Companion app and Apple watch workout app incompatible?

#1

Hello,

I didn’t see this addressed anywhere else so if I’ve missed it my apologies and please point it out to me!

I just started Zwifting in August and am still figuring it all out. I had finally figured out how to use my new Apple watch that I got in June as a HRM through the Companion app. I had been using it as such so my HR would show up while working out on the main screen on my computer and in Companion on my phone. But I was also using the Apple Workout app to track my workouts as well. It had been letting me use the two apps concurrently and showing the workouts in my phone Activity app under both categories but not doubling my calorie burn or anything. However, for the past month or two, if I try to start a workout in the Workout app, and then go to Companion to get my heart rate recorded there, it closes out the Workout app. I apparently can’t have the Workout app open while the Companion app is open. I have been searching online and don’t see anything about this issue and even was just playing around with it some more again. It is not just having 2 or more apps open together on the watch (which would be odd and pointless and hasn’t been an issue with other apps) but it is specific to the Zwift Companion app and the Apple Workout app conflicting with each other.

This isn’t a huge deal, but there are “challenges” in the Apple Activity app that you get credit for that only count if you record the workout in their Workout app and it would be nice to get credit for them.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue and if anyone knows if there is something in the works to fix it or some kind of workaround? I’m especially curious since I previously was able to use them at the same time so it hasn’t always been that way.

Thanks!

-Kristin

#2

Hi @Kristin_Amstrup

Support for the Apple Watch as a heart rate monitor is in beta, and we have some step by step connections how-to’s in support.zwift.com. We hope this helps!

Ride On!

1 Like
#3

Hi, I have similar problems even if I don’t try to run the workout app separately, the Zwift Companion App works fine for a few minutes but then seems to time out and HR connection is lost. Lift my wrist to activate my watch again and it usually reconnects again only to repeat every few minutes. Sometimes you have to try and get to the watch App again and re-open it, not easy wit sweaty hands.

It seems the App on the watch goes to sleep and the connection is lost, gets frustrating when you are trying to analyse workout effort and could cause problems with races that require HR monitors.

Thanks

Sam

#4

Hi @Sam_Crofts8276

I’m not an Apple Watch owner, but there’s something that might be relevant to you in the Apple Watch Best Practices section at the bottom of that same page linked upstream.

Have you tried this suggestion already?

Turn off Workout Power Saving Mode : While saving battery can be a good thing, we’ve found this can cause issues with keeping a steady connection. On your iPhone®, open the Apple® Watch app, and go to My Watch: Workout: Power Saving Mode.

#5

Two years in “beta” is impressively bad.

#6

It worked great for me as well up through this last iOS13 and Apple Watch OS version then it’s been broken. It was awesome getting credit for Apple Activities and HR recording in Zwift. Losing it has sucked and I’ve been hopeful it’d return. Based upon 2 years of beta and the poor response so far from support I have to assume it’s not going to happy though. I’ve tried all of the things suggested, starting in different ordered, and I’ve tried in on an Apple Watch 3 & 5 and they all fail. I don’t want to buy yet another HRM device to get this working Zwift, come on. Please fix this regression.

1 Like
#7

I have the same problem. You cannot run Apple Workout and Zwift heart rate monitor concurrently. This is a real nuisance since in our house, 3 other people workout in the gym with HIT workouts and are constantly comparing calories burned/heartrate/etc. So either I can track my heart rate on Zwift through the Apple Watch Zwift app, which is spotty at best (connects/disconnects/connects/disconnects), or use the Apple Workout app.

1 Like
#8

I have the same problem. Is there any solution? It is a bugger to not be able to have both active at the same time.

For me, if I open up the Swift companion app on the watch, it automatically kills the Apple workout app and vice versa