HT204516: Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy

Learn about Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy
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Q: Will the Apple Watch track activity on elliptical?

BBeen using an elliptical machine off and on for a few months.  The Apple Watch shows 1 minute of activity even when I do 15 minutes or more.  How do I correct this to accurately track activity?

Apple Watch, watchOS 2.2.1

Posted on Jul 24, 2016 10:23 AM

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Q: Will the Apple Watch track activity on elliptical?

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  • by Jonathan UK,Apple recommended

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 24, 2016 10:27 AM in response to TechInSC
    Level 7 (30,218 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 24, 2016 10:27 AM in response to TechInSC

    Hi

     

    When using the elliptical, be sure to record the activity as a workout using the Workout app and to choose Elliptical as the activity type:

     

    Use the Workout app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

  • by Jonathan UK,Apple recommended

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 24, 2016 10:38 AM in response to TechInSC
    Level 7 (30,218 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 24, 2016 10:38 AM in response to TechInSC

    Note also that, to credit progress towards your daily Exercise goal, the Activity app aims to identify activity that equals or exceeds the intensity of a brisk walk. This requirement applies both during general daily wear and when recording workouts (whether Elliptical or any other type) via the Workout app.

     

    It is possible that your Elliptical workouts have not met this requirement for the full duration of your workouts.

     

    The definition of a brisk walk depends on your personal information. To check that this is accurate - and to update it over time:

     

    - On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Health > Edit - tap and adjust items, then tap on Done.

     

    During general daily wear and when using the Workout app to record Indoor Walk, Indoor Run and certain outdoor workouts when the iPhone is not taken along, the Activity app and Workout app rely on arm motion (measured by the accelerometer) to track movement for the purpose of estimating results including distance, pace and progress towards the Exercise goal.

     

    For the best results, allow the arm on which you are wearing your watch to swing naturally as you move around and during workouts (where relevant to the activity type).

     

    Calibrating your watch can improve the accuracy of estimations made by the apps. More information and instructions for calibrating your watch are available via the link below. The article also includes instructions for resetting any existing calibration data and starting the process afresh.

     

    More information:

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

    Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

    Use the Workout app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 24, 2016 10:40 AM in response to TechInSC
    Level 7 (30,218 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 24, 2016 10:40 AM in response to TechInSC

    If you would prefer to receive Exercise credit for the full duration of your workouts regardless of their intensity levels, track them via the Workout app using "Other" as the activity type.

     

    This will credit one minute of Exercise for each full minute of the workout. Active calories will be estimated at a rate equivalent to a brisk walk or based on data recorded by the heart rate sensor, whichever is higher.