Apple Watch Ultra 2: How do you delete the many waypoints created?

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Level 1

17 points

Apple Watch Ultra 2: How do you delete the many waypoints created?

Dear Apple Community,

In trying to learn to backtrack with waypoints, I've created many and would like to delete them. However, going to compass mode, clicking on "i" and scrolling down to the waypoints and clicking on them, somehow, there is no way to swipe left or right to delete them. So, my Ultra 2 watch is alway on backtrack-compass and I can never get out of it to see the main Ultra 2 home screen. I have to press the crown to see it and then the main home Ultra 2 screen comes up. After a few seconds, the main screen reverts back to the waypoint-backtrack-compass screen. I wish there was an escape button, exit button or delete button but nothing. Hitting pause on the compass stops the tracking but there are still a gazillion waypoints that it gets confused by.

Somehow this seems like such a dumb question to be asking and I must be missing or doing something really stupid.

Any help at all would sincerely appreciated.

Thank you!

Carson "really stupid"

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Oct 7, 2023 3:20 PM

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Answer 1

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carsonfromca Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 15, 2023 7:19 PM in response to TammyW_03

Hi Tammy,

Thank you for the kindness of a reply. I followed the descriptions and still nothing worked, unfortunately.

A little background and a solution that actually worked for my issue of the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Owned an Ultra 1 when it first came out and absolutely, loved it. When the Ultra 2 came out, I traded my Ultra 1 for an Ultra 2.
I received the Ultra 2 on 3 Oct’23 and immediately updated/paired it with the Ultra 1.
The Ultra 2 worked/works wonderfully and unexpectedly in all modes except for waypoints and backtrack.e.g. nothing got marked and there was no red tracking lines/paths displayed in the center of the compass. However, my side button was setup to set waypoints and many were set but they could never be erased or deleted.
Sparing everyone the absolute frustration watching waypoint/backtrack/compass youtube videos, articles, forums, etc. still nothing. Ten (10) days since receiving the Ultra 2, I contacted Apple’s live telephone help and spoke to two different Apple helpers on two different days trying many things and still NO success. Diagnostics, paring/unpairing, rebooting, etc.
Day 12 I finally decided to go to an Apple store to see if I could get some help by letting a technician see exactly what was going on. After much diagnostics and playing with the watch on site, I showed then that pressing a waypoint never gets acknowledged when pressing the green checkmark icon in the upper right hand corner of the waypoint selection screen. After, more tests and even having another technician come out from the back room, they said there is a known problem and hopefully it is the one plaguing my Ultra 2.
NOTE: The issues were not on the Ultra2. I have the new iPhone 15 Pro Max. And, the Apple technician did the following. Go into settings and “Reset Location & Privacy.”

Settings => General => Transfer or Reset iPhone => Reset => Reset Location & Privacy.

7 After a moment, I went to try waypoints/backtrack on my Ultra 2 and voila! It worked like it should! You could add and delete old waypoints. Somehow the Location & Privacy of the iPhone and Ultra 2 were in conflict? A 12-day ordeal finally comes to an end. Wish we knew what the root cause was though.

At least waypoints/backtrack, adding and deleting them are all working now.

Thanks Apple Community and Apple service technicians!

Carson

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Answer 2

TammyW_03

Community Specialist

Oct 9, 2023 8:39 AM in response to carsonfromca

Hey carsonfromca,

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. If you're using the Backtrack feature, here's how to delete those steps, specifically Step 5: Use Backtrack to retrace your steps on Apple Watch Ultra - Apple Support

Retrace your steps

You can use Backtrack in the Compass app to track your route and then help you retrace your steps in case you get lost.

Note: Backtrack is for use in remote settings—away from familiar places like your home or workplace—and outside densely populated areas without Wi-Fi. Backtrack does not account for external conditions, such as changes in elevation or objects in the environment.

1. Open the Compass app on your Apple Watch Ultra.

2. Tap , then tap Start to begin recording your route.

3. To retrace your steps, tap , then tap Retrace Steps.

4. The location where you first tapped appears on the compass.

5. Follow the path back to return to where you first turned on Backtrack.

6. When you’re finished, tap , then tap Delete Steps.

We also thought you'd find these guides helpful too:

Use the Compass app on Apple Watch Ultra - Apple Support check the section "Browse waypoints"

View and add compass waypoints on Apple Watch Ultra - Apple Support

We hope this helps.

Take care!

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Apple Watch Ultra 2: How do you delete the many waypoints created?

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