Wrist detection broken after WatchOS26 update.

Question

Level 1

4 points

Wrist detection broken after WatchOS26 update.

I have an AWU2. I also have tattoos, but for the first year I owned the watch, wrist detection worked fine and I have months of sleep data to prove that. The moment I updated the watch to WatchOS26, wrist detection stopped working. I have tried everything including wiping the watch and unpairing/re-pairing the watch and nothing works. Also on the latest WatchOS26.1 update it is still not working. I believe it to be a software issue because of how it used to work, it’s possible my tattoos are affecting it but if they are, it still seems software related in that maybe the detection isn’t as sensitive as it was in the previous WatchOS version before 26. Anyone else have this same issue? Thanks!

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Posted on Nov 17, 2025 7:51 AM

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Answer 1

Ingo2711

Level 10

80,025 points

Nov 17, 2025 8:49 AM in response to Dingus80

One more thing to try, if you haven't already:

To rule out a software issue inside your backup data, erase the watch and pair it again, setting it up as a new device. You will only lose your created Watch faces and may have to activate the cards in your Wallet app again.

Then test the wrist detection again.

Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support

In case it still does not work, let Apple Techs know by using the Feedback link:

Feedback - Apple Watch - Apple

And also contact the official Apple Support, they can diagnose your watch online:

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

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Answer 2

alyosh

Level 1

20 points

Nov 17, 2025 9:26 AM in response to Dingus80

Setting it up as a new device worked perfectly for me on my Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular). Auto-workout detection is back and functioning normally again. watchOS 26.1 definitely introduced a frustrating bug with this feature—fingers crossed Apple rolls out a proper fix soon!

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Answer 3

cvosb

Level 1

14 points

Nov 19, 2025 5:51 AM in response to Dingus80

Same here with an Ultra 2 as well (but I don’t have any tattoos on my wrist). Stopped on upgrade to 26.1, did all the gyrations of a hard reset (didn’t work), resetting and restoring (didn’t work), resetting and setting up new (did work but for only about a half day). called support and they ran remote diagnostics and said all sensors are working as expected. So, sure seems like a software bug that we’ll have to wait for a fix on.

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Answer 4

Nov 17, 2025 3:31 PM in response to Dingus80

One tip, might not be helpful but did you check if it is still turned on?

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Answer 5

Ingo2711

Level 10

80,025 points

Nov 19, 2025 12:38 AM in response to Dingus80

I'm afraid, to find out, if switching off the watch caused this, you will have to set it up again as a new device and leave it switched on during the day, maybe put it on the charger.

If you return from work, and wrist detection is still working after putting on the watch, this looks like a software issue of some kind.

The official Apple Support can diagnose your watch online, maybe they find some evidence in the diagnostic reports.

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

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Answer 6

Ingo2711

Level 10

80,025 points

Nov 19, 2025 7:54 AM in response to cvosb

Don't want to jinx it, but its still working on my Ultra 2, running iOS 26.1

But I hardly ever switch it off, maybe a force restart after an update, otherwise it is charging when not on my wrist.

So, please use the Feedback link as mentioned above, in case this is related to a country specific watchOS version.

Feedback - Watch - Apple

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Answer 7

Dingus80 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 18, 2025 2:44 PM in response to Ingo2711

Worked fine overnight, gave me my sleep stats this morning. I took the watch off and powered it off, went to work for the day (I don’t wear it to work because the work I do would most likely damage it) got home, showered, put the watch on and now the wrist detection is not working again. I disabled and enabled the setting multiple times, powered cycled watch and phone and still nothing. So frustrating.

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