shortcut to start a workout

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Level 1

8 points

shortcut to start a workout

I’m trying to create a shortcut to start the outdoor walk workout. so in the end I can say hey siri i’m going for a walk and it will start the Outdoor Walk workout on my apple watch. I’ve create a shortcut [[ Start Outdoor Walk Workout with Open Goal ]] and set to show on watch , when I run the shortcut nothing happens, just get a circle with a square in in top right to stop the shortcut. I get no error ,… it just runs and nothing happens. what am I missing ,,, shouldn’t this be possible I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to tell siri i’m going for a walk and it kick off the workout.

Posted on Jun 30, 2023 5:30 AM

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Answer 1

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pjswiz

Level 5

5,366 points

Jun 30, 2023 6:32 AM in response to funkyhead

Hello funkyhead,

This worked for me. I just went "Hey Siri, I'm going for a walk" on my iPhone and my Apple Watch and both successfully started an outdoor walk on my Apple Watch. I know with the steps you've provided you're doing a similar or the exact same thing, but could you share a screenshot so I can see what you have set up?

EDIT:

I know that says Outdoor Run but I did test it with Outdoor Walk and other workouts as well and it worked perfectly.

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Answer 2

pjswiz

Level 5

5,366 points

Jul 5, 2023 3:16 AM in response to funkyhead

I apologize, so you have something like the following?

I did just test this and I got the same results:

Does work when you start the workout manually
Does not work when asking Siri

Right now, I'd say this is the intended behavior as the Personal Automation detection does state "When an Apple Watch workout is" instead of just "When a workout is."

You can always leave feedback/suggestion submissions and hope it's in a future iOS release. Apple does promise to read all feedback carefully. I did not see a place to leave feedback via the web.. Your could maybe leave it under iPhone, but the Feedback Assistant app does have an iOS/Shortcuts section

Open Safari (iOS or macOS)
Enter the following as the url: applefeedback://
When prompted, say you want to open the Feedback Assistant app.
Authenticate
Tap the New Feedback icon (message bubble with a pencil
Select iOS & iPadOS
For Which area are you seeing an issue with?
1. Make sure you select Shortcuts
Also for What type of feedback are you reporting?
1. Make sure you select Suggestion

The rest should be easy! Just give Apple the information you've provided here! That'd you like a Personal Automation that not only detects when a workout is started on Apple Watch, but also when started via Siri.

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Answer 3

funkyhead Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 4, 2023 8:38 AM in response to pjswiz

Hey @phwiz.

thank you for the reply,

I think I misexplained...

* I have an automation that is triggered by "When a workout starts"

* It does work when using the Apple Watch Fitness App's button to start a Walking workout.

* It does however not work if I tell Siri: "Start Outdoor Walking Workout" (or any other workout for that matter)

Thanks for your help :)

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Answer 4

funkyhead Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 6, 2023 7:08 AM in response to pjswiz

Hey PJSWiz … thank you again, you are awesome for replying that fast.

Right now, I'd say this is the intended behavior as the Personal Automation detection does state "When an Apple Watch workout is" instead of just "When a workout is."

I completely and vehemently disagree. Your quote is wrong (at least on my phone the texts are different) The trigger text says; quote: "When I start any workout" only in the detail view it says; quote "When: Apple Watch Workout"

I am starting a (any) workout. It thus should trigger the automation.

Workouts are only available if you have an Apple Watch anyway. As far as I know, there is no way of starting a workout from your phone, so the distinction of how I am starting it is pointless.

anyway.

Thanks for your help in confirming the behaviour, this actually helps me deal with the problem.

I just submitted a bug report to Apple and will now create a Siri shortcut for my "workout starting".

Looking forward to running into different problems ;-)

Cheers and all the best,

Rainer

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shortcut to start a workout

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