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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239 replies

Sep 24, 2023 4:56 AM in response to AleksFadini

I have had several Apple Watches. Most recently the series 6. They were all essentially flawless with heart rate recording. I just bought the Ultra 2. I wear it in the exact same position as my 6. On my first workout (rowing), it skipped recording large sections of my workout. Did fine while I was weight lifting afterward. Seems to be an Ultra issue. Very disappointing from an expensive product.

Sep 24, 2023 7:15 AM in response to AleksFadini

I found a solution that works, at least so far. I thought that the problem might be due to light getting in around the edge of my watch as I worked out. I mean you are working out so you are moving you can’t help that. So I found a sweatband on Amazon where you can attach your watch it has clips and a hole where your sensor can come in contact with your skin and I also moved it up on my forearm a little and it WORKS. My other bands always slipped down as I worked out . The sweatband doesn’t. Since I started using it almost never glitches out. So I’ll keep using it so far it’s working . I bought an ultra 2 I haven’t worked out wearing it yet. I will try with regular band and see if somehow it might be better .

Sep 24, 2023 7:21 AM in response to Btlsfn70

This could be spam, or could be real. I did notice that if I push my watch to the middle of my arm, that solves the problem, maybe because the skin around it creates a visual seal.


can you describe the band better? Is it allowed to post a link or just a picture? I’m willing to try that.


regardless, it’s an horrendous design flaw if it’s true.

Oct 2, 2023 11:24 PM in response to OmriShpigel

Hello, is there any update on this topic.

Have Ultra first release, having the same, it does stop recording with Workout up (Outdoor Run).

I follow all the instructions (position of the watch is ok, read and write data ok, seems nothing out of the ordinary) but still, randomly, having issue.If I use chest strap the issue dosent show up.

I been talking with Apple support on the phone, they flagged the possibility that 3rd party app like Strava could interfere with the heart rate sensor even if they are not running (I don’t believe this could be possible) so they could prevent sometime to have the app Workout not to read/write properly.

Ita just very frustrating.

Thank you.

Oct 3, 2023 12:38 AM in response to Sascha Monteiro

No, it’s not resolve and I’m sure it’s a hardware issue. However, when I wear the watch face facing inside, I will not face any issue, as mentioned by someone on this forum. The issue (stop measuring heart rate for some time or high heart rate above 200) will only surface when I wear the watch normally facing outside during run.

Oct 3, 2023 1:30 AM in response to RAsgp

Thanks for providing more information.

I went to Apple Store and they performed a check, no issue found (sensor).

I updated to lastest OS and will test it out with a run.

Im wearing the watch like this : Right Wrist / Digital Crown on Right Side.

Is your tasting happening recently and the issue shows up with latest OS update too?

Thank you!

Oct 5, 2023 6:51 AM in response to OmriShpigel

Update :

I went for a run just now and had no issue beside getting grey (heart rate icon during the beginning of the workout - after 3 mins ish) for maybe less than 10 seconds.

Session was 55 minutes and heart rate recording didnt fail this time!

I will try again soon and will test again.

Watch on Right Wrist, digital Crown Left Side (I dont thik this is make any difference but I want to believe the latest OS update improved things - 10.0.1 (21R360).

E.

Apple Watch Ultra Heart Rate During Workout

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