GPS tracking inaccurate after iOS 26

Standalone iphone, or apple watch workout?

Use a standard Outdoor run workout instead. If that is accurate then the fault lies with the nike app.

If just as inaccurate then uninstall NRC and try again.

If still inaccurate have your device checked.

kwmaero87 wrote:

I’m having a similar issue with my iPhone 15. I also use an Apple Watch while running sometimes. The watch gps seems to work fine, but the phone doesn’t track distance accurately. I can observe it happening on the phone while running. The gps cuts out for periods of time then somehow reconnects.

I tried reloading Nike Run Club on both phone and watch, as well as system updates but to date that has not helped.

This thread is about NRC running on a phone without Watch. Your situation does not help the OP.

It does suggest NRC is at fault but without the OP testing another workout app like Strava it is difficult to diagnose particularly with a closed mind against trying suggestions.

In this way you can determine if "GPS is broken in iOS26" or not. (It isn't by the way)

I agree, but OP doesn't have an Watch.

Apple Watch GPS generally starts immediately, HR needs to wait to give an average over about 5 seconds. If my high HR notification sounds and I ease off it will read higher before it drops.

They claim "GPS broken in iOS 26" using iphone only, and I say, in the absence of an iphone workout app, they need to compare NRC with a similar app to isolate if it is the NRC or the GPS.

Hardware could have had a firmware update. App may not be updated yet to be compatible with firmware update.

elbenoit wrote:

..Appreciate the attempt to assist, but use logic please.

Phone hardware - no

NCR app - no

iOS - yes.

If you want to trade qualifications I have been running for 40 years, with various tracking devices in the later years. And I've been diagnosing on here for 13+ years.

If you come here with a closed mind there is no helping you

So

Phone hardware - possibly

NCR app - possibly

iOS - possibly

Please Try Strava. Is it accurate?

Yes -it's NRC at fault

No -it's probably your phone gps

I agree, it could definitely be an app issue. The developers of Nike Run Club could be using different wait periods for various sensors, radios to receive data etc. No one can say one way or another.

The app seems pretty stable, just two bug fixes release in last month. Good sign developers are conscientious.

Has anyone reported this to Nike Run Club support team? Can’t hurt to cover both angles. 😃

LD150 wrote:

Jeff Donald wrote:

...No one can say one way or another.

...

Nevertheless empirical evidence of another app giving or not giving a better results would go somewhere towards indicating the cause.

In fact, since I unpaired my watch to receive a new battery, I noticed that iPhone fitness app now has its own workout at so that is another alternative for experimentation directly using GPS in iOS 26

Jeff Donald wrote:

...No one can say one way or another.

...

Nevertheless empirical evidence of another app giving or not giving a better results would go somewhere towards indicating the cause.

When was the last time you recalibrated your Watch? iPhones cannot be calibrated for outdoor run workouts. Any kind of calibration would be through the Nike app. Have you talked to the Nike app’s support team?

I’m having a similar issue with my iPhone 15. I also use an Apple Watch while running sometimes. The watch gps seems to work fine, but the phone doesn’t track distance accurately. I can observe it happening on the phone while running. The gps cuts out for periods of time then somehow reconnects.

I tried reloading Nike Run Club on both phone and watch, as well as system updates but to date that has not helped.

elbenoit wrote:

As I said in my initial post, it's an iPhone 14 pro running the latest NRC app and iOS 26.2, not a watch.

I run 3-5 days a week. Zero problem tracking distance and pace until the iOS 26 update.

I know my routes distances, durations and pace. I've been running them for years.

You don't suddenly go from a 8 to 9 min mile on 4 mile run, then update your phone OS and cover the same route and see a 23 min mile and .75 mile run.

iOS 26 is broken, but thanks for trying to help.

Until you try my suggestions in principle it cannot possibly help. If you don't have a watch install Strava instead of NRC, and check accuracy.

You must isolate the phone's gps as a possible cause and that means eliminating NRC.