Apple Watch Doesn’t Record Heart Rate Start of Exercise

Hello L-o-u-i-s,

We see your Apple Watch isn't reporting your heart rate at the beginning of a workout, and understand wanting to get this resolved. We'll be happy to help!

When you start your run, do you Use the Workout app on your Apple Watch to start the workout or do you allow your Apple Watch to detect your workout? If you're starting the workout, let's make sure you Get the most accurate measurements using your Apple Watch.

Keep in mind, many factors can affect the performance of the Apple Watch heart rate sensor. Skin perfusion (or how much blood flows through your skin) is one factor. Skin perfusion varies significantly from person to person and can also be impacted by the environment. If you’re exercising in the cold, for example, the skin perfusion in your wrist might be too low for the heart rate sensor to get a reading.

Permanent or temporary changes to your skin, such as some tattoos, can also impact heart rate sensor performance. The ink, pattern, and saturation of some tattoos can block light from the sensor, making it difficult to get reliable readings.

Motion is another factor that can affect the heart rate sensor. Rhythmic movements, such as running or cycling, give better results compared to irregular movements, like tennis or boxing.

If you’re not able to get a consistent reading because of any of these factors, you can connect your Apple Watch wirelessly to external heart rate monitors such as Bluetooth chest straps. Learn how to pair Bluetooth accessories.

Heart rate is one of many factors that Apple Watch uses to measure your activity and exercise. Depending on your workout, it selects the most appropriate inputs for that activity. For example, when you’re running indoors, it also uses the accelerometer. Learn more about how your Apple Watch uses GPS and the heart rate sensor when you use the Workout app.

We hope this information can help identify and resolve this issue for you.

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. Have a good one!

Hello L-o-u-i-s,

We appreciate you for participating in the Apple Support Communities.

We want to make sure you get the help needed to resolve this issue. We recommend that you contact Apple Support directly. Depending on your region, you may be able to reach them here: Get Support

Best!