How to Fix Apple Watch Not Tracking Standing? – Complete Solutions!

With your Apple Watch not tracking standing, it can be difficult to monitor your fitness journey. Luckily, we have the solution.

You can fix your Apple Watch problem in six easy ways.

When your Apple Watch does not record standing, it may not be tracking properly.

Either it can’t detect your wrist, or it needs calibration. Next, it may be a software issue. You may have missed an update.

To fix your Apple Watch not detecting your standing status problem, restart your devices. Press and hold the top or side button of your iPhone and Apple Watch. Wait for the slider to appear. Then, drag the slider to the right. If this does not work, resync your devices.

Before discussing the fixes, let us discuss why your Apple Watch is not recording stand hours. It will help us determine the best course of action.

Reasons Why Apple Watch Not Recording Stand

When your Apple Watch is not recording standing, it can be due to several possible reasons.

It may not be in sync with your iPhone, or you have turned on the wheelchair setting on your Health app.

1. Not Tracking Properly

You may have disabled Fitness Tracking and Health on your iPhone. A different fitness tracking app may also be running in the background. 

2. Wrist Not Detected

Wrist detection and location services may be off in the Watch app. Or your Apple Watch is not in contact with your wrist. 

3. It Needs Calibration

Maybe Motion and Calibration are turned off. You may have forgotten to calibrate your Apple Watch for more accurate workouts and exercises.

4. Outdated Software

Your Apple Watch needs updating. An old update may be affecting how well your device works.

Another possible reason is incorrect personal information on the Health App.

Now that you know the causes let us move on to the troubleshooting steps. 

How to Fix Apple Watch Not Tracking Stand Hours

Before moving on to advanced solutions, we recommend you start with the basics.

Restart your iPhone and Apple Watch to ensure they run smoothly. It prevents crashes and resolves issues like Apple Watch not tracking standing.

To turn off/on your iPhone and Apple Watch, press the top or side button until the slider appears. Drag the slider to the right.

If a simple restart does not clear the issue, follow the rest of our solutions below.

Solution #1: Make Sure Your Watch is Tracking Your Steps

The Health app on your iPhone lets you view your fitness progress in one place.

It automatically tracks your activity data, including your steps and walking/running distances.

Check your step count if your Apple Watch fails to track stand hours.

On your iPhone:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Privacy.
3. Tap Motion & Fitness.
4. Check that both Fitness Tracking and Health are enabled.

On the Watch app:

1. Go to My Watch.
2. Select Privacy.
3. Tap Motion & Fitness.
4. Turn on Fitness Tracking and Heart Rate.

Note: There’s a separate pedometer given in the Apple Watch Activity app. You can access it directly from your wrist.

Solution #2: Resync Your Apple Watch and iPhone

If a simple restart does not fix your problem, try syncing your Apple Watch and iPhone again. Double-check your Bluetooth and WiFi.

Make sure you enable them on your phone. Here’s what you should do if you need to resync your devices manually.

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap General and scroll down to Reset.
3. Select Reset Sync Data.
4. Wait for your phone to complete the reset process.
5. Your phone can erase data on your phone.

Note: If this doesn’t work, unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone. Then, pair them again.

Solution #3: Enable Wrist Detection on Your Apple Watch

Apple Watch has several sensors on the back that allows it to identify when you’re wearing it or not.

It needs to detect your wrist before it starts logging any of your health and fitness data.

One solution that’s often overlooked is that wrist detection is not enabled. If this happens, your watch will not track your standing status.

Here’s how to do it.

1. Press the digital crown on your Apple Watch.
2. Scroll around the apps and tap Settings.
3. Scroll down again and tap Passcode.
4. Scroll down to the very bottom to find the toggle for Wrist Detection.
5. Enable it.

Note: There are instances when your watch will not be able to detect your wrist especially if you just got new tattoos.

Solution #4: Turn the Wheelchair Setting Off on the Health App

If your Apple Watch is not tracking, you might have enabled Wheelchair Mode.

To turn off the health and fitness features designed for wheelchair activity, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Apple Watch app.
2. Tap Health.
3. In the upper-right corner, tap Edit.
4. Tap Wheelchair and select Yes.
5. Tap Done in the upper-right corner.

Note: The Wheelchair Setting is an accessibility feature that helps wheelchair users track their activity accurately. 

When turned on, your Apple Watch tracks pushes instead of steps.

Solution #5: Reset Your Watch’s Calibration Data

Calibration improves the calorie calculations in your workout app and fine-tunes the accelerometer.

If the Wheelchair Mode is turned off, but your Apple Watch still can’t track standing, you may need to reset the calibration data. 

1. Open the Workout app.
2. Tap Outdoor walk or Outdoor run.
3. Tap the three-dotted icon on the right to set a goal.
4. Walk or run at your normal pace for 20 minutes.

Note: Before resetting the calibration data, go to a flat, open area with clear skies and a good GPS location.

Solution #6: Update the Software on Your Watch and iPhone

If none of the solutions above clears your Apple Watch not tracking stand hours issue, you may be dealing with outdated software.

You may have missed updating your watch and iPhone. Follow these steps to download the latest bug fixes, features, and security patches.

Update using iPhone:

1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap My Watch, then General.
3. Select Software Update.
4. Press Download to start the process.
5. Wait for the progress wheel to appear.

Note: You may be asked for your passcode during the update process.

Tip: Keep your iPhone next to your Apple Watch to be in range.

Updating directly from Apple Watch:

1. Make sure your Apple Watch is connected to your WiFi.
2. Open the Settings app on your watch.
3. Tap General and select Software Update.
4. Tap Install if an update is available.
5. Wait for the update to complete.

Tip: You can only update the software on your watch directly if it runs WatchOS 6 or later.

Note: Make sure your watch is at least 50 percent charged.

If you’ve done everything, but your Apple Watch is still not tracking your standing status, contact Apple Watch Support.

You can avail of the service and repair options to fix the problem. You can also download the Apple Support App to get personalized access to solutions. 

Read Next: Apple Watch Stuck On Charging Screen?

Bottom Line

Now you know the reasons for your Apple Watch not tracking standing issue.

To clear the problem, try restarting your devices. If this does not work, you can use our straightforward solutions. You don’t need technical experience. 

If none of them works, download the Apple Support app. You can always call Apple Watch Support for further assistance.