Start here when your Apple steps are not syncing to the WayBetter app correctly.
If you're more of a visual person, you can review steps for the most common issues via our troubleshooting video here:
Review your tracker type
If your Apple steps are not matching, please double-check the “Trackers” section of your WayBetter profile to check for other connected trackers. If you have Fitbit or Garmin connected, assess if it’s possible you joined the game with another tracker type. Email support@waybetter.com if you determine the wrong tracker was used to join the game.
Check Bluetooth settings
Your Apple Watch needs to communicate with your phone’s Apple Health app via Bluetooth. WayBetter syncs from Apple Health directly versus your Watch, so always verify your Bluetooth connection is functioning and all steps have synced from the tracker to the Apple Health app before troubleshooting further. Attempt a sync to WayBetter using both WiFi and cell data when possible to ensure a weak signal is not interfering.
Review the Apple app
Open the Apple Health app and double-check the step count there compared to your Apple Watch and to WayBetter. Only steps you have synced to the Apple Health app can sync to WayBetter.
After you see the appropriate level of steps in the Apple Health app, tap “Update tracker activity” on your WayBetter game.
If you are having trouble syncing your steps to the Apple Health app, please see this Apple help page for additional information: Why won’t my Apple device sync?
Adjust data priorities to help Apple Watch match WayBetter
The most common issue with Apple Watch syncing to WayBetter is that the phone has "priority" in Apple Health over the Apple Watch.
Please follow these steps to make sure your watch has top priority.
- In the Apple Health App, click on the orange "Steps" bar. If this bar does not appear on your home screen, tap “Browse” followed by “Activity” then “Steps.”
- Select "Data Sources & Access" and scroll down to "Data Sources:" Tap "Edit" on the top right of the screen. From here, you can drag your current watch to the top of the Data Sources using the three bars to the right of each device. Your current iPhone should always be the second data source.
- If you are unsure which device is currently in use, tap on the step source, such as “My Apple Watch.” If the steps accumulated are from today or recent days, the device is current. Devices no longer in use quit accumulating new data and display older dates.
Check for Apple Watch updates
If that does not solve the issue, sometimes an update is required. After upgrading their iOS, some users would have been prompted to update the Apple Watch. If the watch is not updated, the Watch steps will not be sent through by Apple to WayBetter.
Open the Apple Watch app, tap the “General” menu, followed by the “Software update” menu to locate and install any updates to your device. It’s always best to update devices at the beginning of a stepping day when minimal steps are accumulated and after syncing steps for prior days to WayBetter.
Verify WayBetter has access to Apple
Phone updates, tracker updates, and more can upset your existing connections and the permissions in your device. You can verify WayBetter still has access to your Apple information from the Apple Health app.
On the Apple Health app, get started by tapping your profile picture or icon. From there:
- Scroll down to the Privacy tab and tap “apps”
- Scroll down to find WayBetter
- Ensure the green button next to “Steps” is green
If WayBetter is not listed, granting fresh permission is easy! Open your WayBetter app, log in, and tap the profile icon in the lower right corner. Scroll down to “Trackers” and tap it. “Apple Watch/Health” will appear as an option. Tap on it and reconnect.
Look for third-party tracker activities
As outlined in the WayBetter FAQs, WayBetter only counts steps directly recorded by your Apple tracker. Those added by third-party apps, such as Strava, MyFitnessPal, pedometer apps, or other tracker types/data sources, also do not count. Steps manually added also are not synced or counted.
Always wear your Apple Watch or carry your phone when completing exercises to ensure your steps are tracked directly. Rely on the WayBetter app as your best indication of reaching daily goals, particularly when third-party trackers are connected.
Avoid adding exercises
When you add steps to the Apple Health app manually versus directly tracking, these steps cannot be validated, and WayBetter does not sync them. If you do add steps, refer to the steps synced to the WayBetter app as your method of detecting progress to goal.
The best practice is to use your Apple Watch to start and stop all exercise activities and the Watch or iPhone to record steps.
Review the Apple article, How do I track my workouts with my Apple device?, for more information and guidance on using various devices.
If you prefer to remove these uncounted steps from Apple Health, suspend permission in the connected app.
By tapping into the step source, such as steps added manually and marked with an Apple Health icon, you can delete these steps to help the Apple Health ap display more accurate step totals. Tap “edit” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen and then “Delete All” to remove all steps or use the red minus button to remove steps for individual days.
Check your app store for updates
Visit the app store for your device and see if your Apple or WayBetter app needs updated. If so, please install the updates and attempt a new sync using “Update tracker activity.”
Uninstall WayBetter
When you cannot find an obvious issue within Apple or the WayBetter app, please uninstall and reinstall the WayBetter app before attempting a fresh sync.
Contact Support
If your problems persist, please email support@waybetter.com and include as much information about the issue as possible. Email as soon as possible to document the timing of the issue and attach any screenshots illustrating the potential discrepancy between your Apple app and WayBetter. Emails must be received on the same day as the issue in order for our referee team to troubleshoot.