iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone doesn't count steps after Apple watch battery dies

[Super Spartan]

So my friend has an iPhone 14 Pro Max and an Apple Watch SE 2. The problem is when her Apple watch battery dies, the iPhone doesn't record any more steps. I thought that the iPhone can count steps even without an Apple watch why does it stop counting steps if the Apple Watch battery dies and write it to the health app to get the total combined number of steps during the day?

Is there a way to fix this to have the iPhone still count steps independently after the Apple watch battery dies?

 

[NoBoMac]

You're right, phone by itself should record steps. Just double checked my Health app and saw that earlier in the week when I did not have my Watch with me, phone recorded my steps (Health > Steps > Show All Data > [specific date]) and were in the totals.

Maybe priority/order of sources out of whack (Health > Steps > Data Sources)? But even then should pick up phone's stats. My order is Watch, Phone, Health app.

 

[Super Spartan]

This is an image she showed me that they are not in sync:

 

[NoBoMac]

Based on the images, I think the real question is: does the Fitness app track steps when Watch battery dies? And I don't know.

Fitness app will track steps if you don't have an Apple Watch. But, guessing here, if one does have a Watch, Fitness app will not use phone's steps. Or probably more accurately, won't record via the sensors. Bug or "working as designed by Apple". Fitness is not listed in "Allow to Read" for steps data in Health. So, seems like an either/or situation with Fitness app.

Looking at my data for today, I did put my Watch on the charger when I woke up. Walked a bit around the house to make coffee etc. Steps in Health are a bit higher than in Fitness, and pretty much aligns with the raw data in Health (most of the extra steps were recorded as phone, with the remaining extra couple of steps from phone appear to overlap with Watch recording again).

ADD: and looking at the day I mentioned earlier when I did not have my Watch on, it too is pretty much in sync re lesser amount of steps Fitness is showing (quick and dirty math of steps that are from phone only during the time without Watch was in the ball park re differences).

So, app of record should probably be Health and not Fitness. And yes, if the whole closing of rings is a big deal to someone, not ideal for Fitness to not track steps when Watch not in use.

 

[Super Spartan]

Based on the images, I think the real question is: does the Fitness app track steps when Watch battery dies? And I don't know.

Fitness app will track steps if you don't have an Apple Watch. But, guessing here, if one does have a Watch, Fitness app will not use phone's steps. Or probably more accurately, won't record via the sensors. Bug or "working as designed by Apple". Fitness is not listed in "Allow to Read" for steps data in Health. So, seems like an either/or situation with Fitness app.

Looking at my data for today, I did put my Watch on the charger when I woke up. Walked a bit around the house to make coffee etc. Steps in Health are a bit higher than in Fitness, and pretty much aligns with the raw data in Health (most of the extra steps were recorded as phone, with the remaining extra couple of steps from phone appear to overlap with Watch recording again).

ADD: and looking at the day I mentioned earlier when I did not have my Watch on, it too is pretty much in sync re lesser amount of steps Fitness is showing (quick and dirty math of steps that are from phone only during the time without Watch was in the ball park re differences).

So, app of record should probably be Health and not Fitness. And yes, if the whole closing of rings is a big deal to someone, not ideal for Fitness to not track steps when Watch not in use.

That seems to be the situation. Wish the fitness app did also take into account the steps taken when the watch is not worn/on. I think Apple didn't really put much thought into this that the watch might die at some point and or needs their health stuff synced, the fitness app should pick up the extra steps recorded by the phone.