workout pool swim miscounts laps and distance

Hi

Whilst I can't say why your workouts are not being recorded accurately, the following steps may help:

If you have not yet done so, update your iPhone and Apple Watch to the latest compatible software versions, starting with your iPhone:

• Update the iOS on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
• Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Check your personal information:

• Activity app and Workout app estimations depend, in part, on your personal information.
• To check that this remains accurate - and to update it over time:
  • On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Health > Edit - tap and, if required, adjust items and then tap on Done.

Check that you are wearing your Apple Watch correctly:

• For the best performance, be sure to wear your Apple Watch snugly on the top of your wrist.
• Apple suggests tightening your Apple Watch band before workouts and loosening it again afterwards:
  • Wearing your Apple Watch - Apple Support
• Keep in mind that Apple advises that performance of the heart rate sensor can potentially be adversely affected by water as well as by skin changes, such as by some wrist tattoos.
  • Your heart rate. What it means, and where on Apple Watch you’ll find it. - Apple Support
  • Get the most accurate measurements using your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Close certain apps and then restart (normally) both your iPhone and your Apple Watch:

• If an app unexpectedly quits, stops responding, or won’t open - Apple Support
  • Close the Watch, Activity and Health apps (if open) on your iPhone.
  • Close the Workout app, Activity and Heart Rate apps on your Apple Watch.

• Turn both devices off together, then restart your iPhone first:
  • Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
  • Restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Prior to recalibrating your Apple Watch (see the next step), check your Location Services settings (whilst it s not relevant for Pool Swim workouts, GPS data is important when calibrating your Apple Watch, including for use during other activities):

• On your iPhone, go to: Settings > Privacy > Location Services:
  • Check that Location Services (the main setting at the top) is turned on.
  • In the list of apps beneath, check that Apple Watch Workout is set it to While Using.
  • Also enable options under System Services including Motion Calibration & Distance, Wi-Fi Networking and Mobile Network Search.

Recalibrate your Apple Watch, resetting any existing calibration data and starting afresh:

• Follow the instructions here (this process can be equally beneficial for Series 2 & 3 models and will not delete your Activity history):
• Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

If the issue persists, next unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch:

• The Watch app on your iPhone takes a backup of your watch automatically when unpairing via the app.
• Initially choose to Restore from Backup during set up (most data and settings will be restored, with some exceptions, such as Apple Pay cards, passcode).
• If the issue persists, consider instead unpairing and setting it up as a new watch.
• Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone - Apple Support
• Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Keep in mind that the built-in Workout app does not currently support tracking swimming workouts when not using your arms (such as when using a kickboard). During indoor swimming workouts, the app relies on tracking your arm motion when estimating results.

For any workouts that include swimming without using your arms, you may find that a third-party app meets your needs. You may also wish to try using a third-party app in case it better meets your needs more generally. For example, the swimming-specific Swim.com app includes support for tracking kickboard drills:

• App: Swim.com Swimming Workout Tracking, Log & Analysis on the App Store
• Information: http://support.swim.com/hc/en-us/articles/114094073671-Apple-Watch

If the issue persists and you are concerned about a potential software issue or hardware defect, then I suggest that you contact Apple Support (remote diagnostics and/or mail-in service may be available, if required), make a Genius Bar reservation or visit an Apple Authorised Service Provider for assistance:

• US: Apple Watch Service Answer Center - Apple Support
• Elsewhere: Apple - Support

More information:

Track workouts and stay healthy with Apple Watch - Apple Support