How to fix inaccurate and delayed heart rate readings on Apple Watch SE Workout app?

Question

How to fix inaccurate and delayed heart rate readings on Apple Watch SE Workout app?

The Workout app on my Apple Watch SE (OS 10.6.1) is totally undependable - both gym workouts & outdoors. 15 mins. or more may elapse before an inaccurate HR appears - may self-correct, or not. The Heart Rate app. works well. Re-booting & resetting the fitness calibration have not solved the problem. Is this correctable?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Undependable Workout app.

Apple Watch SE, watchOS 10

Posted on Nov 24, 2025 12:20 PM

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Answer 1

Ingo2711

Level 9

79,515 points

Nov 24, 2025 12:54 PM in response to Gerald Rittenberg

Did you make sure, that your watch is sitting a bit further away from your wrist than usual during the workouts?

My Ultra 2 loses the heart rate, if it is pushed towards the wrist due to the arm movement during the workout.

Especially in the cold your blood vessels retreat and are harder to detect by the sensor.

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Answer 2

Nov 24, 2025 5:14 PM in response to Ingo2711

The heart rate would not record unless the AW is attached to the wrist. In a gym, it's used during workout on an elliptical trainer. I've started the app after establishing a rhythm but even then it doesn't record the HR (the other parameters do record, however). Stopping the app and restarting usually fail. If I ignore the malfunction 15-20 minutes, it begins to record the HR accurately (!!!).

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