Apple Watch Ultra Heart Rate During Workout

You have just described the exact same issues I’m facing with my Apple Watch Ultra. After being extremely persistent with the store I had it replaced for a new unit after using it for 15 days. Well, the new unit is doing exactly the exact same thing. I start running HR goes up to 160, 170, 180 and it gets stuck there for a long time. Probably the entire run if I don’t remove the watch and put it back on again. I have a Garmin Fenix and a Samsung Galaxy and they are sooo much accurate. It is extremely annoying to be in the middle of a race and not being concentrated and your HR ALL OVER THE PLACE.

There is something going on in these watches for sure, I just hope that Apple does something about it. This is ridiculous for the most expensive Watch in the market.

Apple needs to get with the program and fix this problem. I sent my Ultra in to Apple. It came back to me with the same BPM issues. Apple said all sensors were working correctly and there was not a problem with the watch. Maybe not - but the software need a rework!!! Fix this Apple!!!

Shaved my wrist… made some small difference but didn’t fix it… I have the feeling that the watch momentarily disconnects, then when reconnecting, expects to find the measurement close to the previous one. Just a hunch but I kept on trying to run with my arm against my chest… if the heart rate was within a certain range, it kept recording, but if it had completely dropped, for example I started walking… it disconnected for a while. It’s like there is a logic which is trying to filter out spurious measurements… but cannot cope with the variation. I’m more convinced that if the apple experts put their minds to it, they could crack the problem. In the meantime I have a state of the art watch which works great… until I take it for a run.

After months of heart rate recording problems on my Ultra I found this thread. Like everyone else: starts recording, then stops for a (sometimes long, 30min+) while, then continues until the end of my runs. My old Apple Watch 5 had no such issues. My Garmin Descent Mk2s, no issues.

My conclusion after every possible experiment (tightening watch band, moisturizing my skin, etc.) is that it must have something to do with the watch weight... during running it just moves too much on the onset because the skin tends to be more dry. As the moisture builds up, the friction increases and the watch movement relative to the wrist diminishes.

Or Apple just messed something up, majorly. I am pretty upset that an $800 piece of supposedly "rugged & capable" equipment fails to perform as advertised.

I found that if I wear the watch close to the middle of my forearm and tighten the band, it works. But, during my run I have to keep making sure it doesn’t slide down.

I agree this has to do with the weight of the Watch which causes too much movement around the wrist.

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.

I have a similar problem, heartrate app works fine, whereas workout app doesn’t record or show the heart rate for the 1st kilometer (5 min). Afterwards it works fine; without me doing anything. It’s only during cold weather, but not always.

Apple’s support first told me that it is probably due to software issues but after many test, resetting and other things, support now says it is my skin and my vains. They react to cold weather and don’t allow the Ultra’s sensors to read my heart rate.

Why this is only the first 5 min and only in the Workout app, Apple didn’t know. Probably need new arms.

Really disappointed.

Ok, but why that doesn't happen with Garmin? I have a Garmin Fenix 7x Solar Sapphire bought before purchasing Apple Ultra and it has never let me down no matter what training I did (running, cycling, etc) or how cold it was outside? I didn't buy Ultra for scientific purpose but for my regular training considering I could benefit from cellular mode when I don't carry my iPhone with me.

Just got off the phone with the health team who say that the bone in your wrist can interfere with the heart rate monitor and so I should try putting the Ultra Watch two fingers from the bone.

This is part way up my forearm and is weird, verging on uncomfortable and definitely a design flaw in my opinion.

I’ll see it makes any difference, but it’s annoying and disappointing.

I got the same response from the health team. 2 problems with that:

-Didn’t buy an $800 watch to wear on my forearm (ridiculous). Btw despite tightening the band the watch gravitates to wear a watch should actually be worn during a run or any physical activity.

-My Garmin Fenix (3 different models over the years) and my series 6 Apple Watch had Zero issues worn in the same spot on my wrist.

I suspect it’s either a software issue or the bigger square design just won’t sit properly for what seems to be an increasing portion of the population to get a consistent heart rate. It’s a real shame because I love the overall functionality. However I need a fitness watch first and foremost.

Thank you for the trick, I tried it several times now.

Unfortunately that does not solve the problem, it just alters it:

I do get a reading now every time, however the heart rate is wrong. For example, when I start running it starts with 159 bpm and stays high. That's why too high for me when I start running and breathe through my nose only.

After 600 to 800 meters then the heart rate suddenly drops to 135 to 145 bps, which is my typical heart rate when I do hear rate zone running.

The 800 meters are about the same time/distance where before I did not get any reading (when wearing the Watch on the outside of my wrist).

So that's even worse, I get readings that I cannot trust. Can I trust the other readings then? For me the Ultra has become a techno gadget that is not useful for sports when it comes to HR.

Options: Try the Watch 8 or go Garmin Watch. For now I am using a chest band again and using the Ultra as a Bluetooth receiver and display unit only. Very disappointing.

The issue with the faulty HR reading it is really disappointing and frustrating gafter spending €999!! I am surprised that this problem goes unnoticed by the numerous reviews from the social media "influencers". Also I am really upset that Apple is not addressing or commenting this problem...

I have gone back to my Sunto!

As far am I am concerned I am strongly recommended to all my contacts not to buy the Apple Watch Ultra.

Came searching for an answer thinking I was the only one having this problem, obviously not. Extremely irritating spending this much money only to have a watch fail to do something so important in a product marketed as an adventure watch. My Fenix watches have never had any issue recording my heart rate over the last 4 years.

it’s a shame really. I really like the Ultra and the functionality, but need it to function as a fitness watch first and foremost.

I put a strap on my wrist to comfortably hold the ultra up and away from the end. So far it has been consistently recording my heart rate well. I like the ultra for being an all rounder so I'm prepared to live with it. I do wonder what is the difference with the other watches though and how they get around this issue. Maybe it can be fixed with software and somebody suggested!

I have the feeling that the software might be ruling out non-sensical measurements.. maybe if the rate of change is too high between measurements it simply doesn't record it. If there is some noise on the signal then the probability is higher. Possibly that's an over simplistic view but one never knows how the engineers are using software to compensate for the actual measurement data to make it seem realistic.