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

Here again my post from January 15th. I hope it helps with your problem

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. Unfortunately, due to bad weather, I have not yet tested whether cardio fitness is also possible when cycling.

Greetings from Germany

So in this continuing saga of certain heart fitness / notifications / etc not showing up in the Health App it makes some sense that for certain of the fields the watch / health app needs time to compile a sort of profile or base line before populating the various fields. What makes absolutely no sense is the app not recognizing the watch as the source. Has Apple jumped in anywhere in this thread to help clear up the mystery?

If you're talking about cardio fitness I can only give you the benefit of my experience. After I bought my Apple Watch six and installed the update the date it started showing up after about four days. I ended up re-pairing the watch and after that I think I took only two days. Based on what I have seen here I am guessing that it shouldn't take longer than a week or so, assuming all the correct conditions are met.

As I said, this assumes that all of your other settings are correct. For example, the watch needs to be recording your heart rate, GPS needs to be activated, etc. etc. Also, you need some consistent, outdoor activity such as walking or running that lasts for a period of time. 20 minutes is a value that has been suggested here. Not clear whether this has to be in the form of an actual workout or not. Apple says no but some users insist yes.

Well.... that's one little fact Apple doesn't advertise. There should be a big asterisk by any advertisement about "Cardio Fitness". If your a cyclist riding 4,000 mi/yr, guess what? Zero Cardio Fitness data. That's pretty disappointing. If you working out inside for ANY activity, guess what? Zero Cardio Fitness data. That's a big disappointment...

It is a current limitation of the Apple Watch but if it's that important to you, is there something stopping you from walking or running outside for 20 minutes in addition to what other activity you do? Just asking?

Also, the Apple product announcements and support for the watch pretty clearly identify that limitation:

"Apple Watch already estimates average and higher levels of VO2 max during vigorous outdoor walks, runs, or hikes, "

Wait a minute, aren't you the guy who said you did everything in the world possible including consulting with Apple and there was no data? Now you are getting the data you're still not happy? I don't get it.

I did the outdoor walk(s) first. The hikes i've done happened later. Outdoor walks register, nothing else does. I just think people need to know this. I no longer care. I know what and how I need to exercise for me to stay fit. Apple made so much about the "new" cardio fitness feature that many, like me, thought this would be a metric that could be helpful yet they gave no information about how it works, or doesn't work.

Well.... The point of my post was that I know it's a limitation.... and I'm very disappointed with Apple.... in their slick advertising video events, did they ever say that Cardio Fitness was only valid for outdoor runs/walks? I think not.... So, if Cardio Fitness was a factor in your purchase decision.... well, you just got hoodwinked.

Also, it is not likely a limitation of the Watch but of the data used to support the algorithm for the calculation. My guess is that they only have a data set from outdoor runners/walkers. Thus, they can only give you cardio fitness calcs on those activities... as VO2Max is activity dependent.

Lastly, it isn't important to me. I've discussed this Cardio Fitness hoodwink with the "Health" experts at Apple.... And suggested they know their competition on this front and set out to beat the competition.. don't wait for folks to call in and complain.... You see both Garmin and Strava do provide much more detailed info with respect to "the level of you current fitness".... and it doesn't matter one bit that I'm cycling versus running outdoors.

... and to make matters worse... They just launched Apple Fitness + for a subscription. Guess what? None of those Apple Fitness + workout activities (for which you are Paying) will count for your Cardio Fitness score.

Respectfully, I think talking about being "hoodwinked" is a bit over the top. Nobody advertises every single thing about a feature in a bullet point type of ad But their support article and other articles from them clearly say it works only with walking/running/hiking outside. I also don't understand that somebody who says they've owned several Apple Watch didn't understand this limitation.

Furthermore, the Apple Watch is not billed as a fitness watch per se as his Garmin and Polar. It couldn't possibly be a surprise that those companies have a more feature rich implementation of VO2 Max. You say this is not important to you but you seem to have spent a huge amount of time trying to get it to work so I don't understand why you're not simply using a fitness watch more oriented towards your needs.

I believe the rest of us are happy to have this feature at all and believe that it will surely improve over time. I have been using Apple products for 25 years and I have never once believe I was "hoodwinked."

I said I know what I need to do to stay fit. AND this is my 6th watch. AND I've been with Apple for 20 years. AND that link you provided says "It can take at least 24 hours wearing your Apple Watch, followed by several workouts* and passive measurements with your Apple Watch before you receive an initial estimate." Nowhere does it say you must do an outdoor walk. As I continue to say, I no longer care about this argument. Yes I understand that I can go out and do an outdoor walk. I'm not an idiot. The point is that people need to know that if they want a reading of this data then that's what they have to do. Peroid. That's all. Over and definitely out.

I did get Cardio Fitness feature to work, but only after a week of continuous use. However, I must say that I am deeply disappointed by it, as it is far, very very far, from giving you even a fair estimate of your VO2 max. I've been comparing my wife's readings to mine, and she is consistently above average and I, no matter how much I'm improving, it keeps putting me below average 😅. And before you say, "Oh, you're just jealous," let me give you the facts so you can understand my disappointment. My wife never exercises, and she cannot "walk" a mile without overexerting herself, how could it be possible that her reading is above average when she's clearly not –– this is the main reason we bought ourselves the watches, as motivation for her to start exercising. I, on the other hand, have been exercising consistently for the past 2 years; I run 3 miles three to four times a week followed by 30 minutes of high intensity interval training (HIIT) each time, aimed to improve my VO2 max, and I train BJJ four to five times a week. However, my reading keeps putting me below average and it's going even lower, the stronger I feel –– It just doesn't make sense. We both look at the results and laugh, mostly her 😅

We carefully checked all calibration settings, including DOB, sex, weight, and height for both of us, and it everything seems to be right.

This article clearly says:

"Apple Watch gives you a cardio fitness estimate by measuring how hard your heart is working during an outdoor walk, run, or hike."

So again, I have no idea what your problem is. You complained about not getting readings and now are you getting readings and you're still not happy. because it's not doing what Apple already told you it wouldn't do.

"I did get Cardio Fitness feature to work, but only after a week of continuous use."

Not sure what you mean by "continuous use". If you mean you wore you watch continuously for a week and then you got a reading that's the way it supposed to work

As for the rest, it's extremely difficult to know what's going on with all a lot more information. It does seem a bit senseless however to compare your readings to your wife's. It would seem more important to understand why your training is not resulting in VO2max improvements, assuming the watch is accurate (the only way to know that really is to get a laboratory test). Here are some ideas:

https://www.firstbeat.com/en/blog/why-isnt-my-vo2max-increasing/

I did get Cardio Fitness feature to work, but only after a week of continuous use.

https://www.firstbeat.com/en/blog/why-isnt-my-vo2max-increasing/