How does Apple Watch work with Health app exactly?

I discovered that if I don't use the Workout app on the watch, then the activity doesn't really get counted in the Activity tracker app. One day I did a yoga practice without using Workout, and Activity didn't track. Next day, I did use Workout and the activity got tracked. Workout tracked my HIIT class yesterday evening too.

My question is: I use the Speedo iPhone swim tracker app to log my swim workouts. Speedo will log swims as workouts in the Health App. However, the Activity watch app doesn't pick that up when it's calculating my exercise goal goal for the day. It does count activities I log through Workout watch app. I'm wondering if there is a setting hidden away somewhere, or if it's a shortcoming. I would think Activity would pick up data that gets logged into the Health app through the phone since presumably some people are still using Fitbits and other trackers.

This is what I seem to be finding. I can ONLY fill my circles in the Activity app if I've recorded the workout on the watch.

Anyone been able to fill the circles using another app?

Thanks Jennifer for bringing up exactly my current problem. I swim every morning 1 kilometer for 20 minutes which will be a significant contribution to my daily exercise goal using the Speedo App. The App integrates well with the Health data and logs the calories burnt fed by the Speedo App. However, knowing you have conducted your exercise activity diligently but not having the green circle completed is very frustrating.

Would appreciate if somebody (from Apple?) would comment on this, and if there is no current solutions through adjustment of settings etc., please advise if this issue will be resolved in the next update of the Watch OS.

Exactly the question i've been pondering. I run with my garmin gps watch and the data appears in the Health app, it doesn't appear in the Activity app. Can this be done? I ran 3 miles but the activity app shows nothing.

This has also been a concern of mine. Becaus I like to use Runkeeper when I go for a walk but I am afraid that burnt calories (and other data I allow to be written to the health app) will be double since I'm wearing my watch at the sime time (not running the workout app on the phone). Both data show up in the Health App under "Calories" > "Show all data". But you are saying that only one on these end up in the chart? If yes, is which one determined by the list of priority in the health app?

One other issue I have with using Runkeeper is the fact that the Apple Watch will stop measuring my puls during an activity if I'm not using Apples native workout app. I heard this is a change in the latest iOS update. Solution?

I play Rugby and i choose activity as "OTHER". it works for me and shows in my Health app and on Activity app correctly.

Hope this helps.

further, for all you guys wanned the aple watch activity app data to sync fast & show on iphone, first open Health app on iphone. and then open the Activity app on iphone & you'll see all data are exactly synced as just like in Apple watch.

above worked well for me.

enjoy guys!

This is also my question. Did you ever get an answer or response? It's driving me crazy! I run and use another app on my phone (don't wear watch because I get so sweaty) and miles show up in Health app but not on activity on watch. Any information would be appreciated!