Some Apple Watch Users Report Missing GPS Data in watchOS 7

[MacRumors]

A number of Apple Watch owners who have updated to watchOS 7 are reporting an issue involving missing GPS mapping data after recording exercise in Apple's wrist-based Workout app.

Several MacRumors readers have been in touch to highlight the problem, which was first noted in a thread on Apple's support communities by a user who upgraded their iPhone XS Max to iOS 14 and Apple Watch Series 4 to watchOS 7.

Later, I went for a walk. I used the Outdoor Walk activity on my Watch, but this time didn't take my iPhone. When I returned, and attempted to upload the activity to Strava, I received a warning that no GPS/route data was present. I checked the Fitness and Health apps, and sure enough, there was no route on the map - only the starting point.

I spoke to someone at Apple Support and they suggested I turned off/back on a couple of related privacy settings. I have since tried another Outdoor Walk activity, without the phone present, and the problem persists - no GPS/route data.

My wife also tried the same this evening, after upgrading her iPhone X and S4 Watch too. She had the same results - i.e. with just the Watch, no GPS/route information was saved with the activity.

The thread currently runs 16 pages and includes multiple users reporting similar issues with tracking GPS data on Apple Watch Series 3, 4, and 5 models.

In the majority of cases, users record a workout on their watch while leaving their iPhone at home, but when they later look at the Activity app it only shows the workout's starting point on the GPS map, and nothing else. Some users are also reporting sync issues with Strava and problems with additional workout stats, including heart rate information.

It's not clear what's causing the problems, but Apple is apparently aware of them, so hopefully a solution is on the way in watchOS 7.1, the beta of which went out to developers last week.

Article Link: Some Apple Watch Users Report Missing GPS Data in watchOS 7

 

[markfc]

Yes, I have the same issue, no heart rate data, no gps tracking and calorie counting is all to pot. Battery life is terrible on iPhone XS Max. I workout first thing with 100% battery. After an hour it's now 68% where as I usually leave the gym with 90-92% battery.

This is the most garbage release Apple has ever done.

 

[Jack Taylor]

Both the GPS and severe battery drain issues on watchOS 7 were fixed for me simply by in-pairing and re-pairing my watch. Both issues resolved themselves immediately after as noted in many of the support groups

 

[Kabeyun]

It’s generally a good idea not to install the n.0 version of any operating system.

 

[sharbeen]

I’m having the same problem. My location tracking isn’t working when I go out for run. I’ve read somewhere else that they spoke to Apple and they are aware of the bug and fix is coming soon.

Battery life isnt good. On a day I don’t do any work out I have 50-60% left by the time I hit the bed. But now an hour before my sleep it dies.

 

[Amit Kapoor]

I am facing the problem of missing GPS data and brutally curtailed battery live in my Apple Watch 4. Something amiss and bugging. Just dumped the watch yesterday to go back to my analog watch.

 

[RammyXX]

Is anyone having problems syncing music to the Apple Watch? In the iPhone app there's a cloud icon next to the album that is supposed to be on the Apple Watch. Tried to delete it and add it again without luck, it won't show up on my Watch.

 

[theadz01]

I had to repair my watch as I had this exact issue. All been OK since repairing

 

[sgreen314]

Series 2 with 6.2.8 and iOS 14 here. No GPS tracking in native fitness app for outdoor exercises post iOS 14 update, though some just had the green start location spot. Went back and looked at previous outdoor walks prior to iOS 14 update, missing GPS maps as well. Hopefully previous maps come back, had some cool GPS tracks from walking around various European cities while on holiday. Unpaired and re-paired watch a day or so ago, no change.

 

[SW3029]

Not only does watchOS 7 have GPS data problems, it also reduces your Resting Energy by up to 70%. Under watchOS 6 my Resting Energy averaged about 2400 calories a day. Under watchOS 7 it averages about 800 calories a day, which implies I'm in a coma and near death but just don't know it.

 

[GadgetBen]

This happened to me, but I assumed my mobile data plan wasn't properly setup as I had just launched my plan. I'll try and test on a run later.

 

[DempaX]

Yep seem to be some issue with the Health db or such. Heart rate tracking not registerring properly either. Seem to be a widespread issue which was already known during beta. Why was this potentially destructive update released to public? Yeah, to meat deadline and sell more hardware. But still no fix released!? Do the betas (iOS, wOS) work better, i.e. fixing the issue with health data etc recording?

 

[Valkyre]

Kind of irrelevant, but why are the watch hands grey in this picture and how can I do this...?

 

[centauratlas]

It also happens with the phone (11 Pro) and watch (both S5 and new S6) both running latest iOS 14 and watchOS 7. Ditto stand tracking.

I reported this during the betas.

 

[GordonVanDyke]

watchOS 7 on Series 5 (Nike and Titanium Ed) has been a battery nightmare for my partner and me. She has the same issues with the battery, and now I guess GPS and other functions. What a mess of a release. Oddly I used my Series 4 in the beta and never had battery issues.

 

[GadgetBen]

Yep seem to be some issue with the Health db or such. Heart rate tracking not registerring properly either. Seem to be a widespread issue which was already known during beta. Why was this potentially destructive update released to public? Yeah, to meat deadline and sell more hardware. But still no fix released!? Do the betas (iOS, wOS) work better, i.e. fixing the issue with health data etc recording?

There are so many things wrong with your post.

 

[MrGimper]

The de-facto first step in diagnosing/fixing watch issues is to un-pair and re-pair, which solves 99% of issues.

 

[Harvey Zoltan]

Not experiencing any of these problems on my series 5 running latest Watch OS.

 

[markfc]

Not only does watchOS 7 have GPS data problems, it also reduces your Resting Energy by up to 70%. Under watchOS 6 my Resting Energy averaged about 2400 calories a day. Under watchOS 7 it averages about 800 calories a day, which implies I'm in a coma and near death but just don't know it.

Same here! I too am in a coma. From from avg 3500 cals a day down to 1100.

 

[Billyk711]

A number of Apple Watch owners who have updated to watchOS 7 are reporting an issue involving missing GPS mapping data after recording exercise in Apple's wrist-based Workout app.

Several MacRumors readers have been in touch to highlight the problem, which was first noted in a thread on Apple's support communities by a user who upgraded their iPhone XS Max to iOS 14 and Apple Watch Series 4 to watchOS 7.
The thread currently runs 16 pages and includes multiple users reporting similar issues with tracking GPS data on Apple Watch Series 3, 4, and 5 models.

In the majority of cases, users record a workout on their watch while leaving their iPhone at home, but when they later look at the Activity app it only shows the workout's starting point on the GPS map, and nothing else. Some users are also reporting sync issues with Strava and problems with additional workout stats, including heart rate information.

It's not clear what's causing the problems, but Apple is apparently aware of them, so hopefully a solution is on the way in watchOS 7.1, the beta of which went out to developers last week.

Article Link: Some Apple Watch Users Report Missing GPS Data in watchOS 7

Several people.... wonder if it was user error? I mean really

 

[wakeboardandy]

Walks have never exported GPS data for me in Strava. If you do outdoor run on Apple Watch instead then it will work.

 

[Biglethal69]

How the hell can we go through so many betas and there seem to be more bugs then what there was in the betas. Shame on you Apple.

 

[Oscar_440]

I have had the same problem in watchOS 6, sometimes my Apple Watch didn’t save map track data after an outdoor run... (1 of 25 times it happens)

 

[ghanwani]

Go to:
Settings -> Apple ID -> Find My -> Find my missing GPS data

(haha)

 

[AndiG]

I’m having the same problem. My location tracking isn’t working when I go out for run. I’ve read somewhere else that they spoke to Apple and they are aware of the bug and fix is coming soon.

Battery life isnt good. On a day I don’t do any work out I have 50-60% left by the time I hit the bed. But now an hour before my sleep it dies.

Someone should write a book about the history of iOS, title "fix is coming soon".