my apple watch distance is way off

For what it's worth, I'm having the same problem. I just went for a run (known distance) with the Watch running the workout app, and the iPhone also running RunKeeper. RunKeeper data/map are correct, but the workout app dropped around .4 miles.

Results seem to be highly variable. I did a know distance run this morning with just the wathc (no phone), and it was pretty much spot on.

That would have been based on calibrating my stride on previous outings. Makes me wonder whether the iffiness is in the way the wathc interprest GPS data

Its not just you, I'm having the same issue. My 3-mile run route has always been consistent using just my phone and either mapmyrun or the Nike+ app. With the Fitness app on the watch, it comes out short every time (around 2.75 miles). I always run with my iPhone 6 and watch together. Has to be a software issue.

Here's my situation. I run on the treadmill so I'm not utilizing the phone's gps to calculate distance. I just got the watch and ran with it yesterday. I have a very good treadmill for running. I have it set at 2% incline and ran 6 mph for a total of 6 miles. i burned over 900 cals. However, the watch told me I ran 8.87 miles and only burned about 550 cals. The watch indicated my correct target heart rate so that was fine. I have my height, weight, and age set correctly but there's no setting to adjust pace distance (stride). At least I can't find it. So, the watch' ability to calculate distance minus relying on the phone's GPS is somewhat limited I fell. I also have no clue how it calculated 550 cals especially since it said I ran 8.87 miles. Lol knowing that I can burn well over 900 running 6 miles at 6 mph, the watch needs some fine tuning.

I Did leave feedback with Apple. So any Apple techs that tell me to leave feedback, I already did. Considering no one will reply to those feedbacks, how about explaining my situation here. Granted I don't need the watch to run on a treadmill. That's not why I purchased the watch in the first place. But, for a $400 watch, I would expect a tad bit more from Apple. And, what if I decide to use the watch for a run outside and not lug my phone around. How can I account for the dramatic distance inconsistency? I never carry my phone when I run outside. So, I pose that question to you guys. Did anyone think this through? A $400 watch which depends on your phone to give you correct info regarding your run. And... Apple is promoting the watch for training. How many of us runners carry our phones when running marathons?

but there's no setting to adjust pace distance (stride). At least I can't find it. So, the watch' ability to calculate distance minus relying on the phone's GPS is somewhat limited I fell

It isn't relying on GPS when you are on your treadmill, only when you do outdoor exercise. There is no setting for the length of your stride because it calculates it from outdoor runs when it counts your steps and clocks your distance via GPS. You'll find it works much better indoors if you calibrate it outdoors first.

The calories burned are active calories based on the information you give the watch, does your treadmill give you an active or a total reading and does it allow you to enter your height, weight etc.

I had the same issue on 2 different watches (1 Apple Watch Sport, 1 Apple Watch) using 2 different iPhones (5s and 6).

What I saw after several tests is, that if I carry my iPhone with me and the iPhone sits in a waist belt (usually in a horizontal position) either in front or in the back of your body, the Workout app would come out around 20% short with the Outdoor Runing profile.

However, if I carry the iPhone in my Hand or in an arm pocket on the same arm as the watch (in vertical position), the distance would be measured correctly and very precise.

Can anyone try and confirm this? Where do you carry your iPhone during your workouts and is it carried horizontally or vertically?

Maybe we can further narrow this down if others can reproduce this as well.

Calibration did not help with this at all. The distance is also spot on while cycling or walking. Just when running with the iPhone carried around the waist in horizontal position the Workout app seems to be way off on distance.

Also reported this to Apple Feedback.

This is my exact problem Phiolin. I run with my iPhone in a SpiBelt around my waist, so the phone is horizontally positioned. My workouts come in well short of actual. Continued calibration by running with the iPhone 6+ has not helped.

Seeing the same issue. I run a trail by me that's 5.45 miles per Nike+ running app consistently for years. Ran today with Apple Watch 42mm SS BSB and iPhone 6 in pocket using Apple's fitness app, and the same trail came out at 5.31 miles. Haven't tried without my phone yet. Doubt it's lack of GPS signal since thats what Nike+ running app has always used (from in my pocket). Guessing Apple needs to find the root cause and fix in a future software update.

I'm having the same problem. I went for a run the other day on a route I'm very familiar with. It's exactly a 3 mile route but when I ran it with my Apple Watch paired with my iPhone on my running belt it says I only rain 2.5 miles. I re-verified the route distance in Google maps and other running apps on my iPhone get the distance right. It's surprising that the watch/workout app could be that inaccurate when supposedly drawing on the iPhone for GPS data.

same issueapple watch activity distance wrong vs runkeeper & garmin

apple support is connecting me to engineering so will keep you updated - i did calibration with phone in hand but have been running with phone in waist belt since then and with or without phone the watch distances are significantly off...

I usually run with my phone in my waist pack and have had the distances on the Apple Watch off by more than 10-20% compared to Runkeeper. Yesterday I ran with the phone in an armband, and the Apple Watch was still off compared to Runkeeper (but only by around 5%). There's no good reason why the Apple Watch shouldn't end up with the same distance as any other app that uses the phone's GPS, so this is obviously something they need to fix.

Then I really can't say why this is happening to you. I don't run but walks are accurate for me, I also cycle which tend to be much longer distances and I don't see any inaccuracies, The distances are to the same 0.1 out of say 52 mile.

This is definitely a bug with Outdoor Runs while carrying your iPhone with you. There is no issue with walking or cycling, just running. Apparently, if you don't have your iPhone with you the distance is accurate once calibrated, however.

I've experienced this issue with my two runs since I got the Watch. The distance in RunKeeper is accurate and matches the map drawn out by hand, but Workout drops farther and farther behind the longer you run. This obviously throws off pace, but also active calories.

Well, Watch OS 1.0.1 has been released, which claims to have improved run/walk distance and pace calculations. Let's hope this takes care of our issue!

For me personally, walking was spot on, although 1) I don't walk as far as I run, and 2) I carry my iPhone in my pocket (vertically) when I walk vs. in a belt pouch (horizontally) when I run, which is something people have theorized caused issues.