• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
TechMate Tips

TechMate Tips

Apple Products Troubleshooting and Social Media Tips

  • Apple
  • Accessories
  • Wearables
  • Internet
  • Social Media
  • Health and Wellness
Home » Calibrate your Apple Watch Compass app to get accurate navigation data

Calibrate your Apple Watch Compass app to get accurate navigation data

August 4, 2020 by Hemant Saxena

The Apple Watch Compass app can be used to check the elevation level or find your way home. It performs the same functions as a magnetic compass but in a digital mode. So, if you are wondering how to calibrate and use this app, follow the post till the very end.

Apple Watch Compass App
Apple Watch Compass App

How to calibrate your Apple Watch Compass app

The app shows you the direction your Apple Watch is pointing, alongside other information like your current location, and the elevation. To know more about the Apple Watch Compass app and how to use it read the instructions given below!

  1. Open the Compass app on your Watch.
  2. Change the direction to True North.
  3. Calibrate your Smartwatch.
  4. Align the crosshairs at the center of the compass.
  5. Rotate the Digital Crown up to check your elevation, incline, and coordinates.

Please note that the Compass app is available only on Apple Watch Series 5. Also, when you open Compass for the first time, it requests permission to access your location. Allow Compass to access your location.

Apple Watch Compass Application

To use the app, open the Compass app on your Apple Watch. By default, the app is configured to use the magnetic north.

To change the direction to True North, you’ll need to do an Apple Watch calibration.

Open the Settings app on your Watch.

Tap Compass.

Compass True North setting
Compass True North setting

Turn on or enable the Use True North option.

Watch Crosshairs
Watch Crosshairs

Now, to get a more precise reading, hold your watch flat to align the crosshairs at the center of the compass (See the image above for more information).

Compass Watch Eleveaton Level
Compass Watch Eleveaton Level

When you start moving, the red cone around the compass needle will display the accuracy of the heading. Unlike a wider cone that indicates average accuracy, a narrow cone means better accuracy.

To set your bearing, press firmly on the watch face. Then use the Digital Crown. Rotate it in an upward direction to see your elevation, incline, and coordinates.

If it’s showing inaccurate results, reset your watch by pressing in the Digital Crown and side button until you see the Apple logo, then release both. It should fix the problem.

This is how you can use the Compass app. Once the job is done, simply turn off the compass on Apple Watch. A good feature of the app is that the app works even when you don’t have Wi-Fi or a cellular connection.

Lastly, it’s important to note, that the presence of magnets can affect the accuracy of any compass sensor. So, an Apple Watch Band that uses magnets or magnetic materials might interfere with the Apple Watch compass.

Category: Wearables Tags: Apple Watch, Best of Techmate Last Modified: June 15, 2022

Related Posts

  • Fix the Tip button missing from Calculator app on Apple Watch
  • Apple Watch Tip Calculator lets you split bills evenly
  • Fix Apple Watch stuck on orange screen problem in a minute or less

About Hemant Saxena

Hemant Saxena loves writing about technology full-time. He also enjoys making readers' lives easier by walking them through the most practical ways to use Apple devices, step-by-step.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Website Search

Recent Posts

  • Fix Allow Explicit Content entry missing from HomePod
  • Fix the Tip button missing from Calculator app on Apple Watch
  • Apple Watch Tip Calculator lets you split bills evenly
  • Twitter Spaces lets you connect with a larger audience in a new way
  • Invite more people to share HomeKit control and manage accessories
  • Fix USB accessories disabled alert in macOS with any of these 4 methods
  • Google Maps toll pass prices function check the cost of toll pricing
  • Copy and paste on an iPhone using this amazing pinching trick

© 2022 TechMate Tips - Apple Products Troubleshooting and Social Media Tips

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy