I Went for a 20 minute outdoor walk today using the Workout app, with my phone GPS on And I didn't get credit for even one minute. I had my hands in my pockets because it was cold but given I was using gps, shouldn't it have given me credit in the exercise ring?
So I did end up going to the Genius Bar, and showed them all my data. They agreed it was odd, and sent it to The Depot to have the software reloaded and retested. They sent it back after doing so and said it tested fine. This time, they did tell me that it could take 7-10 days to "learn" my habits, so I should make sure to give it that much time. I gave it a full 14 days, but was having the same issue. I was about ready to bring it back and tell them I wanted a new watch, when I decided to try one more thing in desperation.
I blew up ALL the data. I had to kind of play around and figure out what order to do stuff in, but ultimately I think it's this: You unpair the watch from the phone first, then you restart the watch, and go to the watch settings and reset it so it gets reset as if it's new from the factory. It will say "are you sure you want to delete all of the data from the watch?" and I replied yes. I also deleted the watch app and the activity app from the phone, then shut down the phone and restarted it. After that I erased all content and settings on the phone...yep. Desperate! I did try to remove the watch from the phone without doing that, but it seemed like it kept the data in the phone and wouldn't accept the reset. What's really weird tho, is that I did a restore on the phone data from a back up, and it pulled the watch app back in, but not the data. Anyway after I FINALLY cleared out all the crap data, the watch has worked like a dream. My actual activity time has been spot on every single time from the very first day, down to the minute.
There may have been an easier way to do this, but at least it works. Too bad Apple couldn't get to this solution with me.
I wouldn't know based on very little information. Many things could be in play. The recurring theme here is Apple the Watch is defective somehow.
Let's assume for your situation your Watch and software are working properly. Your data entered in the Health app is used in measuring your workouts. Given that, Apple may posit an easy workout for you is difficult for me, based on my Health data. Your goals set in any given workout compared to how you complete them will also affect workouts.
In the link I posted previously, you can see that you can close a Move ring outside of a workout or without a specific workout at all. Stands are a little more than just standing, though. There needs to be some movement for about a minute to get Stand credit.
The Watch records all your activity using the common metrics most fitness devices use— average speed, distance, time, steps, temperature, average heart rate, and peak heart rate, I believe. All these are recorded for you to review.
Apple is clearly trying to make us healthier and is focusing on cardio-vascular activity to do so. Closing Move and Stand ring shouldn't be difficult once it's understood what's required. You seem to have no difficulty with closing not only those, but the Exercise ring as well. You might consider increasing your goal(s) and challenging yourself more.
My workouts for the Watch are solely Outdoor Walks. I've found that over three months, it's become a little more difficult to earn Exercise points. At the very beginning I attributed this to slowing down at various times even though my average speed was 20min/mi. When I slow, Exercise credit isn't given. So I made sure I kept my pace up and all was well for over two months. Then I found I wasn't getting minute-for-minute credit. Reviewing my Workout stats I saw that my average heart rate had dropped noticeably from my first workouts. I believe heart rate is one of the metrics used in calculating progress. My improved conditioning made it harder to close that ring, so now I have to push myself a little more.
If you use the Other method, your green ring will close pretty much no matter what you do or don't do. If you have no trouble meeting your current goals within a specific Workout, your green ring will close fairly easily. The other two are fairly easily closed, the red ring also based on whatever goal you set.
Apple has monthly challenges that are based on your data and previous performance to challenge you to increase your level of activity. These will change as your level of conditioning changes.
Check out the information at the above link and consider increasing your goals. That should help you figure out what's what.
I Don't get any distance clocked for the Outdoor Run, Outdoor Walk. It's only working with Outdoor Cycle.
SUrely this his cannot be settings or calibration.
I have the same problem ! the exercise counter seem to be getting worse over the last few days? Did the calibration and nothing registered at all in exercise minutes
After applying the fix I described above, I found that my watch now appears to be working normally. Hopefully the fix will work for the others who have posted here with the same problem.
Thanks, TahoeC. Following your experience, I have re-paired the watch (what a pain that was!). Will test it tomorrow on an outdoor walk and report back. Fingers crossed . . .
Same here. After unpairing it works ..... for ONE day
That was what happened today. I set up for a 1 mile walk, then I got credit for a mile but only 3 minutes of activity in the activity app.
Just got my watch a few days ago to replace my Fitbit. I also have issues....what is the other option?
According to the watch they're active calories, out of a total 188 calories for the activity.
What does Strava count? And, do you know that it is accurate?
George
My husband and I have same issue. Is there a fix other than other exercise? Did yours get resolved, someone said there were 40 with this issue in threads.
This fixed my problem, thanks for the help.
Thanks, this worked for me too
Hopefully Apple will fix this problem permanently, we can only hope!
I guess we'll have to repeat this every few weeks or months?!
Does the heart rate sensor/app show accurate HR?
Yes. If I record the activity as an "other" workout, everything is fine.
Apple watch exercise not counting
