Does arm movement register as steps in the activity app on the Apple watch?

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Level 1

5 points

Does arm movement register as steps in the activity app on the Apple watch?

Happy New Year to you all

I am the happy owner of a Apple Watch running OS2.1 but I think that the watch registers arm movement as steps in the
fitness app?

Today I have been at my office and not moved more than a few times to get coffee (10 steps) , the activity app
on the watch tells me I have moved 1,659 steps equal to 1.47 KM and I am having
a hard time to see that this can be correct (working from my home office so basically
went form my bedroom to my office (50 steps max)

I have calibrated the watch with the2 x 20 min outside walks with my phone with me and the correct setup to
allow GPS data from my phone, but the issue is the same, does anybody else have the same type of issues?

Look forward to any input thoughts or comments you might have.

Apple Watch 42mm, watchOS 2.1

Posted on Jan 4, 2016 5:26 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,021 points

Jan 4, 2016 9:55 AM in response to aitkendk

Hi

Happy New Year!

In addition to calibrating your watch, it is also important - for more accurate estimations of activity - to ensure that your personal information is correct. To check that this has been entered accurately and to update it over time:

- On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Health > Edit (upper-right).

However, it is possible that the figures you have quoted are correct. Even with a relatively sedentary lifestyle, routine movement around the home and/or workplace can soon add up.

To check the data behind the totals:

- On your iPhone, in the Health app (not the Activity app), go to: Health Dats (tab) > Fitness > Steps.

- The chart shows your steps by day, week or month (use the tabs at the top to change this).

- Tap on Show All Data to see each day's data.

- Tap on a day to see each data point, along with the source of the data (eg iPhone, Apple Watch).

When presenting data in the Dashboard, where data for any particular metric was available from more than one source at the same time, the Health app automatically chooses only one of them, in order to avoid double counting.

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Answer 2

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,021 points

Jan 4, 2016 9:55 AM in response to aitkendk

Further calibration over time will also continue to improve the accuracy of various estimations made by the Activity and Workout apps:

Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

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Answer 3

aitkendk Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 4, 2016 9:23 AM in response to Jonathan UK

First thanks for your fast reply Jonathan.

I am happy to see that I have checked most of the point that you covered in your reply, I can confirm

Correct personal data in the Watch app on my phone
I have done about 10 walks to try to calibrate the watch over the last weeks I said two so we agreed that I had done the minimum.
Have located the raw data on the Health app (can see that there is times where there is double data input form the phone and watch) see attached screen shot

Next Steps:

I will try to do some detailed testing and review the data in the health app to see when the steps are getting registered and try to see if this is during a sitting period in the office, this will help to see if the watch is recording data from my arm while sitting ( maybe I move my arms a lot while on the phone) :-)

Again thanks for helping, and making the Apple community a great place to get support.

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Answer 4

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,021 points

Jan 4, 2016 9:29 AM in response to aitkendk

You are most welcome! 🙂

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