How to Use Track Back on Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Track Back is one of the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro's most valuable safety features—it automatically records your path so you can retrace your route back to the starting point.
What Track Back Does
- Continuously records your GPS path during activities
- Creates a breadcrumb trail of your exact route
- Works without pre-planned GPX routes
- Reverses your path for return navigation
Perfect for: Exploring unfamiliar trails, navigating back in low visibility, emergency return navigation.
How to Use Track Back
During an active workout:
- Start outdoor workout (Hiking, Running, Cycling, Walking)
- Explore your route—path records automatically
- When ready to return, swipe to workout controls
- Tap Track Back
- Follow the breadcrumb trail back to start
Navigation display shows: your position, distance remaining, direction arrow, and turn-by-turn guidance.
Track Back vs GPX Routes
| Feature | Track Back | GPX Routes |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | None required | Pre-import route |
| Use case | Spontaneous exploration | Known trails |
| Direction | Return to start only | Follow to destination |
| Data | Records your actual path | Planned route may differ |
Use Track Back for spontaneous exploration; use GPX routes for planned adventures.
Best Practices
Before your activity:
- Ensure GPS lock before starting
- Enable multi-band GPS for best accuracy
- Check battery level (590mAh provides 10-15 hours GPS)
During your activity:
- Keep workout running entire time (don't pause unnecessarily)
- Monitor battery on long expeditions
Using Track Back:
- Check direction arrow frequently
- Monitor distance to verify progress
- Use haptic feedback cues for turns
Troubleshooting
Track Back not available:
- Ensure workout is actively running (not paused)
- Verify GPS is locked and tracking
- Check that sufficient route has been recorded
Inaccurate path:
- Enable multi-band GPS in settings
- Check for GPS interference (dense canopy, buildings)
- Update watch software
Safety Backup
Track Back runs automatically during all outdoor workouts. Even if you import a GPX route for navigation, Track Back records your actual path as a safety backup in case you need to return the way you came.
See Also: GPX Routes|Navigation Guide|GPS Features