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Health kit: Remove phone as datasource for steps

I've got a 6 plus and have just got jawbones UP update to allow healthkit integration. I've set it up as a datasource for steps.


Problem is when the data from UP is not available, ie i've quit the UP app or whatever, the phone's motion processor starts logging steps. Next time I sync my UP band, those steps come across too and I get a double count.


I'd like to be able to turn off the iphone as a source for the steps data completely but can't see where to do this.


Anyone else have any luck doing it?


Cheers

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 29, 2014 7:39 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Apr 3, 2017 8:38 AM

I am having the same problem using a Polar Loop with my iPhone 5S.

The prioritising function doesn't work as the iPhone continuously adds steps for a certain period of time (a couple of minutes) whereas the Polar Flow app, which communicates with the Polar Loop activity tracker only syncs only when you command it to.
I think this shouldn't be a problem if the Polar Flow app also gives a time period to the synced data, because then the Health app will probably recognise that for a certain period of time there are multiple data sources and it will prioritise using the priority list.
However, the Polar Flow app doesn't define a time period for the synced steps (it does, but just 1 second at the time of the sync).

I think this is the main problem with tracking with both iPhone and a Polar Loop, resulting in double counted steps. Which is, I think, a problem with the Polar Flow app.


The double counting can be solved by:

  • Changing the Motion & Fitness Privacy settings (in iPhone settings) so the internal iPhone motion sensor may not write data to the Health app. Disadvantage is that this also prevents other data apart from steps to not be synced, like walking and running distance and stairs climbed etc.
  • Delete the step data provided by iPhone manually in the Health app, as suggested by Barry. This is tedious.

In my opinion, these workarounds are not satisfying. Ultimately you do want the iPhone to count steps in case you forget or choose not to wear you activity tracker.


I will try to contact the Polar Flow team, to hear what they say about the problem.

31 replies

Mar 22, 2016 6:58 AM in response to acecarex

I have the same issue with double counting steps however I use a Polar Loop. The prioritise data source doesn't help as the iPhone continually adds it's recorded steps unless the Polor flow app is syncing, in this instance the flow has priority.


The only workaround that helps slightly is to click on the iPhone in sources every once in a while and clear all it's data, leaving just the data from the Loop. The motion and fitness setting needs the ability to just deactivate certain elements, in this case steps. Like someone else previously stated, I don't really want to completely switch of motion tracing on the phone because I like to use it for distance.

Health kit: Remove phone as datasource for steps

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