What's up with auto workout detection not working?

[bbates123]

I have a Series 4 with cellular. My wife has a Series 3. We both go for 2 mile walks every morning. Seems like only 1 time out of 10 auto workout detection kicks in and recognizes that we're walking and asks if we want to log the workout.

Does this feature work consistently for anybody here?

I'm currently running Watch OS 6 beta 4 and no difference unfortunately vs OS 5.

 

[Shirasaki]

Mine works quite consistently. I sometimes have to mute the auto detection for the rest of the day to kinda mute the notification a bit. Using watchOS beta 4.

 

[millerj123]

I have a Series 4 with cellular. My wife has a Series 3. We both go for 2 mile walks every morning. Seems like only 1 time out of 10 auto workout detection kicks in and recognizes that we're walking and asks if we want to log the workout.

Does this feature work consistently for anybody here?

I'm currently running Watch OS 6 beta 4 and no difference unfortunately vs OS 5.

Walks are inconsistent at best. If your heart rate doesn’t get high enough, it may not count at all. If you use any of the activity applications, it might work better, but even then may not count as exercise. I’ve had one or two minutes counted on half hour walks.

 

[bbates123]

Mine works quite consistently. I sometimes have to mute the auto detection for the rest of the day to kinda mute the notification a bit. Using watchOS beta 4.

Is that for walks or some other exercise?

 

[Shirasaki]

Is that for walks or some other exercise?

Walks and runs. I don’t do any other type of exercise often.

 

[jbachandouris]

My AW4 will detect a run, but almost never (as in only once or twice) will it recognize an indoor walk.

Indoor walk never registers enough exercise minutes either. I get credit for walking into the mall and out of it, yet almost no credit for walking around the mall no matter how fast I walk.

 

[tgara]

I have a Series 4 with cellular. My wife has a Series 3. We both go for 2 mile walks every morning. Seems like only 1 time out of 10 auto workout detection kicks in and recognizes that we're walking and asks if we want to log the workout.

Does this feature work consistently for anybody here?

I'm currently running Watch OS 6 beta 4 and no difference unfortunately vs OS 5.

The auto-workout detection feature activates when your heart rate hits a certain level. The feature is not working for you likely because you're not hitting that rate. You'll need to work out a little harder to get your heart rate up faster, or (better) simply engage a Walk workout manually.

 

[bbates123]

The auto-workout detection feature activates when your heart rate hits a certain level. The feature is not working for you likely because you're not hitting that rate. You'll need to work out a little harder to get your heart rate up faster, or (better) simply engage a Walk workout manually.

Thanks, some time I'll try walking faster and see if that gets it to kick in. I normally engage the workout manually but the times I forget it's nice when the feature works.

 

[dk001]

Thanks, some time I'll try walking faster and see if that gets it to kick in. I normally engage the workout manually but the times I forget it's nice when the feature works.

What I have found that works for me is a quick little calisthenics workout just to raise my HR and then start my walk. It could be as simple as a quick up and down my stairs. Anything that will raise the heart rate.

 

[leons]

Maybe I'm missing something.....BUT....if you are "aware" enough to do a pre-physical activity just to start auto detection (and then you have to start it my hand anyway), isn't it easier to just start the activity on your watch to begin with?

 

[bbates123]

Maybe I'm missing something.....BUT....if you are "aware" enough to do a pre-physical activity just to start auto detection (and then you have to start it my hand anyway), isn't it easier to just start the activity on your watch to begin with?

Well, that's a very good point and I think that brings us full circle. If you have to "do something" to get the auto detect to kick in that kind of defeats the purpose. I'm not sure why it doesn't go off of your GPS and detects walks based on that. It's kind of baffling to me.

 

[perezr10]

I also noticed that auto workout detection hasn’t been working on my watch since I installed watchOS 6. I assumed it’s because I’m on a buggy beta. It worked about 60% of the time prior to the beta.

 

[shankar2]

Hi I have the s4 watch too. How do i set it up to auto detect my morning walks?