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Shortcut/Automation

MarkX

MarkX

macrumors 68000
Original poster
How do I run an automation on my apple watch to set the screen waterlock when I start an activity?

I managed to set it but need my iPhone near before it works. I often run without my phone so need it to work independently!

Anyone clued up on this?
 
The Apple Watch cannot run automations; they're driven by the iPhone.

However, the Apple Watch can run shortcuts without the iPhone being nearby. A workaround would be to create a shortcut that starts a workout and sets the water lock. Then when you want to do a workout, run that shortcut instead (either through a widget in the Smart Stack, complication, Siri, action button, etc).
 
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iStorm said:
The Apple Watch cannot run automations; they're driven by the iPhone.

However, the Apple Watch can run shortcuts without the iPhone being nearby. A workaround would be to create a shortcut that starts a workout and sets the water lock. Then when you want to do a workout, run that shortcut instead (either through a widget in the Smart Stack, complication, Siri, action button, etc).
Click to expand...

I'll look in to trying to sort that. Thanks
 
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Along the lines of what @iStorm wrote, you can also have an Automation for "When Workout Starts" and that will set the water lock. Matching Automation for "When Workout Ends" to unset lock.

Let's one start a Workout via Watch per usual.

(Or similar: if have a Focus that starts when a workout starts, sub "Workout" with "Focusnamehere" Automations [how I do it])

auto.png auto2.png
 
NoBoMac said:
Along the lines of what @iStorm wrote, you can also have an Automation for "When Workout Starts" and that will set the water lock. Matching Automation for "When Workout Ends" to unset lock.

Let's one start a Workout via Watch per usual.

(Or similar: if have a Focus that starts when a workout starts, sub "Workout" with "Focusnamehere" Automations [how I do it])

View attachment 2473192 View attachment 2473194
Click to expand...

I run without my phone so an automation won’t work. So I was told above so I’m trying to work out how to set up shortcut.

I’m new to shortcuts, haven’t ever looked at them until today!
 
Will still work with Automations.

With straight Shortcut route (aka iStorm rec), need to have the phone in-hand to start the workout via a Shortcut. With Automations, phone just needs to be near by: start on Watch, notifies phone, Automation runs which runs Shortcut. Ditto at finish/end.
 
NoBoMac said:
Will still work with Automations.

With straight Shortcut route (aka iStorm rec), need to have the phone in-hand to start the workout via a Shortcut. With Automations, phone just needs to be near by: start on Watch, notifies phone, Automation runs which runs Shortcut. Ditto at finish/end.
Click to expand...
I have a couple automations to turn the always-on display on/off at certain times of the day. They have never worked when my phone was off, so I figured the phone had to be on and nearby for automations to work with the watch. Everything I read online seems to indicate that the phone needs to be nearby as well. Has that changed? Or does it work "remotely" for cellular Apple Watches with a data plan?

I assume the OP is starting the workout when he's away from home or his phone, so I don't think an automation will work. If OP is starting a workout while near his phone, then yes, an automation should work.

As for my suggestion, you can run the shortcut from the watch too; it does not need to be run from the phone. I tested it out by creating the shortcut, turning my phone off, and running the shortcut from my watch. It started an outdoor run workout and turned on water lock.
 
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iStorm said:
I have a couple automations to turn the always-on display on/off at certain times of the day. They have never worked when my phone was off, so I figured the phone had to be on and nearby for automations to work with the watch. Everything I read online seems to indicate that the phone needs to be nearby as well. Has that changed? Or does it work "remotely" for cellular Apple Watches with a data plan?

I assume the OP is starting the workout when he's away from home or his phone, so I don't think an automation will work. If OP is starting a workout while near his phone, then yes, an automation should work.

As for my suggestion, you can run the shortcut from the watch too; it does not need to be run from the phone. I tested it out by creating the shortcut, turning my phone off, and running the shortcut from my watch. It started an outdoor run workout and turned on water lock.
Click to expand...

How did you set up the shortcut, I'm struggling to do it!
 
NoBoMac said:
Along the lines of what @iStorm wrote, you can also have an Automation for "When Workout Starts" and that will set the water lock. Matching Automation for "When Workout Ends" to unset lock.

Let's one start a Workout via Watch per usual.

(Or similar: if have a Focus that starts when a workout starts, sub "Workout" with "Focusnamehere" Automations [how I do it])

View attachment 2473192 View attachment 2473194
Click to expand...
But that wouldn’t work when not connected to the phone. As OP said, he might not be and it also sounded as though he ready tried this before.
 
MarkX said:
Any way to get the workout with precision start and not just straight in to the countdown?
Click to expand...
Hmmm, I've never used precision start. Is that available on non-Ultra watches?

EDIT: ok, so after some googling, it seems when you start a workout through a shortcut. you get the countdown, and there doesn't seem to be a way to avoid it. However, you can tap the watch screen during the countdown to skip it. I tried this with the shortcut I gave you, and it works. Does that work for you? You haven't mentioned what exactly is your use case.
 
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Night Spring said:
Hmmm, I've never used precision start. Is that available on non-Ultra watches?

EDIT: ok, so after some googling, it seems when you start a workout through a shortcut. you get the countdown, and there doesn't seem to be a way to avoid it. However, you can tap the watch screen during the countdown to skip it. I tried this with the shortcut I gave you, and it works. Does that work for you? You haven't mentioned what exactly is your use case.
Click to expand...

I run daily and from various locations, I'm not one to carry my phone on me at all times as I have the Ultra 2 with a data plan.

Precision start is one of those must have features as I like to have a gps fix before I start a run. If the shortcut option doesn't allow for what I'm after I'll just stick with enabling water lock manually.
 
Night Spring said:
How do you end a workout without first turning off the water lock?
Click to expand...

Can't, not really. Closest you can get to that is to turn on workout pause in Watch app (press crown and side button at same time). "Pause", then disable lock, then end. With that method, not getting "penalized" any time when turning off lock.
 
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