Apple Activity Exercise Ring - Inaccurate Tracking of Exercise

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Apple Activity Exercise Ring - Inaccurate Tracking of Exercise

Hi, I hope someone in this community can help me as Apple Customer Service\Repair totally failed. I recently purchased an Apple Watch 3 mainly for exercise. I purchased the 3 as the main purpose is for swimming and I did not want to take a more expensive model in the water. I started using the watch less than a month ago and I notice that the Exercise Activity does not accurately track the activity. For example, if I walk for an hour plus, it only records 27 minutes or 40 or 35 minutes never the correct Exercise time. The Exercise Activity on my phone tracks the exercise time accurately but not the Exercise Activity on the watch. I initially spoke to spoke Customer Service, a synchronization and then a complete reset was done. I was asked to send the watch in for repair. I did, but only got the watch back with a message "unable to duplicate the issue." I called Apple Customer Service and was so upset with their feedback I said "forget it my time is more valuable." Basically, Apple would like me to continue using the watch and keeping a log of the issue. The so called supervisor did not want to tell me how long I should keep the log before Apple resolve the issue. For a this Series watch I am not sure if the time I spend on the phone with Apple compared to my time is worth it especially when I log 70 plus hours a week working.

I am trying to resolve this issue as I am now afraid to purchase another Apple watch as I may encounter the same issue and the same poor customer Service. I have been using Apple products for years and this is the first time the Customer Service was horrible.

Questions 1: Has any one encounter this issue (Exercise Activity not accurately tracking the length of the Exercise? if so, how was it resolved?

Any feedback is appreciated.

Posted on Apr 14, 2021 4:19 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

javaliga

Level 10

120,173 points

Apr 14, 2021 4:31 PM in response to Turngirl

Based on what I have read in the replies to Workouts Not Recorded by Exercise Ring - Apple Community, unless you use "Other" or "Yoga" you have to accomplish at least one of the following for a "minute of exercise" to be counted as an "exercise minute":

Heart rate higher than 130
Average pace lower than 18'10" per mile
Speed higher than 9.5 mph

I have also heard that according to Apple Support, for the activity ring to register your workout (for outdoor walk on exercise ring) you need to maintain a speed of approximately 3.3 mph or faster and increase your heart rate to approximately 75% of your High Heart Rate (from the iPhone Watch > Heart app). This definition of a "brisk walk" is to encourage you to put more effort into the walk, (For an Outdoor Cycle its is 9.8 MPH (or 16 KPH) and 75% of your High Heart Rate.) If you slow down or pause, the watch will stop giving you exercise credit, It will still measure your steps and calories burnt but will not give you any credit towards the exercise ring or workout app. A brisk walk speed is different for everybody as the watch takes into account your age, sex, weight, and heart rate which is why it is important to calibrate the watch and have the correct details set up in the Health app,

I can't vouch for any of those specific numbers, but I'm sure there is some kind of criteria. See the "Make sure that you earn Move and Exercise credit" section in:

Get the most accurate measurements using your Apple Watch - Apple Support

You should also make sure your watch is calibrated:

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

Also, see the solution to:

apple watch series 5 activity recording n… - Apple Community

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