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All about Apple Watch + Paceline

  • Updated

Getting started and troubleshooting advice for your Apple Watch

Table of contents

(1) How do I link my Apple Watch to Paceline?

(2) What counts for Paceline minutes?

(3) Why does my workout length not match my Paceline minutes?

(1) How do I link my Apple Watch to Paceline?

If you're creating a Paceline account for the first time:

      1. Select 'Apple Watch' as your device
      2. Tap 'Turn All Categories On'
      3. Tap 'Allow'

After you've already created a Paceline account: 

      1. Tap the 'Profile' tab or your initials in the upper right corner of the Paceline home screen
      2. Tap 'Linked Fitness Devices'
      3. Tap 'Connect' next to Apple Watch
      4. Tap 'Turn All Categories On'
      5. Tap 'Allow'

Did you get a new Apple Watch?

        • If you set your new Apple Watch up to the same iPhone you already use with Paceline, you shouldn't need to do anything else


(2) What counts for Paceline minutes?

If you wear an Apple Watch, Paceline minutes are measured by Apple's "Exercise Minutes".

If you think you're missing "Exercise Minutes" from Paceline, you can try some of the following troubleshooting tips:


See if "Exercise Minutes" (the chartreuse-colored number) matches the value seen in the Paceline app for a given day

      • Please note: Exercise minutes DO NOT EQUAL total time tied to a workout. If you are looking at a workout breakdown with 'total time' listed, that number will likely not match what is in your Activity/Fitness app under 'Exercise Minutes'. The total time of your workout does not measure exercise intensity, but Exercise Minutes do. Paceline references Exercise Minutes as displayed in the Activity/Fitness app.

 

Open the Activity app (iOS 13) or Fitness app (iOS 14) on your phone

      • Sometimes, all it takes is to open this Activity or Fitness app to sync your Apple Watch with the Health app (where Paceline references your exercise activity). Check out your Paceline app to see if the minutes now appear

Reconnect Apple Health to Paceline

      • At times, the link between Apple Health and Paceline may need to be refreshed. To do so:
        1. Tap the 'Profile' tab
        2. Tap 'Linked Fitness Devices'
        3. Tap the checkmark next to 'Apple Health'
        4. Follow the steps to reconnect
        5. Pull down on the home screen to refresh your data
          • Please note: it may take up to 30 minutes for the information to appear as we wait for Apple to resend the information

Ensure the 'History' tab in the Activity app (iOS 13) or 'Summary' tab in the Fitness app (iOS 14) tab is selected (today will be shown by default)

      • If you want to view previous dates:
        • For the Activity app (iOS 13), tap the month option in the upper left corner of the screen and select the individual date you wish to view
        • For the Fitness app (iOS 14), tap the Activity area with the move, exercise, and stand information, then press the calendar that appears at the top


Update your watch's software (if applicable)

      1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone
      2. Tap on General
      3. Tap on Software Update

Make sure the following features are enabled on your iPhone:

      1. Open the Settings app
      2. Go to "Privacy"
      3. Tap on "Motion & Fitness"
      4. Turn on Fitness Tracking and Health (do the same with your watch!)
      5. Go (back) to "Privacy"
      6. Tap on Location Services
      7. Go to System Services
      8. Enable Calibration & Distance


Have you granted Paceline appropriate access to your Health app?

      1. Tap the 'Profile' tab or your initials in the upper right corner of the Paceline home screen
      2. Tap 'Linked Fitness Devices'
      3. If Apple Watch says 'Connect' next to it:
        • Tap 'Apple Watch'
        • Tap 'Turn All Categories On'
        • Tap 'Allow'
      4. If Apple Watch has a checkmark next to it:
        • Open the 'Settings' app on your iPhone
        • Tap 'Privacy'
        • Tap 'Health'
        • Tap 'Paceline'
        • Ensure the following, at a minimum, are given access:
          • Activity
          • Exercise Minutes
          • Workouts

Have you opened the Paceline app at least once a week, if not more often?

      • If you have not opened the Paceline app for more than a week, we can only reference Exercise Minutes up to one week prior, so you may lose out on some minutes. In that case, please contact us and we'll ask you for the Exercise Minutes we need to get you back on track

Did you manually log a workout you expect to get minutes from?

      • We DO NOT support manually logged minutes, only those generated directly by your device qualify for Paceline minutes. This is done to prevent cheating by forging activity that has not taken place

For more information on how to improve how your Apple Watch tracks exercises and workouts, please follow these steps


(3) Why does my workout length not match my Paceline minutes?

Though you may have worked out for many minutes in duration, the length of your workout does not necessarily equal Apple Watch exercise or Paceline minutes (because during a workout there could be times you’re stretching, drinking water, etc. that do not contribute to a higher heart rate or workout intensity)

This is because your Apple Watch measures Paceline minutes in a different manner that is based upon your heart rate (not the length of your workout): 'Exercise Minutes'.

      • According to Apple, 'Exercise Minutes' are “every full minute of movement that equals or exceeds the intensity of a brisk walk.”

For your weekly goal of 150 Paceline minutes, we rely on the Exercise Minutes that your Apple Watch tracks. There could be a few reasons why you find a mismatch of minutes you expect to see in the Paceline app:

      1. Your workout may not have created a high enough heart rate or you did not maintain the intensity over the whole time to register for Paceline minutes
        • Check the Activity app (it's called Fitness on iOS 14) on your iPhone or Apple Watch to see how many Exercise Minutes you have and see if that matches the minutes in your Paceline app
      2. When possible, be sure to start a workout on your wearable as the heart rate sensor will read more often for heart rate detail
        • Please note: you don't need to log a workout to earn Paceline minutes. Depending on your fitness level and wearable type, even one-off things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator could earn you Paceline minutes, though it's not guaranteed
      3. You may need to calibrate your wearable calibrate your watch to get more accurate readings for Exercise Minutes, which you can instructions for here
      4. You may have earned more than 50 Paceline minutes for a single day (way to crush it, by the way!)
        • We currently allow a maximum of 50 daily Paceline minutes towards the weekly goal (so you need to work out at least 3 days a week to hit the 150 weekly minutes goal)
      5. You may need to sync your device with your app
        • Your Apple Watch’s Activity app may not be syncing correctly with your iPhone’s Activity (iOS 13) or Fitness (iOS 14) app
          1. Make sure the following features are enabled: Open the Settings app → Privacy → Motion & Fitness → Turn on Fitness Tracking and Health (and do the same with your watch)
          2. On the same Privacy page, tap on Location Services → System Services → enable Calibration & Distance

If you still are unsure why something appears on your Apple Watch and not in Paceline, please reach out to us using our Support page, attaching a screenshot of:

      1. Your Activity app or Fitness app (showing the green exercise circle and Exercise Minutes)
      2. Your Paceline app home screen showing how many minutes you received credit for

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