Sync Apple Watch to iPhone Health without Bluetooth

[Silly John Fatty]

Hi community,

I just got myself an Apple Watch (6) and was wondering if it's possible to sync all the data from the Watch to iPhone Health without Bluetooth? I don't want to have Bluetooth on but I feel like the data in the Health app only updates when I turn on Bluetooth on the iPhone and the Watch.

On the other hand, I can change settings in the Apple Watch app on the iPhone and it will immediately change the settings on the Watch. They are both in the same Wifi network. And like I said, I don't want to have Bluetooth turned on (don't ask me way, too long to explain).

Thanks.

 

[Mercenary]

Turn Bluetooth on. It’s lower power than WiFi, doesn’t kill your battery like it did on old Compaq iPaqs. It’s not a security risk as it only communicates using apps which you’ve given permission. It you are worried about contact tracing don’t. Again, only braordcasts when an app is installed.

take off the foil hat and enjoy your damn phone and stop spending your day managing Bluetooth and WiFi and the like.

 

[deeddawg]

like I said, I don't want to have Bluetooth turned on (don't ask me way, too long to explain).

If you refuse to have bluetooth turned on, you're kneecapping an expensive device.

Wifi will work while both are on the same wifi network, but battery drain will be substantially higher on the watch. You'll also have a poor experience anytime you're not on a known wifi network such as most places other than home and some work places.

Seriously, my recommendation is to return the watch until such time as you find yourself willing to use bluetooth.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

I'm not allowed to have Bluetooth on for health reasons. And for privacy reasons too (I don't want neighbours to see my devices names). So like I said, Bluetooth isn't an option.

I'm wearing the watch mainly at home. So far I've only been at home, so it's been in the same Wifi network as my iPhone the whole time. And I am mainly at home, I rarely go outside. I use it to track my sleep, my heart rate and help me with my exercise (at home as well).

My main question still remains: Does the Watch not sync with iPhone Health if Bluetooth is turned off? It seems silly to me.

 

[Night Spring]

I don't want neighbours to see my devices names).

your neighbors can see your wifi device names too

 

[Johnhimm]

Time to switch to Fitbit

 

[deeddawg]

Time to switch to Fitbit

... and make sure it's a model that lets you turn off bluetooth and sync over the wired cable

 

[jz0309]

from the linked support document" If Bluetooth isn’t available, your Apple Watch will try to use Wi-Fi.

About Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Learn about Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for your Apple Watch and how your watch uses both. And learn how cellular on GPS + Cellular models fits in.

support.apple.com

I would give apple a call and check with them

 

[Silly John Fatty]

from the linked support document" If Bluetooth isn’t available, your Apple Watch will try to use Wi-Fi.

About Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Learn about Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for your Apple Watch and how your watch uses both. And learn how cellular on GPS + Cellular models fits in.

support.apple.com

I would give apple a call and check with them

Thanks for the first useful answer! I’ll give them a call.

... and make sure it's a model that lets you turn off bluetooth and sync over the wired cable

Don’t want to sync it over a cable. Too much hassle! I start liking the Apple Watch and some of its other features, so I would preferably keep it. I wish it had a CO2 and fine particle meter. Maybe in some future versions…

 

[deeddawg]

Thanks for the first useful answer! I’ll give them a call.




Don’t want to sync it over a cable. Too much hassle! I start liking the Apple Watch and some of its other features, so I would preferably keep it. I wish it had a CO2 and fine particle meter. Maybe in some future versions…

I have no idea what medical reason there might be for avoiding Bluetooth and you needn’t disclose personal matters, just be aware the Bluetooth and WiFi both use frequencies in the 2.4Ghz spectrum. I’d suggest discussing the matter with whichever medical professional advised you to avoid using Bluetooth devices.

As for security and device names with Bluetooth, your devices are only readily visible when you make them discoverable such as when pairing new headphones. Once that short process is complete they no longer advertise themselves.

Overall I think you’re likely to have a less than great experience if you try to use an Apple Watch differently than designed/intended. I suggest making your assessment as quickly as you can so you may make a decision within your return period.

Best of luck.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

I have no idea what medical reason there might be for avoiding Bluetooth and you needn’t disclose personal matters, just be aware the Bluetooth and WiFi both use frequencies in the 2.4Ghz spectrum. I’d suggest discussing the matter with whichever medical professional advised you to avoid using Bluetooth devices.

As for security and device names with Bluetooth, your devices are only readily visible when you make them discoverable such as when pairing new headphones. Once that short process is complete they no longer advertise themselves.

Overall I think you’re likely to have a less than great experience if you try to use an Apple Watch differently than designed/intended. I suggest making your assessment as quickly as you can so you may make a decision within your return period.

Best of luck.

What’s the matter if it’s able to sync over Wifi as well? Obviously it’s meant to do that (but it doesn’t for whatever reason).

What are some things it can do over Bluetooth that it can’t do over Wifi?

 

[deeddawg]

What’s the matter if it’s able to sync over Wifi as well? Obviously it’s meant to do that (but it doesn’t for whatever reason).

What are some things it can do over Bluetooth that it can’t do over Wifi?

That you’ve posted this thread suggests it’s not working as seamlessly on WiFi as on Bluetooth.

Since I’ve never felt a need to try what you’re trying, I have no actual knowledge of what does and does not work over WiFi only.
Best of luck

 

[jz0309]

That you’ve posted this thread suggests it’s not working as seamlessly on WiFi as on Bluetooth.

Since I’ve never felt a need to try what you’re trying, I have no actual knowledge of what does and does not work over WiFi only.
Best of luck

the watch clearly has been designed to utilize bluetooth so I'm not sure how well it will work without, only Apple will be able to tell - @Silly John Fatty if they are willing/able to disclose that info, assuming you're going to call support. Good luck!

 

[Silly John Fatty]

That you’ve posted this thread suggests it’s not working as seamlessly on WiFi as on Bluetooth.

Since I’ve never felt a need to try what you’re trying, I have no actual knowledge of what does and does not work over WiFi only.
Best of luck

I was hoping it may be a Settings issue.

I’ve been using it for a week now and so far everything I used has been working over Wifi - I’m getting all my notifications, calls, etc. instantly on the Watch. It’s just Health that doesn’t sync the way I want.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

Okay, so I've had Bluetooth turned on all day, and the Apple Watch still doesn't sync certain things. I've even went to completely reset it. A few hours have passed since then, I've exercised, I've measured my blood oxygen, and a few other things, and some of these information are just not transmitted to iPhone Health.

My exercises for example have been synced with Health. So has the distance I have walked.

Why do some thing update and others not? This is really weird. I had Wifi and Bluetooth turned on, no flight mode, I've checked all settings, etc.

I'm starting to believe it may have to do something with my first gen iPhone SE. At some point it told me it can't connect to it. Even though I could connect to it before. Maybe it has to do with the new update for watchOS. Is the first gen iPhone SE too old? Questions over questions…

 

[DualShock]

According to Apple the Series 6 requires an iPhone 6S or later running iOS 14 or later. The first gen iPhone SE should be fine since it came out after the 6S, provided it's been updated to iOS 14.

Apple Watch Series 6 - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

 

[Silly John Fatty]

According to Apple the Series 6 requires an iPhone 6S or later running iOS 14 or later. The first gen iPhone SE should be fine since it came out after the 6S, provided it's been updated to iOS 14.

Apple Watch Series 6 - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

support.apple.com

Yup, that's what I read as well. And yes, it does have iOS 14. I guess I have to call Apple Support again. I wish these devices would just work for once. Plug in and go. But no, I guess you have to write a doctoral thesis about them.

 

[Night Spring]

My watch has started having weird hiccups with syncing health data to the phone the last few days. I suspect it may have something to do with the latest watch OS update. Like I just did a 30 minute meditation workout from my watch, and the exercise minutes increased by 30, but the workout itself never showed up on the phone. This is with both wifi and Bluetooth on.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

My watch has started having weird hiccups with syncing health data to the phone the last few days. I suspect it may have something to do with the latest watch OS update. Like I just did a 30 minute meditation workout from my watch, and the exercise minutes increased by 30, but the workout itself never showed up on the phone. This is with both wifi and Bluetooth on.

You see, that’s why I in- and persist. I was right in the end. It’s not that the watch doesn’t work with Wifi or isn’t meant to, it’s just that this is simply yet another product of cheap quality. Updates - are you kidding me? Updates shouldn’t even be a subject! These gadgets have to work from alone without us ever having to spend any unnecessary time with trying to make them work.

The problem: Every company is like that these days… But we have it in our hands! Revolution now! Someone please make a working product and please let’s all promise we will buy it.

APPLE, fix your updates please, and by people actually paid to do that, like, professionally! Test your software better before releasing it.

What they really do is publish some software Betas online and people on forums like these will basically be doing the whole testing work for free, or maybe even paying for doing the job. People, wake up!

Apple can surely make this better, it’s the only thing that will make Apple even bigger - this is the only way to go for a company!

your neighbors can see your wifi device names too

Can they? What if it’s in hidden mode? And also, a router can have (and has most of the times) an anonymous name, so can the Apple Device but in my case it also carries my name (and in the case of most people I believe). Maybe I should change that. I have to think of what I will rename all my devices now.

 

[Night Spring]

Can they? What if it’s in hidden mode?

Don't know how to put them in hidden mode. I can see more than a dozen of my neighbors' routers, and one AppleTV.

but in my case it also carries my name (and in the case of most people I believe). Maybe I should change that.

First thing I do when I get a new device -- change the name! Never liked my devices named xxx's watch, xxx's iPad, etc. It feels so juvenile.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

My watch has started having weird hiccups with syncing health data to the phone the last few days. I suspect it may have something to do with the latest watch OS update. Like I just did a 30 minute meditation workout from my watch, and the exercise minutes increased by 30, but the workout itself never showed up on the phone. This is with both wifi and Bluetooth on.

@Night Spring, does your Watch sync finally? Mine stopped syncing days ago. I’ve reset and repaired it, checked all settings, everything is turned on, etc.

This is so annoying… just the fact we have to occupy ourselves with this is just insane.

 

[Night Spring]

@Night Spring, does your Watch sync finally? Mine stopped syncing days ago. I’ve reset and repaired it, checked all settings, everything is turned on, etc.

This is so annoying… just the fact we have to occupy ourselves with this is just insane.

It synced the last few workouts, hope it doesn't happen again. *knock wood*

There are other minor bugs in iOS 14 and watchOS 7 that are annoying me -- it feels like a beta rather than finished software.