Apple Watch Ultra Elevation Way Off - I believe this is a software issue with the Watch Compass app

Same for me - I'm in Durango CO, and it constantly shows about 12500 when I'm actually at 7500, but a hot shower will reset it temporarily.

Update: Went out on a walk at lunch and my watch suggested I log an outdoor walk. Sure, watch, I'll do it. I'm back at my desk and sure enough, altitude shows 7134 feet. Interestingly enough, I had been in Mexico City within the last few days - the altitude there was right around the altitude level being displayed by my AW Ultra. Unlike the OP, my AW is not displaying any issues with the compass after the activity application was activated.

Curious.

So last night when I got home I unpaired my AWU and repaired it. No Altitude info at all then. Just great. It took about 30 min and then it just showed up. Can anyone Explain?

Today, I did not take a shower with my AWU (as I did yesterday AM when it stopped working) and drove from my house (8,660) to work (Estes Park 7600) as I did yesterday. I kept my eye on the Altitude reading. I have to get over the Mountian to get to Estes Park which brings me up to 9,200. Then drops down to 7,600 into Estes in the course of about 3-4 miles.

The AWU worked flawlessly. Matter-a-Fact, the Altimeter in the AWU is consistently taking readings every second. I could not believe how quick the altitude was adjusting on the screen as I was Ascending and Descending. I have not noticed that in any of the Garmin Watches I have.

So here at work the AWU is reading 7,619. We have a major Wind Storm coming in late this afternoon ahead of another Winter Storm. Pressure will be dropping all day. I will keep my eyes on the AWU and pressure and report any issues. Pressure is currenly 1016.63 this morning.

So based on my above post yesterday the AWU took 24 hours for it to Fix it's Altitude. Apple has a real problem here and I'm not sure how they can justify selling a $800+ Adventure Watch that cannot even accurately calculate the current Elevation - especially when it gets wet.

watchOS 9.1 and iOS 16.1.2. Just received the Ultra watch. Haven't had in the shower or water. in Chicago that is about 600 feet above sea level. Watch shows 3,465 feet. been that way since I paired it. restarted the watch to no avail. haven't tried the other tricks.

Well, I'm installing it now. I travel each day from my house up in Boulder County (8,600') to Estes Park where I work (7,600' approx). During this commute, my elevation changes will encounter a range of values from 7,800 up to over 9,200' and then into Estes at 7,600'. I will let you all know tomorrow how it goes and if it's fixed. I will wear the watch in the shower tomorrow, activate water lock 3x to expel any water before I leave.

Well, low and behold - the update may have fixed it. Installed the update last night, shower this morning, 3x water locks after shower. Tracked elevation changes from the house (8,600) all the way up to 9,200 (top of the S Curves on 7) and down into Estes Park. Elevation changes read perfectly. I can't believe it. The current Elevation at the Stanley Hotel (where I work as the IT Director) is sitting at 7,643'. Amazing.

I received an Ultra watch for Xmas hoping Apple really considered athletes this time! No such luck! First, the altitude feature rounds off to closest 1,000 ft! Aggravating when boarding steeps! (10k instead on 10,285!). Second, HR function is off by several beats, wear a strap to double check. Optic? Third, using the exercise function/selection for outside the normal selections as snowboarding is a fool’s errand! PS. Completed three Ironman comps under eleven hours at 50+, surf, lift weights, basically active!

In case you happen to check back in here, is everything still working properly?

My AWU is on 9.2, and it started this morning at -183' and has been steadily going "down"; it's currently at -230'. I'm at home at the beach in Monterey at about 30' & I'm not diving so go figure.

Shane,

Big disappointment! Even the HR after a run (snowboarding) can be off by 40 beats if you access real time reading. Do it twice, it adjusts to more reasonable number. I know my readings to a tee, software is FUBAR! If it is a band issue, issue bands! I don’t think AAPL hires athletes, QA is missing.

Thank-you doctor for the workaround. I tried, the elevation is still rounding off to nearest 1,000’. It does show, on occasion, what I believe is the accurate elevation, very inconsistent if at all. Especially, while on the hill at Beaver Creek or Vail. Apple adopted the habit of curing channel issues with its Genius Bar. Certain the actuarial view is that dragging users into the stores with reservations is less expensive than redesign. It’s is design issue as is the optic HR function.

You do realize that all this babbling just adds to what is a fool’s errand! AAPL is not concerned with accuracy of elevation or HR! My Ultra frequently jumps up to ~165 HR while boarding or runnings or cycling only to correct when I use the HR function button that displays accurate HR of -105! I’ve tried the exercise function, the same type of fluctuations! They can say the band needs to be adjusted; however, the accuracy improves as stated above without adjustment! The reduction is that the watch needs an overhaul and future tests with athletes!

I too am having the same problem. What is also weird is that fact that a hot shower will set the correct elevation, maybe water or barometer?? I'm off by 4 thousand feet. Its been a real bummer !

Submerging in water when I swim also often resets the altimeter for a while it will display correct, but then goes back to 5,000 feet off hours later.

@RazorV, eager to hear how this goes for you. I'll be heading up to the high country for the holidays and doing some backcountry skiing and snowshoeing, so I'm counting on it to work!