The atmospheric pressure or altitude data on my HUAWEI watch is inaccurate
| The atmospheric pressure or altitude data on my HUAWEI watch is inaccurate |
This knowledge applies only to HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 and earlier products. For products released in September 2023 or later (such as the HUAWEI WATCH GT 4/5 Series, HUAWEI WATCH 4/5 Series, HUAWEI FIT 3/4 Series, and HUAWEI Ultimate Series), if the barometer reading is inaccurate, refer to The altitude calculated by my HUAWEI watch is inaccurate.
Atmospheric pressure and altitude data is calculated based on the ambient atmospheric pressure measured by your watch's built-in barometer, and the local atmospheric pressure benchmark obtained from the Huawei Health app. As a result, the atmospheric pressure and altitude will vary depending on the environment.
- If the atmospheric pressure fluctuates due to changes in the environment (for example, an air conditioner or a fan is turned on), the altitude measurement may also be affected. Try to measure the atmospheric pressure and altitude levels in stable-temperature and low-wind environments.
- In some coastal areas and basins, the actual altitude may be below sea level, which causes displayed altitude value to be negative.
- Considering the screen size, the altitude curve updates once every 20 minutes, and therefore changes over short periods of time may not display.
If the issue persists, perform the following steps to troubleshoot:
Check the atmospheric pressure hole on your watch
Start a measurement in a flat place without wind. Do not block the atmospheric pressure hole on your watch.
If the atmospheric pressure hole on your watch is blocked by foreign objects or liquid, the measured atmospheric pressure and altitude level may be inaccurate.
Check the atmospheric pressure hole by playing a ringtone or song on your watch to determine if the sound is clear. If you suspect that the hole is obstructed, hold your watch with the atmospheric pressure hole facing downwards, and gently wipe the hole clean with a soft brush, or dry the hole if it is wet.
For details about the location of the atmospheric pressure hole, see Appearance and structure of smart watches.
Enable the location permission for the Huawei Health app
For optimally accurate altitude data, always allow the location permission for the Huawei Health app.
- HUAWEI phones: Tap Settings, search for and access App management, go to Huawei Health > Permissions > Location, and select Always allowed.
- iPhones: (taking iOS 16.0 as an example): Go to Settings > HUAWEI Health > Location, and select Always.
- Third-party Android phones: (taking Samsung S20 that runs Android 11-based One UI 3.0 as an example): Go to Settings > Apps > Huawei Health > Permissions > Location, and select Allow all the time.
Check the connection status of your watch and your phone's network connection
If your watch is not connected to your phone, or your phone is not connected to a network, the atmospheric pressure data may fail to update in a timely manner due to delayed obtainment of local atmospheric pressure benchmark.
Make sure that your phone's network connection is stable, and promptly connect your watch to your phone. You can also swipe down on the home screen of the Huawei Health app to sync data. Your watch will then obtain the latest local atmospheric pressure benchmark, and use this information to reduce the measurement error.
If the error is large, back up your data and take your device and proof of purchase to an authorised Huawei Customer Service Centre for assistance.
Manually calibrate the altitude
The following settings are only available on certain devices.
- Press the Up button on your watch to open the app list and select Barometer.
- Swipe up on the screen until you reach the altitude screen, and tap Calibrate at the bottom of the screen.
- Enter the correct altitude and tap OK.
If the issue persists, or the atmospheric pressure value displayed on your watch does not change or no atmospheric pressure value displays, the barometer on your watch may be faulty. In this case, back up your data and take your device and proof of purchase to a nearby Huawei Customer Service Centre for assistance.