Apple Watch Ultra Heart Rate During Workout

Let me ask you the following question - what Apple Watch Ultra band are you using when this HR reading issue happens? I have the Alpine Loop and the Trail Loop. This issue only happens when I wear the Alpine Loop, not with the Trail Loop. Also check if you purchased the right band size. For me with the Trail Loop I can control how tight the band is. The Alpine Loop is a bit loose and I have noticed that when the watch is not in full contact it doesn’t track the HR well. During an activity I think you can recognize when the watch is not tracking - in my case the HR is greyed out and not changing at all. In normal situations the HR recording is colored. Do you see the same in your cases?

I had this problem and eventually what solved it for me was to wear my watch on the inside of my arm, so the the screen is facing inwards instead of outwards.

Once I did this, the heart rate monitoring was constant and never broken. I think it’s because the skin on the inside of my arm is smoother, with less hair and less sun damage (thickening.)

Give it a try. I actually like wearing my watch on the inside now.

Hope this helps some of you.

I am having the exact same problem. On the Ultra as well as the old Series 7 I tested.

What I have come to see is that the Apple Watch stops recording heart rate whenever there is an upward Zone change from 1 to 2 or 1 to 3 or 2 to 3. That’s the only time the heart rate is lost.

Pausing the workout and resuming makes the Watch get back the heart rate within 15-20 seconds and then functions pretty well. Until another major up Zone change happens when it loses HR again.

Definitely seems like a software bug.

As I've posted previously, I followed another contributor's suggestion and the problem has completely disappeared. I have been having this problem 10 or 15 minutes after starting with the pulse disappearing on the chart and then after a while returning. I moved my Ultra about half an inch above my wrist bone and slightly increased the tightness on the watch band. I use a prior model band that can be easily incrementally adjusted. This was a few weeks ago. I do about 90 minutes a day 7 days a week covering all the zones. No problems at all. Give it a try.

I follow up to my own message. I found that, actually, the HR drops issues are related to Apple's Fitness app, not to the watch. I tried to log workouts with other apps (Athlytics, WorkOutDoors) and the HR is recorded properly.

Is it possible that Apple didn't have this problem during their pre-release tests?

Still uncertain about keeping the Ultra, or return it and keep my trusty Epix. I would only miss watch/iPhone interactions and I actually aesthetically like the Utra more than Epix.

I strapped the apple watch a little further up the arm and.... it worked! Heart rate was correctly recorded over virtually the whole run. So, I guess that there needs to be enough flesh under the sensor to make good contact and I guess get a good signal. My narrow boney wrist does not offer enough flesh while running but is ok at rest.. but I think read in apple that different sensors are used between normal measurements and during sport. Anyway, now I just need something on that part of the wrist to prevent the watch slipping back down on to it while running.

The Ultra is my 3rd apple watch and the only one I haver ever experienced HR issues with. I like everyone have tried everything and now about 30 bands. My opinion for whats its worth is the watch is too heavy and therefore moves around too much on the wrist during a workout especially running even when you have the band at the recommended tightness. Ive looked into other watches as I'm in the US Triathlon team so HR is training is extremely important to me. The consistent factor including my previous apple watches is their weight. They are significantly lighter and therefore don't move around on your wrist as much during a workout. I absolutely love my Ultra watch but have resorted to wearing a HR strap until hopefully apple can fix the issue but I'm not confident it is in fact a software issue that can be fixed. My option is to go back to a previous version of the watch to use specially for training. I hope this helps and trust me it has almost driven me mad

ps Ive sent my watch back to apple twice to be checked and the issue remains. Sorry team.

Ok so I have some workouts where it sucks, some where it’s fine. Every time I have heart rate issues during a run, either my watch is loose, or all three of these are true:

colder than normal outside

shorter stride caused by uphill or me trying to stay in HR zone 2

did not launch apple heart rate app before workout

This is absolutely just one persons data, but I read a post on Reddit about this issue that mentioned I should try launching the heart rate app before my workout. I forgot to do it the first time, and of course, no HR data 6 minutes into that run. I ended the run, opened the heart app, it immediately got my HR (close to what I was expecting), and I launched the workout again. I now launch that app before every workout, and I haven’t had the issue since.

this is frustrating because it sounds a lot like a software problem. I know many people pay the premium price on apple stuff because it’s supposed to “just work”…

watch: ultra but I had issues with the smaller series 3

Wrist size smaller but watch is secured properly with no air gaps between sensors and wrist. Trust me, i tried every possible orientation before I tried this silly trick. I even bought another apple band 🤦‍♂️

Hi,

I found a solution that works for me and my friends.

We have been testing it for a week now (all days) and no more problems with heart rate loss (but we are still waiting for a software fix from Apple).

STEP 1 : Enable AFib History

On your iPhone, open the Health app.

Tap Browse, then tap Heart.

Tap AFib History.

Tap Set Up, then tap Get Started.

Enter your Date of Birth.

Select Yes to indicate that you have been diagnosed with AFib by a doctor, then tap Continue.

Tap Continue to learn more about AFib History, the results you may see, and life factors.

Tap Done.

STEP 2: Change the placement of the watch

Instead of putting the watch on top of the wrist, put it inside the wrist and tighten it properly.

STEP 3: Heart Rate Reading

Before starting an exercise, open the Heart Rate application and wait for a value to be displayed.

This is the time to start an exercise and the heart rate will finally be measured without any loss!

Good luck :)

Yes, this is exactly the same that happens with me (@maavan). The HR is greyed out and not changing when the problem is happening.

I've already did a running activity after upgrading WatchOS to 9.5 and everything went fine, but I've also changed the band used. I was running with the Apline Loop and very frequently with problems.

Now, I've purchased a rubber band from Spigen that is more adequate for sweating sports and the combination with 9.5 was successful.

This band is definitely less lose than the Alpine one.

I will keep an eye on this and let you know.

PS: regarding the accuracy of the measurements, when compared to Garmin, I don't see any issue. I still have my Epix 2 and I did a couple of running activities with both watches and the measurements were quite spot on.

So 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

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.

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 .

By the way to save time, and without insulting your intelligence, Support will probably start with...

First force restart it

i.e. press and hold both the side button and Digital Crown for at least 10 seconds, then release both buttons when you see the Apple logo.

If that is no help

 Unpair and erase your Apple Watch

On Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXBcNcbTcqg&list=RDCMUCYFQ33UIPERYx8-ZHucZbDA&start_radio=1&rv=UXBcNcbTcqg&t=25

and then

Set up your Apple Watch

Or in Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rb3vX86RUQ&list=RDCMUCYFQ33UIPERYx8-ZHucZbDA&index=3

 If no better you may want to unpair then set up without restoring the backup.

You may also want to make sure the software on the watch is up to date.

Update your Apple Watch