Cardio Fitness doesn't have Apple Watch as a data source

I have an Apple Watch 5 with phone se 2020 and have done multiple outdoor walks over 20 min and can see that it tracked my route and all the settings ive read here seem to be correct and still no data source. So frustrating

The cardiofittness function needs the heartbeat and the distance to determine a value. If the energy saving mode is activated for training in the watch settings, no heart rate is recorded. Therefore deactivate the settings in training / energy saving mode in the Apple Watch APP on the iPhone. Then check in the iPhone settings whether the GPS mode is activated for training settings / privacy / location services / training sessions. You can then reset the calibration of the watch in the watch app on the iPhone under Privacy. Now you need to exercise outdoors for at least 20 minutes while walking or running. This is required for recalibration. It is also possible that values ​​under Cardio are only displayed after several training sessions. The cardio fitness function only works outdoors because otherwise the GPS data for the distance is missing. No cardio data is recorded for indoor training, e.g. steppers or yoga.

Greetings from Germany

yes but apparently it doesn't work. For me, the watch data source only appeared after checking and setting as I described it. When I train indoors, no cardio data is recorded. When I am walking or running outdoors, data is recorded. Perhaps the implementation didn't work out as promised and described.

Excerpt from the link you posted: 

With watchOS 7, the Apple Watch now uses multiple sensors, including the optical heart sensor, GPS, and accelerometer, to estimate lower values ​​as well. This is important in that the direct measurement of VO2 max usually requires rigorous clinical testing with special equipment that is not easily accessible to most people. With watchOS 7, Apple Watch can also take cardio fitness measurements while users run all day, whether they are following a workout or not. With this innovation, the Apple Watch can measure VO2 max better for users with low cardio fitness who may not be doing high-intensity exercise. 

So the heart sensor, the accelerometer and GPS are required. It usually only works outdoors. "run all day" probably means outdoors. If there is a good GPS reception indoors and you can cover a measurable distance, then it will also work indoors. But I think it only works at the airport or something like that.

It would be great if Apple would offer a cardio fitness solution for indoor use.

Actually the link doesn't say anything about "run all day" it says "walk throughout the day":

"With watchOS 7, Apple Watch uses multiple sensors to estimate an expanded range of cardio fitness as users walk throughout the day, whether or not they are tracking a workout."

But anyway, nobody was claiming that you get cardio fitness measurements from indoor activity. What was being claimed is that you need to do "workouts" of a certain intensity which contradicts what Apple is saying

Finally had my first VO2 Max reading after an outdoor power walk of 30 minutes. I followed all the advice and instructions posted within this thread. What I did differently was to reset fitness calibration data within the privacy tab of My Watch app right before I activated the outdoor walk tab on my Apple Watch. When I completed the walk I noticed I had data for Cardio Fitness for the first time. Now when I open the Health app I find that my Apple Watch is the data source for Cardio fitness.

FWIW, I have been working for the past few weeks with Apple support to get my issue with Cardio Fitness resolved (no Cardio Fitness data since purchasing my iPhone 11 and Apple Watch series 5 new in November 2019 nor after upgrading the watch to a new Series 6 in November 2020). In my case Apple confirmed that my settings are correct, my workouts satisfy the requirements to generate Cardio Fitness data, etc (and I have tried every suggestion posted in this thread). At Apple’s request, I have logged many additional outdoor walking and outdoor running workouts with Apple provided diagnostic profiles loaded on my watch and phone, which they later downloaded from me. They called me today to say that the Apple engineers are still reviewing the diagnostic information obtained from me but they do not yet have an answer or solution. They did acknowledge that other users have also reported problems similar to mine. They promised to continue to update me as they work to solve this problem. If I receive an answer/solution, I will post it here.

Thank you for sharing it with us, Osugrad85! I have also done everything that has been suggested here, but so far I couldn’t have Cardio Fitness data generated after several outdoor workouts using my Apple Watch series 5.

Where actually do you be expect to be informed of every aspect of how the watch works because they do pretty much say something like that in a support document. ? Also, I've been saying exactly that in multiple replies on this thread and nobody seems to have believed me anyway.

Yes, I guess a little guidance is too much to ask when when you are only paying over $600 for a device, right? — Why do people have to dig up the answers by going to going to random forums? The truth is, sgmerley, the information is not readily available and Apple could do a lot better for its loyal customers, by providing a little instruction.

First of all I really have to laugh when you complain about spending "over $600" on a device. I bought my first computer in 1985 for about $5000 which according to inflation calculators is about $13, 000 today. Looking at it that way, Apple is almost giving away computers. One of the many many ways they have brought down the cost is by not printing the giant manuals that used to come with computers and software and which nobody read anyway (I did :-) Today's computers and software are so simple that there really is very little need for such documentation and almost anything you do need can be found online. True, apple didn't put out something specifically on this aspect of the feature but is that really so surprising given the zillions of features that are documented?. Also, most people who have had Apple watches before understood that it takes time for VO2max readings to show up so this is an issue that impacts mostly new users.

I don't think Apple is a perfect company but its products are so far superior to the competition that I find it a bit much to excoriate them for this one thing no matter how much you are annoyed by it. As I said, if you had read the forum, I pointed out this time delay many times and that is what such forms are forums are for (free by the way).

((By the way I should add that my 1985 computer had a 20 MB hard drive and as I recall something like 600 kB of RAM. So for 5% of the real cost of a 1985 computer you are getting a super computer on your wrist that nobody could dream about 35 years ago.)

Nothing against you brother. I love Apple too. I’m just saying that just a little statement within the instructions for the feature, saying, “Don’t worry if your watch doesn’t show up as data source in the begging. It will take a few days to gather the necessary data. Just keep wearing it and keep exercising.” — Just a simple statement like that would set the right expectations from the beginning, saving a lot of customers the aggravation; it would create a better experience and wouldn’t cost them anything. Peace ✌️

After first posting this issue way back, I've learned that cardio fitness ONLY tracks and reports on Outdoor Walk. Period. Not outdoor hike, not core training, not anything indoors. So to have some idea of my cardio fitness I have to do at least a 20 minute outdoor walk. And once I started doing this my apple watch 6 is now listed as the data source. It seems weird to me that cardio fitness only tracks an outdoor walk. I can't speak to a run because I don't run. Or an outdoor bike ride because I don't do that either. Would love to hear if anyone has experiece with that. "Outdoor" seems to be what the watch likes.

Apple has specifically said that you don't need to track any kind of workout in order to get readings and that they should come by just walking throughout the day. I seem to remember that my first one showed up without any kind of work out tracked. In any event, I assume they are relying on pace for the calculation and how would they get that indoors?

Have a watch 6 and 12 pro phone each with the updates that came out this past week. Today on the watch Workouts I did an outdoor walk for over two miles and watch is still not showing as a data source under Cardio Fitness & Cardio Fitness Notifications in the Health App. I went way beyond the 20 minutes that someone in this thread suggested as a possible fix to get the watch to be recognized. Is this a glitch or are we all missing some hidden setting?