I’ve updated to iOS 26 on my iPhone, watch and iPad. My Apple Watch is not keeping up with my steps. I have to reboot it for the steps to catch up. Any suggestions?
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Issues with Apple Watch steps
- Thread starter Nhwhazup
- Start date
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Are you tracking the steps from the activity app, or are you using a third party app?
I use Runkeeper App which is on my phone and watch. The steps show in the app on my watch but not in the overall steps. This wasn’t an issue before ios 26.
Suspect it's potentially a bug within WatchOS 26 as it's been the same for me w/out using a 3rd party app.
I also use the Duffy app to show the actual steps on my Apple Watch. However, that seems frozen on the Watch. Shows fine in the app itself but not on the face of the watch.
All the apps agree on steps - Health, Runkeeper and Duffy. However the Duffy complication on the watch face showing steps is totally different and frozen.
I would expect that all apps agree on steps as in all likelihood they use the same source.
Check in the health app in the steps section which apps can read/write.
if the complication you mention is not correct or up to date - that app has a bug
Complications? It may be an issue with the app itself. Can you uninstall and reinstall it?
I've had the same issue on my AWU2 since July when I installed the beta. I use Stepsapp, and have done for years, and it too struggles with updating like it did on all the previous watch os versions. I keep waiting for Apple to fix this but I think the list of things to fix in watch os and iOS are both quite long so might be a while.
I track my steps from peak watch app for the complication or use Watchsmith, they don’t have problems with not updating accurately. It pulls from the Activity app data for the steps
Thanks everyone. I spent a good part of the day on Thursday to finally get this fixed. Not a happy camper with iOS 26. More options but what used to take one click now takes multiple on many apps. Hope 26.1 helps.