Was the built in Nike Plus app removed from the iPhone 6?

WWell I sent an email to Nike and they said they discontinued that app but looked at my account and suggested I let them forward it as a concern so that maybe the sensor technology will be brought back. Here's the response.

"Currently, there are no plans to make Nike+ iPod available on the iPhone 6 or 6+. Regarding the Running Sensor, it of course can still be used with iPhones older than the 6 and 6+, as well as iPod Touches and iPod Nanos that feature the Nike+ iPod App.

The Running App, which is available for the iPhone 6 and 6+, is designed to use a GPS signal when running outdoors, negating the need for a Running Sensor. When you run indoors with the Running App and disable the GPS feature, the app will rely solely on your iPhone's built-in accelerometer. No sensors required.

I see you’ve logged nearly 600 runs with Nike+ over the last 4 years, and that many of those have been recorded with Nike+ iPod. With that being said, I would be more than happy to take any feedback regarding the app and it not being available on the iPhone 6 and 6+, and ensure that the feedback reaches the appropriate department here at Nike. We take our consumers’ feedback very seriously, so please feel free to share it with us, because that feedback is what has lead to so many changes and innovations here at Nike over the years."

Unfortunately the iPhone 6 no longer supports the Nike Sensor. I run on the treadmill and prefer to use the Nike Sensor with the Phone placed on the treadmill rather than using an armband. For those of you with the same preference, here's my recommendation. If you're keeping your old iphone / ipod:

• Continue using it to track your runs using the sensor
• Make sure you have a Nike + account and log in to that account on your Nike + iPod app
• Sync those runs to the Nike+ website (I'm not sure about iPods especially those without a touch screen. I assume it will sync when you sync your iPod to iTunes on your computer)
• On your iPhone 6, install the Nike Running app
• In the Nike Running App, select the option to sync all runs from the website

Now all your running data is synchronized with Nike, regardless of what device you're using. Please note that runs using the Nike Running app will not sync to the Nike + iPod app. Consider the runs on Nike + iPod as only a data input source. The Nike website is your master repository and the Nike Running app reads and writes to the Nike website.

I hope that helps 🙂

The Nike+ app is not available with iOS 8 on the iPhone 6 because Apple removed the hardware from the phone. iOS 8 still supports Nike+ when it detects the hardware, which is why you still see it on the iPhone 5.

I was just as upset as everyone else.

I can offer you two suggestions: (1) get the Nano, it still supports it. (2) look at getting a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) stride sensor (Adidas and Polar make them). You can use the BLE sensor with other apps (Polar, Adidas, Wahoo).

Not only was it never on the iPhone 6, it is also explicitly stated that the Nike sensor is "Not compatible" (see bottom of this page: https://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/run.html )

I just got off a chat with Apple support and was told the Nike + iPod app was removed because the iPhone 6 has the native hardware to track speed, distance, etc. The sensor is now obsolete I was told. I explained that I (and many others) used the app together with the Nike running site to track my workouts. It also has all my history. She was sympathetic, and suggested I send feedback to the developers and request that they bring it back. (yeah that'll happen)

It seems Apple is trying to wrangle all health tracking and send it through their new health app. The more control they have here, the more leverage they'll have to sell Apple watches next year. It wouldn't surprise me to see fewer and fewer 3rd party health partnerships with Apple.

Jimbo135 wrote:

Yes but the only app that will use the small Nike sensor that goes in your shoe was the built in nike+ app. That's what we all need otherwise it was a wasted 20 dollars on that sensor. The pedometer is built into the health app but I don't like holding my phone while running.

You don't have to hold the phone for the pedometer to work. It can be in your pocket, belt pouch or arm pouch and it will still work. The Nike+ Running app is still available in the App Store.

The footpad was designed for devices that didn't have accelerometers built in. Since it's possible to get the same information without it, I don't think it's completely accurate to say that functionality has been removed. And, as I understand it, it's Nike that has discontinued the support. There are others out there though. Polar makes a BT food pod that you can use with the Polar app. It also works with other apps such as Wahoo and Runmeter. And, as it fastens to the shoe's laces, it doesn't require a special shoe (or additional device to attach to the shoe). I believe Addias also makes one which can be used with their app.

I'm disappointed that the Nike + app is not included in the iPhone 6 as well.

If it helps anyone, here's a link to how to use the Nike GPS running app indoors: http://support-en-us.nikeplus.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/36324/p/3169,3575

I hope Nike gets enough pressure to bring that iPod app back.

For those who run indoors and don't feel like tempting fate on a treadmill with a sweaty iPhone 6 plus in your hand, I've found the Nike sport watches to be very helpful. They both use the foot pod.

I think that Apple regards Nike + iPod as obsolete feature. If you want to continue to track with Nike sensor, keep old iOS device or just move to Nike+ app based on GPS & Motion sensor built in iPhone5S or later.

Chris CA wrote:

It is still built-in to iOS 8.

I have it on my 5S.

That's interesting. But it isn't shown on my iPhone 6. Then it may not depend on os version.

http://store.apple.com/au/product/MA368ZM/E/nike-ipod-sensor

Store page introduces Nike sensor is compatible with listed devices but no 6 or 6+.

At least, It's obvious that only 6&6+ cannot use that Nike+iPod feature.

Just bought an iPhone 6 three weeks ago, and have migrated over from my iPhone 5. Went to connect the Nike Running app with my Nike+ shoe sensor, and there was no setting for finding it. I was a little dismayed to see that on my iP5 w/ iOS 8.1.2 the shoe sensor still works, but with my iP6 w/ iOS 8.1.2 there is no provision.

After finding this thread I see Apple has abandoned support for the shoe sensor in their newest phones. The shoe sensor was developed for use with the iPhone 3G and 3Gs, back before there were gyroscope (only accelerometer) or pedometer type feedback in those phones, and definitely before Apple wanted to run all "health" feedback through their own app. With the iP6, these sensors are incorporated into the phone, and the health app in iOS 7/8 and the M8 motion coprocessor make a separate sensor redundant, so I can see why Apple (or maybe Nike) have deprecated the sensor, but I find that the sensor in the shoe works a lot better than in the phone for precisely the reason that others have stated: use on a treadmill. Of course, the treadmill does provide feedback like distance run, speed, and calories burned, but none of that works into my Nike account, or the "health" app.

I wish we could somehow get Apple or Nike on board with allowing the Nike+ sensor to work with the iPhone 6/6+ and future iPhones for those users who wish to log their elliptical/treadmill workouts. However, if they have abandoned support for the future of the iPhone, I foresee two things happening:

1) Nike will stop manufacturing the Nike+ sensor, and once the current stock runs out of batteries and dies, there will be limited supply to get to work with your old devices. I've seen some people take apart their sensor to replace the battery, but it clearly wasn't designed for this.

2) Nike may stop manufacturing shoes that have the cavity under the sock liner, and then the sensor will have to be mounted in a pouch on your laces or left behind.

If you check Nike's website, the sensor is no longer sold. You can still buy it from places that still have stock but I think you're right that they are phasing the sensor out completely. They also used to have their Nike+ line of shoes that had the cavity in the sole for the sensor and I can't find any mention of them on their site. They do have a Nike+ section on the website but it specifically is talking about the Nike+ Running app, the Fuelband, and the Sportwatch. While it would have been nice for them to keep the Nike+ iPod app in the iPhone 6/6+ for those of us that still have sensors it looks like Nike is trying to go sensorless for the future.

fwiw, I contacted Nike and they said THEY (Nike, not Apple) phased it out.

Jimbo135 wrote:

Yes but the only app that will use the small Nike sensor that goes in your shoe was the built in nike+ app. That's what we all need otherwise it was a wasted 20 dollars on that sensor. The pedometer is built into the health app but I don't like holding my phone while running.

Yes, it seems our Nike sensor is currently unusable. Perhaps Nike will add that functionality to their running app, but yes, they've already said they've ended support for Nike+ipod. I don't mind carrying my phone on outdoor runs, but very much prefer not to hold my phone when I run on a treadmill. Here's hoping Nike will step up and make the Nike Sensor useful again.

When I upgraded and found that the Nike+ sensor circuit was removed, I did 2 things:

• Bought an older iPod Touch 4 on eBay. It ran $40, works with the sensor and uses wireless to upload the data. As a note, the Nike Running App no longer works on the iPod Touch 4. I tried the newer Nano.... not worth the $150. It was the least painful change to make.
• And then, to future proof, since I think the sensor is going away, bought the Adidas Speed_cell BTLE (be careful there are a lot of the old ANT+ versions on there) on eBay. It works on any BTLE 4.0 unit, so it works just fine with the 6. You can use the Adidas app, or use the Wahoo app which then loads into Nike Fuel. I haven't tried this yet, but it looks like the only recourse for the long run

Hope this is useful.