My S3’s exercise ring is broken

[JefeBall]

Got the S3 GPS about 12 days ago. It was giving me absurd exercise credit, sometimes 150 mins a day. I was getting credit in the car, walking around my house, etc. And considering I get my heart rate in the 180’s when I run, have a fairly low resting heart rate, and have read that people with a similar makeup as me have to do a decent amount to get credit, it wasn’t making sense to me.


I called Apple and they had me trouble shoot some things and then advised that I exchange it for a new one as there could be some hardware issues.


I just exchanged it today and after setting it up and putting it on, I had already 5 exercise minutes just from walking around my house for no more than 5 minutes. I now have almost 90 minutes of credit after wearing it for about 4 hours and only doing a 45 minute workout.


I have a hard time believing this is normal behavior for the Watch. Does anyone have any ideas as to what this could be?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Have you calibrated it? That will make a huge difference. It needs to learn your stride to be more accurate. Exercise minutes (without a workout running) is based on a brisk walking pace. Which Apple defines as 3.3mph or faster. So if it thinks your stride is really short, it will be easier to hit that 3.3mph based on accelerator movement.

I typically have this problem when I set up a watch as new. Once I calibrate it. It becomes more accurate.

Go for an outdoor walk in an open flat area for 20 minutes (running an outdoor walk workout). Then go for an outdoor run for 20 minutes in the same open flat area (running an outdoor running workout).

 

[vmflapem]

Have you calibrated it? That will make a huge difference. It needs to learn your stride to be more accurate. Exercise minutes (without a workout running) is based on a brisk walking pace. Which Apple defines as 3.3mph or faster. So if it thinks your stride is really short, it will be easier to hit that 3.3mph based on accelerator movement.

I typically have this problem when I set up a watch as new. Once I calibrate it. It becomes more accurate.

Go for an outdoor walk in an open flat area for 20 minutes (running an outdoor walk workout). Then go for an outdoor run for 20 minutes in the same open flat area (running an outdoor running workout).

Could you elaborate one how we can calibrate this? Do we have to do it by using the activity app?

 

[tromboneaholic]

When you paired the watch with your phone, did you use select a backup from your old watch or set it up as new?

If you used a backup, I suspect something corrupt from the first Watch’s configuration carried over.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Could you elaborate one how we can calibrate this? Do we have to do it by using the activity app?

Please look at my last paragraph. Already fully explained it.
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When you paired the watch with your phone, did you use select a backup from your old watch or set it up as new?

If you used a backup, I suspect something corrupt from the first Watch’s configuration carried over.

Calibration data does not carry over. It has to be recalibrated every time you repair a Watch. Regardless of setting it up as new or a backup.

 

[JefeBall]

Have you calibrated it? That will make a huge difference. It needs to learn your stride to be more accurate. Exercise minutes (without a workout running) is based on a brisk walking pace. Which Apple defines as 3.3mph or faster. So if it thinks your stride is really short, it will be easier to hit that 3.3mph based on accelerator movement.

I typically have this problem when I set up a watch as new. Once I calibrate it. It becomes more accurate.

Go for an outdoor walk in an open flat area for 20 minutes (running an outdoor walk workout). Then go for an outdoor run for 20 minutes in the same open flat area (running an outdoor running workout).

Thanks for the help. When I’m going on walks/runs should I have my iPhone with me? I read somewhere else that when calibrating it’s best to have your phone with you.

When you paired the watch with your phone, did you use select a backup from your old watch or set it up as new?

If you used a backup, I suspect something corrupt from the first Watch’s configuration carried over.

I set it up as new to avoid this potential issue just in case.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Thanks for the help. When I’m going on walks/runs should I have my iPhone with me? I read somewhere else that when calibrating it’s best to have your phone with you.

Being that you have an S3, its not required because it has GPS. S0/S1 needed the phone because of no GPS. Even with my S3, I carry my phone for calibration purposes, but its not needed.

 

[JefeBall]

When you paired the watch with your phone, did you use select a backup from your old watch or set it up as new?

If you used a backup, I suspect something corrupt from the first Watch’s configuration carried over.

Being that you have an S3, its not required because it has GPS. S0/S1 needed the phone because of no GPS. Even with my S3, I carry my phone for calibration purposes, but its not needed.

I always will be wearing my watch, and will just be charging when getting ready in the morning. So can I delete my iphone from the list of data sources in the health app so data only comes from my watch, or is that a bad idea?

Also, how long would you say it takes to fully calibrate/learn you? Just that combined 40 mins of walk/runs?

 

[Mlrollin91]

I always will be wearing my watch, and will just be charging when getting ready in the morning. So can I delete my iphone from the list of data sources in the health app so data only comes from my watch, or is that a bad idea?

Also, how long would you say it takes to fully calibrate/learn you? Just that combined 40 mins of walk/runs?

If you delete your iPhone, it will just recreate it. It doesn’t harm anything being there, as the health app defaults to the watch anyway. It’s essentially a backup for steps and distance incase you didn’t wear your watch for a day.

As to calibrating. The two 20 minute workouts are enough. As you continue to do more workouts in the future, your calibration data will become more and more accurate. But the 20 minute of each workout is a baseline to learn your stride.

 

[JefeBall]

If you delete your iPhone, it will just recreate it. It doesn’t harm anything being there, as the health app defaults to the watch anyway. It’s essentially a backup for steps and distance incase you didn’t wear your watch for a day.

As to calibrating. The two 20 minute workouts are enough. As you continue to do more workouts in the future, your calibration data will become more and more accurate. But the 20 minute of each workout is a baseline to learn your stride.

Thanks for all the info. When I’m calibrating, is it fine to just hold my phone in my hand or does it need to be in a pocket or waist band or something?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Thanks for all the info. When I’m calibrating, is it fine to just hold my phone in my hand or does it need to be in a pocket or waist band or something?

It doesn’t matter. Whatever you prefer.

 

[tromboneaholic]

Please look at my last paragraph. Already fully explained it.
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Calibration data does not carry over. It has to be recalibrated every time you repair a Watch. Regardless of setting it up as new or a backup.

I'm not sure it's a calibration issue. I could be wrong as OP stated it was set up as new. I've never seen exercise require calibrating to this extent.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I'm not sure it's a calibration issue. I could be wrong as OP stated it was set up as new. I've never seen exercise require calibrating to this extent.

I've been using an Apple Watch since April 2015. I'm almost positive its a calibration issue because the same exact thing happens to me when I repair my watch and don't calibrate it right away.

Regardless if its a calibration issue or not (which seems to be if this is the second watch doing it and my girlfriend and I have always experienced the same thing) its not a corruption issue.

 

[tromboneaholic]

I've been using an Apple Watch since April 2015. I'm almost positive its a calibration issue because the same exact thing happens to me when I repair my watch and don't calibrate it right away.

Regardless if its a calibration issue or not (which seems to be if this is the second watch doing it and my girlfriend and I have always experienced the same thing) its not a corruption issue.

Calibration seems to affect move ring more than exercise ring though. Hopefully OP's issue gets resolved by calibrating...

 

[Mlrollin91]

Calibration seems to affect move ring more than exercise ring though. Hopefully OP's issue gets resolved by calibrating...

The exercise ring is based on your stride when you are not running a workout, thus if the stride is not calibrated properly, it wont record accurately when you are not running a workout, which is exactly what the OP is experiencing.

 

[JefeBall]

The exercise ring is based on your stride when you are not running a workout, thus if the stride is not calibrated properly, it wont record accurately when you are not running a workout, which is exactly what the OP is experiencing.

Gotta ask you about this, went for a 25ish min walk earlier in a relatively flat park. How could my elevation gain possibly be 1,453 ft?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Gotta ask you about this, went for a 25ish min walk earlier in a relatively flat park. How could my elevation gain possibly be 1,453 ft?

Uhhh. Okay. That’s definitely an issue. One that I have never seen before.

 

[JefeBall]

Uhhh. Okay. That’s definitely an issue. One that I have never seen before.

Yea, I don’t have a clue. Also, I noticed this. Steps being recorded by both watch and phone at the same time. Is this normal? This was during that same walk.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Yea, I don’t have a clue. Also, I noticed this. Steps being recorded by both watch and phone at the same time. Is this normal? This was during that same walk.

Yes. That’s entirely normal. The steps are recorded on the phone as a backup. Or incase you chose to change the default source from watch to your phone.

The elevation is not though.

 

[JefeBall]

Yes. That’s entirely normal. The steps are recorded on the phone as a backup. Or incase you chose to change the default source from watch to your phone.

The elevation is not though.

Got it. So what do you suggest I do about the elevation issue? Could it be connected to the overly sensitive exercise ring and not a calibration issue like we thought?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Got it. So what do you suggest I do about the elevation issue? Could it be connected to the overly sensitive exercise ring and not a calibration issue like we thought?

I don’t think so. I think they are independent. On is based on the barometer, the other is accelerometer. Did you run any workouts with your original S3? Curious to know about elevation change on that one.

 

[JefeBall]

I don’t think so. I think they are independent. On is based on the barometer, the other is accelerometer. Did you run any workouts with your original S3? Curious to know about elevation change on that one.

Unfortunately, no previous workouts to compare it to. The runs I did were without my phone, so it doesn’t show elevation gain. I’m going to run in the same place tomorrow, so we’ll see what it shows then I guess.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Unfortunately, no previous workouts to compare it to. The runs I did were without my phone, so it doesn’t show elevation gain. I’m going to run in the same place tomorrow, so we’ll see what it shows then I guess.

Elevation gain is built into the S3 now. So it should show it even if you didn’t have your phone.

But that’s a good idea. Maybe it was a freak thing. Maybe the run tomorrow will be normal.

 

[ftaok]

Elevation is calculated using barometric pressure. I'm half joking, but did the weather change drastically during your walk?

I'm guessing it's either a sensor malfunction or a software glitch. Keep an eye out to see if it keeps happening

 

[JefeBall]

Elevation is calculated using barometric pressure. I'm half joking, but did the weather change drastically during your walk?

I'm guessing it's either a sensor malfunction or a software glitch. Keep an eye out to see if it keeps happening

No weather change, I was walking near a big river though if that matters.
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Elevation gain is built into the S3 now. So it should show it even if you didn’t have your phone.

But that’s a good idea. Maybe it was a freak thing. Maybe the run tomorrow will be normal.

Didn’t go to the same spot as yesterday, but ran on a track earlier and now it’s in the 900’s, so that’s definitley not right. It was also freezing cold so looks like my heart rate wasn’t fully recorded. But yea, seems to me like something is off.