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Level 1

61 points

Cardio Fitness not working on my Apple Watch Series 6 (or on my previous Series 5)

I have owned an Apple Watch (first series 5 and now series 6) since November of 2019. I frequently run or walk outdoors for much more than 20 minutes at a time and I always use the Apple Watch Workout app, selecting either Outdoor Walk or Outdoor Run, accordingly. In 14 months of this outdoor activity (hundreds of runs and walks by now), I have only had Cardio Fitness data recorded ONCE (December 5th, 2019, and called VO2Max then). Before and since that random single entry, NO DATA has been recorded for VO2Max or Cardio Fitness. I compared the other workout parameters (exercise time, heart rate information, active calories) for that single workout that recorded a VO2Max entry with the data from my hundreds of other workouts but I don’t see any significant differences, other than the fact that VO2Max data was NOT RECORDED. When I traded my series 5 watch for a series 6 this past November 2020 I had hoped that this feature would start working, but nothing has changed (NO DATA for Cardio Fitness, aka VO2Max). I don’t normally take my phone with me with I exercise outdoors, but even when I do, NO DATA is recorded for this parameter. I have reset my Fitness Calibration Data several times in an effort to get this feature to work, but still NO DATA is ever recorded. What really has me confused is that it did work ONCE, but has not worked before or since that one day and I didn’t do anything different on that one day. Any ideas? Is this a know bug?

Posted on Dec 29, 2020 6:24 PM

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150 replies

Osugrad85 Author

Level 1

61 points

Feb 4, 2021 3:01 PM in response to km1117

I got a call back from Apple Support today (actually a voicemail as I was doing an Outdoor Run and had Workout Do Not Disturb turned on when they called). Anyway, they said that they are still “looking into the issue” and will reach out to me once they have an answer.

BTW, the outdoor run was for just over an hour, covered over 7 miles, recorded consistent heart rate with consistent gps readings, and still did not get any Cardio Fitness data (so more of the usual for me, 15 months and counting and no Cardio Fitness data from my watch). Also, I had Apple Maps open during the run (I tried this before, but figured I’d give it another shot today), and obviously it did not make a difference.

I’ve tried running while using the Outdoor Walk workout and walking while using the Outdoor Run workout (and obviously I’ve tried running using the Outdoor Run workout and walking while using the Outdoor Walk workout). Basically I’ve tried every combination of Outdoor Walk and Outdoor Run workouts I could think of, always at least 20 minutes long and most of the time much longer. And Apple Support confirmed that my settings are all set properly (precise location gps is on, power saving mode is off, etc).

I doubt I will hear back from Apple, but I will continue to contact them for an update regularly and will post here if anything changes.

SWAPNIL303, you suggested that I ask for a replacement watch. Is this what you did? And did it solve your problem? I’m actually thinking that the problem might be my phone, since it is the same phone I had when I got my Series 5 watch and I’ve since upgraded the watch to a series 6 and the problem has continued, so the constant here is my phone. I have no idea where the Cardio Fitness calculation takes place (on the watch, on the phone, or in the cloud).

Matt_SG

Level 1

4 points

Feb 8, 2021 7:04 PM in response to Osugrad85

Just starting to read this Support case as I am having the same issue with Series 6 Watch and Iphone 12Pro. I've also logged a case with Apple Support and have been on the waitlist since end November/2020 when I initially logged a case with them. After the Upgrade to WatchOS7.3 and iOS 14.4 a couple of weeks ago Apple Support had also remotely received trace files from my phone and watch and since 30/Jan/2021 there has been no response.

In all cases shared with Apple Support I've been able to show either an outdoor walk / outdoor run that was tracking at less than 11min/km pace with workout at least 20mins segments where the workout was not paused. however I am still not able to get Cardio Fitness data captured.

I'm interested to continue to hear of your Apple Support progress as I'm getting frustrated as this feature of Cardio Fitness (VO2MAX) was a key driver for the Series6 upgrade. Thought I'd chip in here as it's not just you having this issue... and fast getting more frustrated with Apple Support when a key feature is still not working.

Matt_SG

Level 1

4 points

Feb 8, 2021 7:06 PM in response to Osugrad85

Just as a note on this, I did ask the Apple Support person on swapping the watch, however they are adamant it is a software issue rather than a hardware one which doesn't warrant a watch swap.... so the frustration continues...

Whetts

Level 1

4 points

Feb 16, 2021 5:56 AM in response to Osugrad85

I had the same issue since buying my S6 watch back in December last year. Today I adjusted a few settings, did 3 quick 15 minutes walks and VO2 Max results came up straight away....

On iPhone. Settings>Privacy>Motion & Fitness - turn on Fitness Tracking.

On iPhone. Settings>Privacy>Location Services - turn on Location Services

On iPhone. Settings>Privacy>Location Services>System Services - turn on Compass Calibration and Motion Calibration & Distance.

Follow the same process to check that your watch has similar settings. Do this through the watch and not the watch app on your phone.

Hopefully this trick might work for you.

Osugrad85 Author

Level 1

61 points

Feb 16, 2021 2:12 PM in response to Whetts

Whetts, thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately all of these settings were already set properly on my watch and phone (and still no Cardio Fitness data). But, I did go ahead and toggle them off and back on in the hope that this might fix it (if it does, I’ll post here).

In the meantime, Apple Support contacted me again last week to say that the problem has been elevated to another level and does appear to be a somewhat wide spread issue. They had me install diagnostic profiles on my watch and phone again and over the past week I was able to log several more “outdoor run” workouts of about 1 hour each (with good heart rate and gps data throughout the workout). Apple Support now has the diagnostic logs associated with those workouts and are going to be going through them to try to find a cause. The person I spoke with said that the fix will likely be in a future OS update. Not sure if I will hear any further updates from them but I offered to continue to help them resolve the problem as much as I can.

If I hear anything more I will post here.

dpasp

Level 1

4 points

Feb 16, 2021 2:55 PM in response to Osugrad85

i have the same issue.

I bought apple watch 6 yesterday, and it is my first one ever. I actually bought it for this feature, but it doesnt work, and I have 2x 30 m outdoor walks.

it seems incredible that one of the most advertised feature doesnt work and I see very empiric methods people are using to get it work like it was a sort of macumba. I think Im returning this watch until I can and stick to my omega speedmaster.

Feb 17, 2021 6:15 AM in response to Osugrad85

I found this thread trying to find an answer to the exact same problem. I can’t seem to get my health app to list my new watch as a cardio source at all. I think it may be that my old watch and my new watch had the same name for a bit, confusing the app somehow? Did that happen in your case as well? I completely got rid of the old watch in my settings once I realized but it is still a problem, so who knows if that was a factor at this point. Would love to have this solved. Hopefully soon.

Feb 17, 2021 1:44 PM in response to Camerashy1

Same thing for me. No Vo2 for a month now for some reason. iPhone 11 Pro Max and Apple Watch Series 5. I went back in my history and Vo2 only shows up on days when I did an outdoor walk. I do cardio almost daily and no Vo2 reading.

Osugrad85 Author

Level 1

61 points

Feb 17, 2021 1:54 PM in response to Camerashy1

Hi Camerashy1. I don’t think the problem has anything to do with the name of your old watch. Early on I thought that might be my problem so I renamed my watch to something unique. It still didn’t show up as a data source for Cardio Fitness.

Hi again Whetts. As an update to your suggestion, as I mentioned my settings were already correct, but I toggled them off and back on, and did another outdoor run today (41 minutes, 4.5 miles, good gps mapping and HR data) but still no Cardio Fitness (VO2Max) data.

Feb 18, 2021 8:46 AM in response to mascarawitch

Hi all,

Reading all this hoping a solution would be waiting for me at the end. Sadly not.

About a week ago I swapped my Apple Watch 4 for a Series 6 and Cardio Fitness hasn’t worked since. Like everyone else here my AW6 is not listed as a source for Cardio Fitness but my AW4 was supplying data right up to 11th Feb. I’ve tried all the suggestions here without success. It’s truly amazing that Apple can’t solve this.

Feb 18, 2021 1:42 PM in response to dpasp

“I tried to then fix the synch issue. Opened the Apple watch app on the iphone and clicked: General>Reset>Reset Sync Data”

Alas this did nothing for me. In fact “>Reset Sync Date” had no effect whatsoever. Apart from Indoor cycling I also walk (the dog) a couple of times a day and despite selecting Outdoor Walk this has no effect.

Feb 19, 2021 11:01 AM in response to Matt_SG

I’ve made sure all the settings on both my 12 Pro Max and AW6 (all latest updates installed). Today I did 50 minutes strength training plus 2 very brisk walks, both over 20 minutes and no change at all. Still nothing since the day I unpaired my AW4 (11th Feb). AW6 not shown in list of data sources.

Happy that some have sorted the problem but no change here. 😡

Gikal999

Level 1

4 points

Feb 19, 2021 11:08 AM in response to ukskeptic

It’s really INCREDIBLE how many people with this issue …. APPLE should be ASHAMED …. I already said it … the most expensive smart watch on the market … and they DON’T fix this issue since weeks …. Monthes now 😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤

Osugrad85 Author

Level 1

61 points

Feb 19, 2021 3:50 PM in response to ukskeptic

Matt_SG, glad it is working for you (still broken for me). FYI, my most recent efforts to resolve this through Apple Support were due to Apple Support reaching out to me as a result of their seeing this thread. The support person who contacted me said that due to Apple Stores (Genius Bars) being closed do to the pandemic they are not hearing about issues like this as much as they normally would. So I encourage anyone still having problems getting Cardio Fitness to work (still not working for me) to call Apple Support and initiate a case/trouble ticket with them. Hopefully if they get enough cases generated this matter will be elevated even further and finally resolved. When I spoke with them last I pointed out that Cardio Fitness is an “advertised feature” of the Apple Watch so they should be doing everything they can to make sure the feature actually works ... for everyone.

Feb 20, 2021 2:46 AM in response to Capt-Sarkar

Update: I’ve just been out and walked the dog and my Apple Watch 6 has magically appeared in the ‘Data Sources’ and updated my VO2 Max. This is the first time since 11th Feb despite frequent doggy walking everyday. Maybe the 2 brisk walks yesterday had an impact.

Cardio Fitness not working on my Apple Watch Series 6 (or on my previous Series 5)