Does the Apple Watch double-count steps already recorded on the iPhone?

Guys, I do not believe Apple Watch and iPhone are double counting steps. This has been a source of concern for me as well. I haven't calculated the entire data for a specific day, but for instance, take a look at 3 simple calculation examples from my personal data. I chose 3 days at random:

Sept. 13, 2017

Apple Watch steps: 18,895

Apple iPhone steps: 1,761

Combined total: 20,656

Reported Health total: 19,045

Aug. 7, 2017

Apple Watch steps: 10,100

Apple iPhone steps: 9,453

Combined total: 19,553

Reported Health total: 10,366

Jul. 11, 2017

Apple Watch steps: 7,611

Apple iPhone steps: 2,282

Combined total: 9,893

Reported Health total: 7,924

You can try to do this on your phone. I think Apple has worked out a system to not double-count steps maybe when both devices are within bluetooth connectivity range of each other. So if you set your Apple Watch as the top priority source and it is within bluetooth range of your iPhone, then I believe although steps will be tracked on your iPhone as well, it will not be considered in the day's aggregate data.

Stephen

It is not double counting.

If you look closely in Data Sources & Access, down below it says: "The sources above are allowed to update your steps data. When multiple sources are available, one data source will be chosen based on the priority order listed above".

What I did is I set my watch to be top priority so it will consider my watch first when data is available through both the watch and the iPhone.

Thanks,

Xi

Definitely double counting - how can we edit out iPhone steps and keep 1 source only?

When multiple sources are available, the Health app uses a single data source to update your steps data. That source is selected based on the priority order that you have set or that has been created automatically. By default, Apple devices rank above third party sources.

To check your data source priorities, on your iPhone, go to: Health app > tap on the Steps chart in the Dashboard (or select via Health Data > Fitness) > Share Data. Should you wish to edit the priority order (although there should not normally be any need to do so), tap on Edit (top right).

Drappler wrote:

I would like a real response from Apple on this issue.

If you would prefer to discuss the matter with Apple, then you will need to contact Apple Support.

Contact options include:

• Contact - Official Apple Support
• https://twitter.com/applesupport
• http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

(You are not talking to Apple here - this is a user-based technical support community).

I know that is the canned answer. It is absolutely false. I have the priority set for Watch as the OP suggests but it is absolutely double counting. Apple may think it prioritized but it doesn't. Come walk with me and my iPhone and Watch and you can see how false this is. Really it is now bordering on fraudulent. The inability is Apple to see this with the number of people who report this is ludicrous.

I would like a real response from Apple on this issue.

<Edited by Host>

I think mine is double counting as well.

A few days old aw s2 and steps are way too high.

For example today walked about 3 miles but activity shows about 10!

Kilometers are well counted by app but steps doesnt, thats weird.

Calibration done and data cleared but doesnt help.

I think this piece of crap takes car driving to steps..

Hi

No, your steps are not double-counted.

Health and fitness data from Apple Watch, iPhone and other sources is aggregated within the Health app on iPhone, which adjusts results to avoid any double counting of data from different sources.

You're welcome! 🙂