Let’s say you want to use your Apple Watch for the very thing it’s made to do: track fitness. But somehow, you can’t wear the watch on your wrist. Is wearing it on your ankle a good option? Let me answer your question: yes, you can wear your Apple Watch on your ankle, and yes, it will count the steps.
In this blog, we’ll discuss if wearing an Apple Watch on your ankle will impact it’s accuracy and more. Let’s get started.
Can you Wear an Apple Watch on Your Ankle?
Yes, you can wear an Apple Watch on your ankle. But, it won’t work as accurately if you don’t choose the right band. If you want the watch to track accurate fitness data on your ankle, you’ll have to choose the right band.
But, before you make a serious life decision and start wearing it on the ankle, you should know some other things.
Where is Apple Watch More Accurate – Wrist or Ankle?
This one should be a no-brainer. Wearing your Apple Watch on your wrist will give you the most accurate fitness data. However, if you’re doing some activities where you can’t wear the watch on your wrist (boxing, swimming, fencing, kettlebell training etc.), then wearing it on the ankle is another option.
Your wrist has a lot of veins and arteries, which helps your watch track fitness data. This is why you should focus on wearing the watch on your wrist.
How to Set Up Your Apple Watch for Wearing it on Ankle?
There’s one setting you can change to improve the accuracy of tracking when you’re wearing the Apple Watch on the ankle. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
Step 1: Reset Fitness Calibration Data
- Open the Watch App on iPhone
- On your iPhone, open the Watch app.
- Go to Privacy Settings
- In the Watch app, tap on Privacy.
- Reset Calibration Data
- Tap Reset Fitness Calibration Data to clear any existing activity and motion data.
Step 2: Wear the Watch on Your Ankle
- Adjust the Band for Your Ankle
- Change Wrist Detection (Optional)
- Open the Watch app > Passcode.
- Turn off Wrist Detection to avoid unnecessary notifications about improper positioning.
Step 3: Recalibrate Fitness Tracking
- Go for a Walk or Run
- Ensure you’re outdoors in a flat, open area.
- Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch and select Outdoor Walk or Outdoor Run.
Step 4: Walk or Run for 20 Minutes:
- Move at your usual pace for at least 20 minutes to allow the watch to recalibrate for the new position on your ankle.
- The Watch uses GPS and motion data during this workout to recalibrate its tracking.
Step 5: Test the Accuracy
- Check Distance and Steps:
- After the calibration workout, compare the watch’s tracking data with another pedometer or GPS tracker to see if the data aligns.
- Repeat Calibration if Needed:
- If the data is still off, try recalibrating by repeating the workout for 20 more minutes.
Now you can wear your Apple watch on your Ankle and properly track your data.
Why You Should Not Wear an Apple Watch on Your Ankle?
Wearing your Apple Watch on the ankle can save it from breaking when you’re doing physical activities, but it has some issues.
- Harder to Access: Checking your notifications, answering calls, sharing contact information using namedrop, or just accessing your watch while it’s on your ankle can be a pain in the ass.
- Less Accurate Health Tracking: This is something you’ll have to make do with, fitness data won’t be as accurate on the ankle as it will be on the wrist.
- Enhanced Risk of Damage: The ankle usually gets hit with things more than your wrist, which means your watch is at an increased risk of getting broken.
Summing Up: Can you Put Apple Watch on Ankle
Wearing your Apple Watch on your ankle can be a good option when you can’t wear it on your wrist. However, it’s important to remember that the tracking won’t be as effective as wearing it on the wrist. But, if you want to try it out, follow the steps I’ve mentioned above.
