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

I have no idea really. Was it a fluke?? I’ll be running tomorrow and will see if it’s still working. If I was you I’d keep hammering them till it’s fixed or look for a replacement. It’s only a glorified watch if it’s not working. I don’t use the watch for anything else.

I reported a similar issue to Apple, where when I do any type of Cardio fitness using the Apple Fitness + app it doesn't record or show progress on my rings, but if I use the other workouts it records just fine. After about a month of communication I was told that it will have to fixed with a software update in the future.

Recently though it is affecting other types of cardio where if I start the workout from the workout icon on the watch and do HIIT or if I select Dance or Outdoor walk it will record part of the workout and not the whole thing. Today I did an hour long workout, 28 minutes of running, and 30 minutes of yoga and it recorded 31 minutes of exercise. I am using a Series 5 watch that is up to date, and it is linked with an iPhone 11 Pro Max so I know it is supported.

I also have ever had it record my VO2Max one time since I got the watch in 2019 I think around mid October that year. It was just random that it recorded it too. I just have no data recorded in there since, even though I workout doing some type of cardio at least 4 times a week.

Hi, just had an email off Apple support but they are saying there is a problem with the heart monitor and it’s not reading all when running. Missing chunks. Also the data collected last week is saying that it’s February. And now best of all they are saying that when the tracked the run there was lots of hills on it and should be running on the flat because of some readings that are over 5% incline. Christ almighty these are basic things. Now have to update the watch and phone again and he will have to download software to the phone to log the new run again and give details of the run less then 30 minutes after. Apple Watch is a crock of ****. I went on my treadmill at home yesterday and the watch is telling me that I was 2 miles shorter. I know this goes off the heart monitor but it’s not even close. The Nike app is about a Mile off. I’m surprised that there is not more outrage about these useless glorified watches.

Hi same problem here though I did find a fix today; I entered a dummy VO2 result directly by using the ‘add data’ button and then the next day it started to work, maybe this helps initiate the program? Or maybe it was just a coincidence.

Series 4 with 12 mini. What good is the watch if it DOES NOT record Cardio Fitness / VO2 Max on any indoor exercise like stationary bike, stair stepper, high Intensity interval training, rowing machine, Treadmill, etc. These are all very good cardio health exercise regiments but the Apple does not record them in the Cardio Fitness / VO2 Max. All of these exercises are already programmed into the watch.

The Apple Watch, I am told by Apple support only records Cardio Fitness / VO2 Max when you are walking or running outdoors.

I am not sure this watch is for fitness tracking. I may need to look at alternatives.

Yes I do what Apple refers to as “functional strength training” and blast every other day doing HIIT on an exercise bike. Neither has any affect on VO2 Max. But if I take a leisurely walk in the park with my dog - bingo.

At the moment this can’t be classed as a fitness watch. Yes, it records how long I’ve trained but I could do that with a stopwatch and pencil and paper.

About 1/2 days after I posted that my cardio fitness was not registering and the troubles that I’ve had, my watch completely turned black. The screen was black I could not reset it. it appeared that the watch was still onstill getting notifications, but I could not see anything so I called Apple support and I ended up having to send my watch to Apple Support for a repair. I hope they can figure out what is wrong with my screen and my cardio fitness. Honestly the only reason that I got this watch what is for the fitness and health aspect. 🥵

That’s for sure. There is new software out now for the watch and the phone. Might as well install it. I think we have been sold a pup by Apple. Most people just bought it to say, look what’s on my arm oh it’s an Apple Watch. Useless for fitness people and I would say don’t buy it.

Can we try and keep the thread on focus and just post if you have information that helps solves the issue.

Posting complaints is not helping and just spamming everyone who is subscribed to this thread.

Additionally if you are upset at the watch - buy another one. But Apple clearly explain how Vo2 measurements work - and that it requires outdoor activities (because it measures pace). Its mentioned numerous times in their marketing/reviews/and on the phone itself.

Note - no health tracker on the market can accurately estimate Vo2 from indoors or on static devices - this is because the measurement is estimated via heart race and your pace to estimate oxygen intake.

How am I spaming. The watch they advertise is clearly not working and I’ve been putting up what Apple told me which is nonsense. If you think it’s ok that they tell you that you can’t run on a hill because the watch is not giving accurate info then I cant help you. I also know it’s only calibrated for out doors. The more people complain about it the better and then we wouldn’t need these forums. This Is my first time on any Apple forum and I’ve Apple products all my life.

Thats a review by a 3rd party not Apple advertisement...

But yes - you can see it can extend to walking....because with walking you can measure 'pace'. (assuming you have GPS signal)

And as stated before...you need pace x heart rate to calculate Vo2

But static devices - i.e. a treadmill or stationary bike - will not work because you cannot measure pace.

I’m only replying to people because I get an email off somebody from the forum like yourself. Apple did not say it was a bug. They don’t know what it is. My watched worked perfectly like I said in early posts in January and nothing since the other day and they don’t know why it’s working now and to the further emails off them they are saying there is gaps in the heart monitor about running on hills. I didn’t run in any hills last week when the info was sent back to Apple. I think you might want to go away now and get a life and go and try annoy somebody else. Any further info I get I’ll gladly pass it on to anyone that emails me.

Hi, i'm having exact same problem, cardio fitness Vo2 max started dropping around middle of October went from 40 to 30 and in January dropped to 20 and in February stopped registering, i've done updates and rebooted but still not working, any advice would be appreciated, thanks carol

People seem to have got it working in previous posts but I think it’s just pure fluke. All you can do is ring Apple and tell them and they will probably go through the same procedures and they may get it to work. Mine is working but it’s definitely not right and the heart monitor readings are not actual and chunks of live data are missing. I’m waiting for them to come back to me to go through the whole process again. I don’t actually think they know themselves. Big own goal for Apple.

I’ve lost all trust in the watch. I still don’t know if it’s working properly because Apple Told me about issues with it and wanted to repeat the same logs and tests as the first time but they haven’t come back. Just back from a run and it’s still working but I don’t know ifs it’s right. Nobody should be going to any levels of switching this , switching that for it to work properly. Think I was more happy when running just with the phone. I’m a big fan of Apple, 3 iPhones ,Mac book air, Apple TV box in the house but it’s the watch that annoys me the most. This had to have shown up in testing.