A surprising trend has taken over TikTok: users are strapping their Apple Watches to their ankles instead of their wrists.
What might seem like a quirky fashion choice is actually a practical solution to persistent issues with the device’s functionality. According to a recent New York Times report, many people with thinner wrists struggle to get accurate heart rate monitoring and data transmission from their Apple Watches.
For these users, the device’s sensors fail to maintain consistent contact with the skin, rendering key features unreliable.
But it’s not just about wrist size. Some TikTokers have found that wearing the Apple Watch on their ankle is simply more comfortable, especially during workouts or daily activities.
Others report that watchOS miscalculates step counts when the device is worn on the wrist, particularly during activities like running or walking.
By moving the watch to their ankle, users claim step tracking becomes significantly more accurate.
Videos showcasing this hack have gone viral, with TikTokers demonstrating how they secure the device with specialized bands or even makeshift straps.
Apple has yet to comment officially on this trend or address the reported issues with wrist-based tracking.
The company’s silence stands in contrast to the ingenuity of TikTok users, who are effectively troubleshooting and innovating around the device’s limitations. In a twist of irony, these grassroots solutions are arguably doing more to enhance the Apple Watch’s usability than the company’s own innovation department, which operates with a multibillion-dollar budget.
The ankle-wearing phenomenon highlights a broader truth: users are often the best at identifying and solving real-world product flaws.
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While Apple continues to market the Watch as a sleek, wrist-bound health and fitness companion, TikTokers are redefining how it’s used — proving that sometimes, the most effective innovations come from the community, not the boardroom. As this trend gains traction, it remains to be seen whether Apple will embrace these user-driven insights or stick to its traditional design playbook.
For now, TikTokers are leading the way, one ankle strap at a time.
