Fitness is about more than just hitting the gym — it's about staying active throughout the day and tracking your progress accurately. But for many Apple Watch users, the default wrist placement doesn't always give a complete picture of how much exercise they're actually getting.
Fit-influencers and fitness enthusiasts have discovered a simple hack that could dramatically improve your Apple Watch's activity tracking accuracy — and it's all about where you wear it.
Why Wearing Your Apple Watch on Your Ankle Might Be Better
NYC fitness influencer Ana Espinal shared a game-changing tip on TikTok: instead of wearing your Apple Watch on your wrist, try strapping it to your ankle. Espinal found this method gives far more accurate readings, especially for tracking steps and movement during physical activities.
Every time she wore her watch on her wrist, it would pause or fail to record her full workout. Once she moved it to her ankle, the difference was significant. "Found out about the ankle thing and never went back," she told her followers.
The Science Behind It
Apple Watches are packed with sensors that track heart rate, calories burned, and overall activity. While they're well-regarded for heart health monitoring, wrist placement can sometimes result in inaccurate step counting — especially when your arms are stationary or holding something like a shopping cart. Moving the watch to the ankle keeps it in motion with your steps, giving it more to work with.
Other Fitness Enthusiasts Are Swearing By It
Espinal isn't alone. San Francisco content creator Kristen Hollingshaus has been using this hack for years, finding it especially useful during low-intensity activities like using a walking pad.
TikTok user @MediocreMomAdventures put it to the test at Target: walking with the watch on her wrist while pushing a shopping cart tracked only 91 steps in 10 minutes. The same walk with the watch in her sock? 835 steps. The difference speaks for itself.
The Takeaway
If you want more accurate activity readings from your Apple Watch, this simple hack is worth trying. Whether you're working out or just going about your day, placing your watch on your ankle could give you a much more precise step count and calorie tracking.
Next time you strap on your Apple Watch, consider switching it to your ankle — you might be surprised at the results!
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