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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple with the introduction of the Apple Watch Ultra showed off a redesigned and more expansive Compass app, which, as it turns out, is available to existing Apple Watch models in watchOS 9.

watchos-9-compass-app.jpg

Available today, watchOS 9 adds the redesigned Compass app to the Apple Watch Series 5 and later and the Apple Watch SE, though select features are limited to the Apple Watch SE and the Series 6 and later.

The redesigned Compass app features an analog compass that displays a digital view of your current bearing and direction. You can tap into a zoomed view that shows your bearing, elevation, incline, latitude, and longitude for more information.

If you have an Apple Watch Series 6 or later, you can mark points of interest in the Compass app using the Waypoints feature, which has customizable colors and symbols. The Waypoints app adds a little marker to your current coordinates, and all Waypoints show up on the main Compass view so you can find your way back to them.

watchos-9-compass-app-backtrack.jpg

You can also use a new "Backtrack" feature if you have a Series 6 or later. Backtrack uses GPS to record the path that you take, so if you get lost, you can find your way back later. watchOS 9 is available on the Apple Watch Series 4 and later and it can be downloaded now.

Article Link: watchOS 9 Brings Updated Compass App With Waypoints and Backtrack
 
They know how many, which and what kind of watches are active currently and which one need to be forced to upgrade.
i don't think it is fair, Apple products last longer then most other products and Apple is working hard to support software upgrades to older devices in general.
Apple does somethings that i don't like (repairability/upgradability) but not supporting products and forced upgrades in not one of them. We have to give them credit where it is due.
 
That's a shame; must update to the latest watch to gain an extra hour in backtracif Apple releases new feature to older products people complain that battery is draining quick.
if Apple doesn't release new feature to older products then people will complain that this is simple feature, my watch already has GPS why can't i have this feature, Apple is forcing me to upgrade to new model just to get this feature.
it is getting difficult to please people.
 
Love the Apple Watch, and great new feature indeed, but my goodness that watchOS upgrade process is a PAIN. I have a series 7 and 13 Pro Max the whole 'downloading and preparing' phase takes forever even on fast wifi. I don't understand why this process is so un-apple and so slow.
 
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if Apple doesn't release new feature to older products then people will complain that this is simple feature, my watch already has GPS why can't i have this feature, Apple is forcing me to upgrade to new model just to get this feature.
it is getting difficult to please people.
That's the name of the game though; Apple is a business and they want to make money so they introduce features only available on their newer products. It sucks but I'm glad that every now and then they introduce new features to older products
 
Is there something special you need to do to enable this? I click on the Compass app on my Series 7 and I'm just getting red circles with a spinning hand that looks like a radar. Clicking on any of the icons does nothing.

EDIT: I discovered the fix. On my phone I had to turn on Compass Calibration under Privacy > Location Services > System Services
 
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At least we get one of these life saving features.

For when we get lost on a dynamic island.

Seriously when this was announced on the Ultra I thought “they could do that on the 7” and I’m glad they did, it is actually useful.
 
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