zoe1969

Q: Apple Watch doesn't seem to be capturing my true activity

Hi! I just set up my Apple Watch and I don't think its capturing my true activity. For example, I stand A LOT and it will remind me to stand even if I've been standing for 45 minutes (cooking, folding laundry etc.). It also isn't recognizing when I exercise (during a yoga class, treadmill, walk to shops). I used the exercise app when I was on the treadmill for 45 minutes and it only gave me 16 minutes of activity for that day. Am I doing something wrong? Should I reset the watch to a lower activity level? I started on the moderate one... I appreciate your advice!

Apple Watch

Posted on May 14, 2015 1:07 PM

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Q: Apple Watch doesn't seem to be capturing my true activity

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  • by yas9in,

    yas9in yas9in May 16, 2015 1:00 AM in response to zoe1969
    Level 1 (53 points)
    iPhone
    May 16, 2015 1:00 AM in response to zoe1969

    The watch will definitely have trouble recognising yoga as exercise and may not even count outdoor walks sometimes as exercise minutes but be sure that it's counting your calories. the worldwide recommended 30 minutes of exercise everyday needs to be real exercise and as apple puts it "anything from a brisk walk up" so remember casually walking won't be counted towards exercise unless you start a workout from the workout app. as for the stand alerts, maybe you weren't very active while standing!? Remember that this is basically just a couple of sensors strapped to your wrist, it doesn't have magic powers. it will get better with time as it gets to know you better and also carrying your iPhone with you will help calibrate the watch.

  • by alex_h1,

    alex_h1 alex_h1 May 16, 2015 11:27 AM in response to zoe1969
    Community Specialists
    May 16, 2015 11:27 AM in response to zoe1969

    Hey there zoe1969,

     

    In order for the Apple Watch to better track your activity, I suggest going through the calibration steps in the article linked to below.  Please also keep in mind that the Watch learns as you use it, so the more you use it, the more accurate it will track your activity.

     

    Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

     

    Take care,

    Alex H.

  • by BonaHoTep1,

    BonaHoTep1 BonaHoTep1 May 16, 2015 2:28 PM in response to alex_h1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 16, 2015 2:28 PM in response to alex_h1

    See this post, I have calibrated multiple times and my watch is not only off when running without phone but even WITH the phone: apple watch activity distance wrong vs runkeeper & garmin

  • by Lohvarn,

    Lohvarn Lohvarn May 18, 2015 10:07 AM in response to alex_h1
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Apple Pay
    May 18, 2015 10:07 AM in response to alex_h1

    This is not an issue with calibration. Apple Watch's distance calculator is way off when running even WITH the iPhone. Walking seems fine so far. My suspicion is the Watch doesn't ping GPS frequently enough, and if the course is winding, Workout ends up estimating straight lines through curves, which then vastly underestimates distance traveled.

  • by Lohvarn,

    Lohvarn Lohvarn May 19, 2015 11:12 AM in response to zoe1969
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Apple Pay
    May 19, 2015 11:12 AM in response to zoe1969

    Well, Watch OS 1.0.1 has been released, which claims to have improved stand activity. That's a start, hopefully?