Why are workouts not recording as exercise?

[mdmiller9]

I recorded a workout of a 2 mile walk that reflects as a workout but did not update the health app and was not recorded as exercise. This has also happened with bike rides as well. What do I need to do to ensure that my recorded workouts update the health app and reflect as exercise?

 

[anon(4697585)]

First thing to check is that the AW has permission to update Workouts.

Health - Sources - Apple Watch - enable all

 

[phessler]

Did you save the workout at the end of it? After you stop the workout scroll down and tap Save?

 

[mdmiller9]

I have granted permission and always save my workouts. Some workouts will update the Health app and reflect as exercise and some do not. I cannot figure out any pattern or distinction between those that do and those that do not. They are consistently recorded as a workout so that piece is working OK. I think I must be missing a setting that is preventing it from updating the Health app (which I believe in turn updates the exercise tracker).

 

[SwitchBeach]

I workout will only get recorded as "exercise" if it is rigorous. For a "walk", it needs to be a "brisk" walk.

 

[mdmiller9]

Thank you for your response. I just finished a 3 mile walk in just over an hour and averaged 129 bpm - I guess that is not up to Apple's standards of a brisk walk, as it recorded the workout and updated the Health app but did not record as exercise

 

[SwitchBeach]

Here are some additional explanations.

Apple Watch and activity tracking: 5 things you need to know! | iMore

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204517

If you want to "cheat", use the "Other, Open Goal" item under workout instead of Outdoor Walk.

 

[tcuprof]

When you open your Health app on the iPhone and go to Activity, do the Move, Exercise, and Stand numbers match your watch?

 

[mdmiller9]

Yes, they are identical.

 

[mdmiller9]

SwitchBeach - I loved this article; it is actually what originally attracted me to this site. Thanks so much for sharing with me. I will try "Other" next time I exercise and see if that makes a difference.

Update: I reviewed my history and found that when I have used the "other" distinction it records as exercise, even though it is generally a less rigorous workout. It also seems to record bike rides just fine even though they are typically lower bpm; Apple just doesn't seem to think my walks are brisk enough to record. I guess I better pick up the pace, as I don't think Apple is going to change their algorithms based on my disappointed feedback... hahaha!

 

[Mac Guy]

Apple just doesn't seem to think my walks are brisk enough to record. I guess I better pick up the pace, as I don't think Apple is going to change their algorithms based on my disappointed feedback... hahaha!

Not in this lifetime, anyway! But in fairness, I think their methodology incorporates your unique personal data and maybe active vs resting calories and what it sees about your workout progress into determining what meets the 'exercise' standard.

Whether FitBit, Garmin, or Activity, my main consideration is consistency. My idea of a brisk walk isn't what most people would consider 'brisk', but the Watch gives me nearly full credit every time. When I slow, there's a drop in credit given. So for me, the Watch and Activity app are close enough for Govt. work.

 

[tcuprof]

First thing to check is that the AW has permission to update Workouts.

Health - Sources - Apple Watch - enable all

Yikes! I've never looked at that screen before and now I have an idea why my Activity.app sometimes takes extra time to post an achievement. The sources screen is showing FIVE Apple Watches, but it is showing two as active (which makes sense since I have two watches) and three as no longer paired. I guess whenever you unpair and repair, it creates a new source but doesn't delete the old one. The three that show no longer paired DO have data associated with them so I surely can't just delete them.

Mac Guy - if you've done any unpairing/repairing, who knows how many sources you may have!

 

[tcuprof]

Thank you for your response. I just finished a 3 mile walk in just over an hour and averaged 129 bpm - I guess that is not up to Apple's standards of a brisk walk, as it recorded the workout and updated the Health app but did not record as exercise

An HRM of 129 bpm should definitely be enough to get credit, so maybe pace has something to with it. I walk 1.33 miles on the treadmill first thing every morning at a sub 15 min/mi pace. My heart rate for these walks is always in the 85-88 range, substantially lower than the 129 you had, and yet I always get Exercise credit for the walk.

Perhaps you could try a shorter but faster walk.

 

[Mac Guy]

Mac Guy - if you've done any unpairing/repairing, who knows how many sources you may have!

Surprisingly, I only have six for Watches. There's the phone for a total of seven.

 

[SwitchBeach]

Health > Activity > Activity > Data Sources & Access
Health > Activity > Active Energy > Data Sources & Access
Health > Activity > Exercise > Data Sources & Access
Health > Activity > Activity > Data Sources & Access
etc....

 

[bamf-hacker]

Also try to do a hard reboot of the Watch and the iPhone. On the watch press and hold the Digital Crown and the Button at the same time until the Apple logo comes up.