Outdoor GPS data very inaccurate when working out

[Ammar666]

I occasionally go on a hike and use my Apple Watch Series 6 to track the workout. My iPhone is with me as well. Ever since I switched to an iPhone 13 Pro from my old 12, the GPS route tracking for this workout has been completely out of whack. And I mean seriously, it would show the hiking track at some other end of the city than where I actually did the hike.

The GPS on my iPhone otherwise works perfectly fine for navigation and other location based services. I did not have this issue when I had the same watch with my iPhone 12.

 

[StoneJack]

I had some GPS problems on Iphone Max 12 and 13. When I am driving, it is occasionally shows completely wrong location. I even put the phone right near windows (to improve reception), still wrong location. Even more mysterious is that Apple maps and Google maps are wrong, but another app (Maps.me) is showing correct location.

 

[PaladinGuy]

You may already know this, but it’s been demonstrated by a bunch of people that the Apple Watch has more accurate GPS when it’s used without a phone. When you bring your phone with you, the watch piggy backs off the iPhone’s GPS to conserve battery.

If you can’t leave your phone behind, maybe try to turn off Bluetooth on one of the devices to keep the Watch from trying to use the phone’s GPS.

 

[getrealbro]

More info...

Apple Watch Series 7 HORRIBLE GPS reading accuracy

I just switched from an Apple Watch Series 4 to a Series 7. I use my Apple Watch mostly for running. The main reason for switching was that the series 7 is supposed to have a better GPS accuracy, and also the always active display, witch is useful when running and checking the Watch. Today I did...

forums.macrumors.com

See post #11

GetRealBro

 

[Ammar666]

You may already know this, but it’s been demonstrated by a bunch of people that the Apple Watch has more accurate GPS when it’s used without a phone. When you bring your phone with you, the watch piggy backs off the iPhone’s GPS to conserve battery.

If you can’t leave your phone behind, maybe try to turn off Bluetooth on one of the devices to keep the Watch from trying to use the phone’s GPS.

It's not that the tracking is slightly inaccurate, it's showing my hiking workout as one straight line all the way in some other end of the city about 10km away

 

[PaladinGuy]

It's not that the tracking is slightly inaccurate, it's showing my hiking workout as one straight line all the way in some other end of the city about 10km away

That’s really odd. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like that before now.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

It’s been while since I tested the GPS on my series 5 so thought I would try it out. These runs are the same route, same start and finish point. Pretty good consistency over that distance imho. A run along the river cutting and hill reps in a wooded area (no foliage currently). All done using the standard workout app except one which was the WorkOutDoors app in which I have the accelerometer disabled.