drlake

Q: Problems with exercises on Apple Watch

For some reason, when I use the exercise app to record my walks, the watch no longer accepts walks as exercise.  It will recognize the calories.  How do I reset the watch to recognize walks again?

Apple Watch

Posted on Mar 6, 2016 7:58 AM

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Q: Problems with exercises on Apple Watch

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  • by drlake,

    drlake drlake Mar 6, 2016 8:04 AM in response to drlake
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Mar 6, 2016 8:04 AM in response to drlake

    The exercise app will recognize the 30 minute walk and I will save the walk.  Yet the 30 minute walk will only show as a 1 minute walk in the Activities App.

  • by Jonathan UK,Apple recommended

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Mar 6, 2016 8:26 AM in response to drlake
    Level 8 (36,007 points)
    Apple Watch
    Mar 6, 2016 8:26 AM in response to drlake

    Hi

     

    To credit progress towards your daily Exercise goal, the Activity app aims to identify activity that is at least equal to the intensity of a brisk walk.

     

    It may the case that only a short part of each of your more recent walks met this requirement.

     

    The definition of a brisk walk varies from person to person and depends upon your personal information.

     

    To check that your personal information is accurate - and to update it over time:

    - On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch > Health > Edit - tap and adjust items, then tap on Done.

     

    During general daily wear, the Activity app relies on your arm motion (measured by the accelerometer) to track movement for the purpose of crediting progress towards the Exercise goal. For the best results, allow the arm on which you are wearing your watch to swing naturally as you move around.

     

    When tracking Outdoor Walk (and Outdoor Run) workouts using the Workout app, if you also take your iPhone along, your watch can also use GPS data from your iPhone to  help estimate distance and pace.

     

    If you would prefer to record your walks as Exercise regardless of their intensity level, track them via the Workout app using "Other" as the activity type. This will credit one minute of Exercise for each full minute of the workout. Calories will be credited at a rate equivalent to a brisk walk or based on data from the heart rate sensor - whichever is greater.

     

    Calibrating your watch can improve the accuracy of various estimations (including Exercise credit) made by the Activity app and Workout app. More information and instructions for calibrating your watch are available via the link below. It may also help to reset any existing calibration data and start afresh:

    - On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch > Privacy > Motion & Fitness > tap on Reset Calibration Data.

     

    More information:

    Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

    Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

    Use the Workout app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Mar 6, 2016 8:22 AM in response to drlake
    Level 8 (36,007 points)
    Apple Watch
    Mar 6, 2016 8:22 AM in response to drlake

    If the intensity level of your walks has not changed significantly and you are confident that Exercise progress should have been credited, it may otherwise help to restart both your iPhone and your watch. Turn both devices off together first, then restart your iPhone before restarting your watch:

     

    - To turn your watch off: press and hold the side button until you see the Power Off slider; drag it to turn off;

    - To turn it on: press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.

     

    If the issue then persists, next try unpairing and re-pairing your watch:

     

    - The Watch app on your iPhone takes watch backups automatically, including a fresh one when unpairing via the app.

    - Choose to restore your watch (Restore from Backup) when offered the option during set up. Most data and settings will be restored, with some exceptions (eg Apple Pay cards, passcode).

    - Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone - Apple Support

    - Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

  • by julie78787,

    julie78787 julie78787 Mar 6, 2016 12:40 PM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Apple Watch
    Mar 6, 2016 12:40 PM in response to Jonathan UK
    During general daily wear, the Activity app relies on your arm motion (measured by the accelerometer) to track movement for the purpose of crediting progress towards the Exercise goal. For the best results, allow the arm on which you are wearing your watch to swing naturally as you move around.

     

    The best way to get "Exercise" credit is to start a workout. I mowed my back yard yesterday as an "Other" workout and it gave me a ton of both "Move" and "Exercise" credits. I didn't both starting an "Other" workout when I was pouring a concrete footer for a new lamp post in the back yard, but it did run up a lot of "Move" credits. Because, concrete.

     

    Remember - unless you move with extreme grace, the Watch will detect that all of you is moving quite well. The only time failing to swing your arms will confuse the watch is if you're holding onto something (like a desk ...) and you're on a treadmill (or treadmill desk ...). I do a 30 minute yoga workout most mornings and there ain't a lot of arm swinging in that ...

  • by drlake,Apple recommended

    drlake drlake Mar 6, 2016 1:43 PM in response to drlake
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Mar 6, 2016 1:43 PM in response to drlake

    I discovered the problem and spoke with Apple Support.  I had installed another fitness app that disconnected the Apple fitness app from walking and running data.  Even through I had uninstalled the app, the disconnection remained.  Support had me reset the calibrations, and it is now working.