Apple Watch Series 2 cannot detect heart rate during workout

[MatthewWallis]

Got my Series 2 on launch and seem to be having an issue where it struggles to detect heart rate during exercise. I'll need to wipe the sensor and my arm before exercise for it to work properly at the start. Sometimes i'll need to take it off during and give it a wipe as well. My heart rate will go up to around 150bpm and then the next minute the watch will tell me its 70bpm and wont correct itself until I wipe the sensor which will affect the amount of calories it thinks i've burnt during the workout. Is this a fault or do other peoples do this too? Obviously it's the sweat that is affecting its ability to work but should this happen seems like it defies the point a little bit?

 

[Julien]

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204666

If having problems it is best to get a strap.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Got my Series 2 on launch and seem to be having an issue where it struggles to detect heart rate during exercise. I'll need to wipe the sensor and my arm before exercise for it to work properly at the start. Sometimes i'll need to take it off during and give it a wipe as well. My heart rate will go up to around 150bpm and then the next minute the watch will tell me its 70bpm and wont correct itself until I wipe the sensor which will affect the amount of calories it thinks i've burnt during the workout. Is this a fault or do other peoples do this too? Obviously it's the sweat that is affecting its ability to work but should this happen seems like it defies the point a little bit?

Afraid it is common. Never found mine to be dependable, sweat or not.

 

[daflake]

I have never found the wrist method of heart rate monitoring to be consistent. I always use a heart rate strap (chest) to take that measurement. Wrist is a novel idea, but it requires the strap to be tight and as you have found, sweat can interfere.

Had a Mio and it was much the same.

 

[BarracksSi]

There's a sports/workout strap that has a clip for holding the AW, and the strap wraps around your upper arm instead of your wrist. I forget the manufacturer's name, but word from other MacRumors members say it works really well for tracking HR.

(yet another benefit of being able to disconnect the AW's straps so easily)

 

[mk313]

I don't have any personal experience with it, but the strap is made by twelve south

There's a sports/workout strap that has a clip for holding the AW, and the strap wraps around your upper arm instead of your wrist. I forget the manufacturer's name, but word from other MacRumors members say it works really well for tracking HR.

(yet another benefit of being able to disconnect the AW's straps so easily)

 

[tl01]

Mine does this from time to time but then it will pick up again. I have a strap and could wear it for each work out but am happy to not have to. The strap isn't particularly comfy. I don't need it to give me a precise pulse at every moment so it is acceptable to me. If you want better accuracy then grab a strap.

 

[Steve686]

I've found you need to keep your arm still while the watch is reading. Takes like 5-10 seconds this way, otherwise, it seems any motion inhibits a solid read.

 

[MatthewWallis]

Thanks all for your replies! On a side note, I do a lot of exercise on a cross trainer which workout is best to select when doing this?

 

[Julien]

It is a type of elliptical so use Elliptical.

 

[Ixidor]

In my experience, I have less issues if I wear the watch a little looser (but not to the extent that it flops around).

If I wear it to tight, the watch struggles to read my pulse consistently.

 

[mk313]

I don't have any personal experience with it, but the strap is made by twelve south

I have no affiliation with Twelve South, except that I've bought a couple of items from them, but this strap is called the Action Sleeve and I just got a coupon code from the for $5 off the Action Sleeve that is good through April 23, 2017. The code is ActionSleeve5 if anyone is interested

 

[maka344]

Out of interest, what are the Hr numbers that make you think the readings are out? High or low?

 

[Shaul]

Got my Series 2 on launch and seem to be having an issue where it struggles to detect heart rate during exercise. I'll need to wipe the sensor and my arm before exercise for it to work properly at the start. Sometimes i'll need to take it off during and give it a wipe as well. My heart rate will go up to around 150bpm and then the next minute the watch will tell me its 70bpm and wont correct itself until I wipe the sensor which will affect the amount of calories it thinks i've burnt during the workout. Is this a fault or do other peoples do this too? Obviously it's the sweat that is affecting its ability to work but should this happen seems like it defies the point a little bit?

I agree that sweat is probably the major cause of problems with HR reading. Last month we had a race at noon (!) so I had to put on sunscreen. This was the first run I had with no HR misreading issues. I later realized that the reason was probably the sunscreen lotion blocking my sweat.

 

[Technarchy]

Sweat, movement, hydration levels and shape of the wrist all play a role in how consistent Apple Watch will be in capturing heart rates.

 

[beartjie]

I use a BT heart strap for HR data on the bicycle and the spinning bikes. I tried running with an HR strap, but that did not work 100% as it irritated me after a short distance.