maps it is quite close, leading me to believe the barometer elevation reading is close, so not the reason for the crazy floor count.
Floor count is not really working well: I am in a wheelchair and I definitely don't walk stairs (I Have a powered wheelchair and I do walk some steps inside of the house so wheelchair setting is turned off in health) But health sometimes says: you have walked so many floors and I am like no? I haven't climed stairs in years
Duh…no. Read the OP. That is the reason for the question…
Floors count on IPhone 13 pro
