Apple Watch Ultra Heart Rate During Workout

I’ve been having problems with my Apple Watch ultra. basically as seen in the photos I’ve attached, every workout I do starts with the Apple Watch reading my heart rate and then for the next 5-10 minutes it doesn’t read at all. I’ve looked everywhere and read different forums and tried every setting possibility out there but none of it seems to work because it looks like I’m the only one with this problem, I’ve tried loosing and tightening my strap but it doesn’t effect the process. I’ve came to conclusion that this is a bug in the workout app because the heart rate sensors work and as seen they read my heart rate through the other half of my workout.


if anyone else has this problem please let me know.

Apple Watch Ultra, watchOS 9

Posted on Dec 18, 2022 1:35 PM

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Question marked as Best answer

Hi everybody,

I know all of you are frustrated about the Apple Watch not being able to read your heart rate sometimes while working out, well after about two weeks of talking everyday with Apple support we have a conclusion and it’s a scientific one.


Apple’s heart rate sensors are one of the most advanced sensors in the world for a wrist watch and they read your heart rate using the veins on your wrist.

when you begin a run you’re cold which means your veins aren’t popped out yet which makes it difficult for the every wrist workout watch to indicate what your heart rate is. When being in a lower temperature area such as running outdoors it’s likely that in the couple first minutes of the workout your heart rate won’t be read because your body is still cold therefor your veins didn’t pop yet (this happens mostly in the winter and depends on where you live) I’ve talked with friends who own Garmin’s and Suunto’s and they’re experiencing the same problem too because of cold weather.


Please be advised that every person is different then the other and some people take longer time to warm up either because they’re more in shape and running a couple minutes won’t warm them up or that’s just how your body is.


What I can advise you before you contact Apple about a problem like this is to make a run indoors where it’s hotter then your outside temperature and run on a treadmill and you’ll be able to see that the Watch reads your heart rate easily, just make sure it’s strapped on as Apple advised while working out.

Posted on Jan 10, 2023 8:03 AM

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231 replies

Aug 26, 2023 6:39 AM in response to OmriShpigel

Is this your first Apple Watch? I had many others, since Series 4, and other similar devices. Never had that problem until now. I'm not sure it's a problem with the Ultra or with a recent update, but it other watches (including apple older gens) never had this problem, and gave readings much faster and much more consistently. I have stretches of 15 mins without readings. This is simply unacceptable and has to be looked at (probably software!), no matter how much corporate talk you can give about Apple new best in the world sensors and blah blah blah.

Aug 26, 2023 9:02 AM in response to Kakinou

I have tried everything I’ve read in a nutshell explain what I can do.? The only way I have been able to keep my heart rate working through an entire workout is to slowly steadily increase the intensity unfortunately not all my workouts are like that typically after my warm up when I try to increase the intensity rapidly is when it glitches out . I have to stop for 10 or 15 + seconds and by then the heart rate has dropped . It can go through all levels but only if I slowly increase the intensity but even then sometimes it glitches out.

Aug 26, 2023 12:15 PM in response to AleksFadini

The point was that i have not found a solution. I had done everything online that. everyone told me and nothing has worked. I’ve called Apple Support I have looked online I had the watched replaced through Apple care and the replacement is worse. It only occurs during workouts. If I move the intensity of my workout up quickly it glitches out 3-4 or more per workout and I have no idea of my heart rate. During cardio workouts where I increase intensity slowly most of the time it is ok but even then it occurs sometimes. I paid a premium price for a product I expect premium performance. I don’t think that’s too much to ask .

Aug 26, 2023 8:16 PM in response to Btlsfn70

I have the same problem. Watch os 10 is better, but not without a problem. I also tried everything and nothing helped. I think the best apple programmers work on apple vision and other systems are not a priority and that may not be worth it for apple. Personally, I am already interested in the competition. Good luck.

Aug 31, 2023 1:02 PM in response to OmriShpigel

If this were the case then it would read well in warm weather or if you workout indoors. Mine glitches out all the time while I am working out indors outdoors warm weather, cold weather. The only common thread I have is that it tends to do it only if my heart rate increases quickly such when during my workout I increase the intensity of my workout. One apple advisor suggested that I hold my arm perfectly still for 10-15 seconds but by then my heart rate has dropped so that IS NOT an acceptable solution. I even had them replace my watch and the new one is worse

I paid good money for an Ultra supposedly a premium watch to enhance my workouts. I am quite surprised and dissapointed Apple has not addresses this issue, if this is a software glitch why has it not been fixed by an update. Is this not important for Apple? This watch was marketed to enhance workouts and yet this problem has happened and is quite widespread. If this is a ploy to get me to but a new watch it's not working for me and the people I know, frankly it is having quite the opposite effect. I will not be buying a new one I wlll be looking elsewhere for a good reliable fitness tracker wth a good heart rate monitor. Any suggestions ?

Aug 31, 2023 2:57 PM in response to Btlsfn70

I had around 30 runs since my last post without a hickup in heart rate. Things that I do is make sure watch so snug around 2 finger width above wrist bone.( if you have the ocean strap use it as it stops the Watch from slipping down). Next I changed the workout heart rate zones from auto to manual and just have one zone covering the whole range zone1 max=240 . Hope this helps

Sep 4, 2023 6:42 AM in response to Tocavi

Good luck I went through everything apple support told me looked online still it stops recording during workouts. Finally they sent a new watch it did the same thing…. only worse 😐. It happens every time during my workout when I increase the intensity to get my heart rate up. I’ve tried tightening it loosening it moving it further up on my wrist , lower it on my wrist. I am currently looking at purchasing a non Apple Watch for fitness tracking . I mean I spent $799 for a premium watch that was supposedly geared. for fitness tracking ! Come on Apple you can do better than this. Evidently this is a widespread issue . What do we get from Apple ….. silence or suggestions that are non fixes bad PR Apple. They are evidently not too concerned with current customers problems with a real issue. They safe preparing for their big “event” rather than current customers who have a legitimate issue. Do they know people talk and tell their friends! I will not be buying apple products and begin my shift starting now. I will not buy another product and as the products I have now reach the end of their usefulness I will buy non apple only. Starting with a watch that correctly tracks my fitness any suggestions?

Sep 4, 2023 7:24 AM in response to OmriShpigel

I’m done with the Apple Watch so called Ultra I’ve tried every fix Apple suggested even replaced the watch but it stops reading my heart rate very sporadically during my workouts indoors/ outdoors etc. I’ve looked online tried everything I know. Apple is usually very responsive to issues with their products. I guess. They are too busy preparing for their “event” than addressing the concerns of their customers. You pay a premium price and I am ok with that but I expect premium service and solutions to problems . This is a widespread issue whether. It’s software or hardware . I was going to buy another Apple smart watch but not now. So I need a new smartwatch with a good fitness tracker any suggestions Garmin? If so which one ? Appreciate any advice ? Thanks !

Sep 13, 2023 6:26 AM in response to OmriShpigel

Seems to definitely be software related. I found a possible work around. When the heart rate stops reporting in workout, I open the heart rate monitor and it shows reading from one minute ago, so I know the actual heart rate hardware is running. And as soon as I start the heart rate monitor, the heart rate in the workout immediately reappears, and remains.

Apple Watch Ultra Heart Rate During Workout

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