Phone-free running is now available! The most recent MapMy apps includes an update to the Apple Watch app. You can now do the following with any MapMy app on your Apple Watch:
- Track workouts using the GPS capability or pedometer of your watch. All Apple Watch series supported.
- Record your cadence on runs and walks. Sync with your phone to see average cadence and cadence by split in the MapMy app on your mobile device.
- Calorie burn during MapMy workouts now uses the Apple Watch's built-in heart rate sensor.
- Workouts now count toward your Move ring in the Apple Watch's Activity app.
Installing the MapMy Apple Watch App
To install the latest Apple Watch app, your iPhone and Apple Watch need to meet the following requirements:
- Version 18.3.0 or later of any MapMy app. Note: the new Apple Watch app is now available for all MapMy apps, including MapMyRun, MapMyFitness, MapMyWalk, MapMyRide, and MapMyHike.
- iPhone OS needs to be updated to iOS 10 or later.
- Apple Watch must be updated to OS3.
To install the latest Apple Watch app, open your MapMy app > navigate to the app's menu by tapping the "..." icon in the lower right corner > select "Apps & Devices" > tap "Apple Watch." From there, tap the app store download button at the top of the screen > then tap "Get" to begin installing MapMy on your Apple Watch. Please be patient and have your phone and watch nearby while the app loads onto your watch. This process can take up to a minute.
Once installed, you'll see the MapMy app icon appear on your Apple Watch.
A prompt will appear in your MapMy mobile app, asking you to grant MapMy permission to access heart rate data collected by the watch (i.e. Apple Health). To allow, you'll need to tap "Open 'MapMy'" > tap "Allow" in the upper right.
If you miss this prompt initially, you can still grant the permissions by opening the Apple Health app on your iPhone > Sources > MapMy app > tap "Turn All Categories On" > tap "Allow" in the upper right corner.
Using Your MapMy Apple Watch App
You can use MapMy to record a variety of workout activities. For a more personal experience, your last five activity types are now displayed so you can easily select them. You can select the "More" button to see the remaining 20 activity types offered on the Apple Watch.
When you have selected your desired activity, tap the "Start" button to start your workout!
During your workout, you can view a variety of stats, including: duration, distance, pace, and current heart rate. Use the digital crown to view other panels, including current split and heart rate zone. NOTE: If you start a workout from your watch, the display will no longer be mirrored on your iPhone.
You can now take advantage of voice feedback on Apple Watch without the use of your phone! Voice Feedback is set to on by default for Run, Walk, Hike, and Bike activity types. Intervals can be distance or duration based for GPS-supported Activity Types.
Voice Feedback settings can be accessed from the start workout screen. If you would like to manage your settings while recording a workout without your phone, swipe from left to right to enter the Untethered Pause Workout screen.
Note* if you are recording a workout with your phone- you will not be able to access settings from the Watch. Open your phone to enable/disable Voice Feedback.
To pause, resume, and finish your workout, either swipe from left to right (1) OR hard press on the Apple Watch screen (2). The first set of options will appear, as seen below.
To finish your workout, either tap "Finish" (1), OR first tap "Pause" > then hard press once more and tap "Finish" (2).
After finishing your workout, your watch will begin automatically saving the workout.
Once the save is complete, a summary screen for your workout will appear. To view all stats, use the digital crown to scroll down and tap "Done."
You can always check out the workout on your mobile MapMy app to view additional information. The workout should appear under your "Workouts" list in the app shortly.
If your Apple Watch workout fails to sync to your MapMy account after tapping to save, you can access your unsynced workout list by swiping from left to right in the activities screen.
Music Controls for MapMy Apple Watch App
Users on watchOS 5 with MapMy version 18.10 or later will now have basic control over music in the MapMy Apple Watch app. To access the music controls on your watch during a workout recording, swipe from right to left.
From the music control screen you can play, pause, fast forward, rewind, and adjust the volume. Users who start workouts from their watch directly will need to download their iTunes library to their watch and use Bluetooth headphones. Users who start workouts from their phone can control their music from both their phone and watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I start my workout on my iPhone, will I see cadence on my phone?
No, we only capture cadence on untethered Walks and Runs right now.
Do all Apple Watches have ability to record cadence?
All watches with an accelerometer will provide cadence, which includes Series 1, 2, and 3.
If I start my workout on my iPhone, will calories still be calculated through the Apple Watch using the built-in heart rate sensor, or will they calculated by the MapMy app?
Calories are only calculated using the HR sensor if you start your workout from the Apple Watch.
How do my calories burned in-workout sync to Apple Health and my Move Rings?
If you begin your workout on the phone app, your caloric burn will not factor in your HR. Calories burned will save to MapMy, export to Apple Health, and will replace the caloric burn in your Move Rings for the duration of your workout (start time to end time).
If you begin your workout with MapMy on your Apple Watch, the caloric burn for your workout will factor in the watch's built in HR sensor, and will be saved to Apple Health as well as the Move Rings.
If I start my workout on my iPhone, will GPS be leveraged from my phone or my Apple Watch?
If you begin the workout on your iPhone, we will use the GPS on your phone in order to preserve the battery on your watch. If you start the workout on your watch, we'll leverage GPS or accelerometer data from the watch to measure your distance.
Can I record my rides without the accompaniment of my phone if my Apple Watch doesn't have GPS capabilities?
Not at this time; however, we are working to include this use-case in the future. In the interim, please start/stop your workout on your iPhone in order to have distance properly tracked.
Can I record my runs/walks without the accompaniment of my phone if my Apple Watch doesn't have GPS capabilities?
Yes, we will leverage your watches built-in accelerometer to determine your distance; however, the workout will not have a map associated with it. If you'd like a map, you'll need to take your phone along with you for the workout so the watch can leverage your phone's GPS.
Is there a way to start a workout from my iPhone without my Apple Watch being a mirror display?
There is not currently an option to do this. You can close the watch app on the watch if you'd prefer not to see it.
Can I connect 2 Apple Watches to the same phone?
You can connect multiple Apple Watches to the same phone. In that case, you would need to have the MapMy application installed on both Watches in order for it to work.
Will workouts recorded with the MapMy app only (no Apple Watch present at time of workout) also close my Move Rings?
Yes, all tracked and logged workouts using a MapMy app will sync to Apple Health and will be counted toward your Exercise Ring.
How can I get Voice Feedback and music to play through my headphones on my Apple watch?
Bluetooth headphones need to be connected to the Apple Watch
If you are playing music or podcasts- that audio stream has to originated from the Apple Watch in order for the Voice Feedback from our app to also play through the users headphones.
If you are playing music through your phone (mirrored to the Watch, like Spotify), but recording an untethered workout on the Watch with Voice Feedback on, feedback will play through the Watch’s internal speakers and not their headphones.
Can I change my units from the Apple Watch?
If you'd like to change your units for recording workouts with the MapMy app on your Apple Watch, you'll need to do so within your phone's MapMy settings.
Open MapMy on your iPhone > open the Menu > select Settings > Units > select your preference. In order to ensure this change is reflected on the MapMy app on your Apple Watch, you will need to force quit the MapMy app on your iPhone. When you re-open it, make sure your Apple Watch is connected and nearby. This will ensure that we update your preferences for units on the MapMy app on your Apple Watch.
The distance tracked by my watch using MapMy is inaccurate. What can I do?
If your watch has GPS capabilities and you are seeing errors in the distance recorded, please try opening the MapMy app on your Apple Watch and waiting 5-10 seconds after opening the app before beginning your workout. This allows us to "warm up" the GPS signal prior to you beginning your workout, which can result in more accurate distances.
If your watch does not have GPS capabilities, we are using the built-in accelerometer to determine distance, which is measured by arm-swing. If your arms are not moving during the workout (because you are riding a bicycle or pushing a stroller), we recommend you take your iPhone with you and begin the workout on your iPhone so that we can leverage your phone's GPS.
If I record a run with my connected footwear connected to MapMy, will I see my cadence and stride-length mirrored on my Apple Watch?
Not at this time, although those stats will be visible on your phone in-workout, and on your Workout Details in-app after you finish your run. We hope to display cadence and stride length on your Apple Watch in-workout soon.
How can I get the steps tracked by my Apple Watch into MapMy?
At this time our integration with the Apple Watch only supports workout tracking and sharing, not step data. The only alternative is to enable step tracking from your iPhone Motion Sensor (which will not include steps tracked by your watch when not accompanied by your phone). To learn more, check out our Help Center article on the
iOS Motion Sensor.
What if I can't view HR data in-workout, but I've granted permissions?
If you miss this prompt initially, you can still grant the permissions by opening the Apple Health app on your iPhone > Sources > MapMy app > tap "Turn All Categories On" > tap "Allow" in the upper right corner.
If that doesn't resolve the problem, open the Apple Watch app on your phone > Privacy > make sure both toggles for HR and Fitness Tracking are enabled.
How do I determine if my calories and exercise are syncing from MapMy to the Apple Activity app?
From within the Apple Activity app, all third party information appears as grey (whereas, information recorded by the Apple Watch itself will appear in blue, green, and pink).
Why am I getting stand credit for workouts in the Activity App?
For every hour of workout, you will receive an hour of stand credit within the Activity Rings app, regardless of whether or not you were standing. This is an Apple defect.
How can I view my split pace on the watch?
When in-workout, the second panel (use digital crown to scroll) displays your split stats (see below), including: estimated split pace, distance completed (of split), and duration for your current split. Both the distance and duration fields will reset to 0 once your split distance has been completed.
IMPORTANT: the default split is 1 mile/km for running and walking and 5 miles/kms for bicycle riding. Custom split distances are not supported at this time.
I can no longer discard my workout on the watch. How do I delete a workout I don't want?
All workouts recorded on the watch will save to your MapMy account. If the workout was recorded in error, you'll need to delete the workout from within the MapMy application.
How can I change the Language settings on my Apple Watch?
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Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
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Tap My Watch, go to General > Language & Region, then tap Watch Language.
