iWatch not updating the walkout or exercising results in Apple Health Apps

1 August 2021

iWatch is a common smart wrist watch many people are wearing today. This is because it has an application called "LumiHealth" that many people will like. LumiHealth is something like the "Apple Watch Connected" in the US where gyms used to reward their members based on performance. LumiHealth is an initiative by Apple and the Singapore Health Promotion Board to promote exercise in Singapore.

LumiHealth does not only offer advices on the various activities, it also records one’s exercising results. The results can earn points . These points can be converted into Health vouchers to be used in the Supermarkets or other designated stores. An amount up to SGD$380/= can be earned.

One problem some might have is that the iWatch does not always update their LumiHealth's walkout or exercising results. Like it wants to update the results only when it feels like to. This is very frustrating especially one has just finished a 10 km to find that his LumiHealth points not updated.

This can also happen when one is using iWatch together with other 3rd party apps like Health365 and thousand other Health & Exercise apps.

Discussions on the Web

There were many similar discussions found in the web. Much of it are blaming the OS updates causing the problem. Someone did an experiment by doing these

1. Wiping the iWatch apps from the iPhone;
2. Remove all devices in the iWatch using Setting-Health-Devices (there were two)
3. Remove the iWatch using iCloud services
4. Reset the iPhone completely
5. Then pair the iWatch again with the iPhone

He found that this did not solve his problem. The iWatch still showing 2 devices.

He then proceeded to rename the iWatch in the phone. He restarted the iPhone and iWatch, Only the only change is the iWatch's name of one of the device was changed.

He then suspected something wrong with the Health apps and not the iPhone or iWatch. He removed the Health apps and reinstall it. He paid particular attention to the reinstallation process. He found one device was invisible during the reinstallation. Then all of sudden, the other device appeared. So he was very sure that Health apps was the cause. He declared that iWatch was a crap.

What could have gone wrong?

He was correct to suspect it was the Apple Health apps that had caused the problem.

It could be because there was a glitch at first causing the iWatch’s apps to stop working or not working properly. The conventional wisdom is to erase the data stored in the iWatch and redo the pairing with the Phone.

This might be how the Health Data stored & backup

The Health Data are stored in the iPhone & there might be another copy stored in the server and also inthe iTune backup.

Most would not want to also remove any iWatch data stored in iPhone nor those in the iWatch for fear of losing the data. Users would usually go ahead and do the pairing to the iPhone. iPhone will just install another iWatch device, keeping the old ones intact. After the pairing, there would be one new device added. When iPhone are backed up or synchronized to the servers, copies of the Health Data are also being stored in PC and the servers

One shouldn't be surprised to find several iWatch/iPhone devices were added sometimes. These devices could be added when backing up iPhone to iTune or automatically refreshing the iPhone to the server in the background. The backup copies might contain some older devices. These old & deleted device will come back if these backup copies have not been updated.In one of the iPhone, we found as many as 10 iWatch devices were left in the Apple Health apps as a result. But, the owner did not experienced any problem as the rest of device were all not paired to the iPhone.

As for iWatch that has erratic performance, we found there were 3 iWatch devices installed. Two of them were active.

We also found that the external apps like LumiHealth were not at fault, they merely extra the data from Apple Health Apps and re-tabulate. These external apps has their own database storages.

How to Locate the Extra Device?

The extra devices are found in 2 locations; one set is in the iPhone’s Apply Health Apps and the other, in the iWatch’s Apps.

In the iPhone

Find and click the Apple Health apps icon . Then follow this Gif image

 

In the iWatch
Goto setting/Health/Devices, the next screen will show the various devices including the iPhone.

How to Remove the extra copy?

From the iPhone, check first what has been stored in each device by clicking each device. If the device page shows that the iWatch is not paired to the iPhone, just leave them alone or if one likes, delete them from the Apple Health Apps in iPhone. They will just disappear after the deletion.

But, if there are more than one iWatch are found to be active and paired to the iPhone, there will be a need to remove until one active iWatch is left behind. There is no mean to unpair each and every individual from the page.

Backing up iPhone Data including Health Data Using  iTune

Click Gif Picture for enlarged print

a) Before removal

1. Important: Backup the data of the Apple Health App and the iWatch to the iCloud. Here is how (click). (applicable only for IOS 11 onwards)

b) Stop auto synchronizing between iWatch and iPhone

1. iWatch: Goto settings/General/Background Apps Refresh, turn the button off;
2. Do likewise for the iWatch apps in the iPhone; note the status so that it can be returned to its original position.

c) Examine the Device storage

1. Note the sequential position of the iWatch device to be examined in the device main page;
2. Examine the content of each and every iWatch device by clicking them;
3. Note down their contents and the latest date; after which,
4. Choose carefully which iWatch device one will want to keep.

This is because once the iWatch device is deleted, the data stored in the device will go with it. One will have to do a backup using iTune to restore it.

d) Erase the contents inside the iWatch device first

1. In iWatch: Goto Settings/Health/Devices;
2. In the device page, tap the device to be deleted. The contents of the device will be shown;
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the button to delete the contents from iWatch and tap and confirm it;
4. Repeat the same for other devices to be deleted
5. Check if there is any content left undelete, repeat the same, this time an error message will show up. Dismiss it.

e) Erase the contents inside the Apple Health Apps in the iPhone

1. In the iPhone: Follow the Gif instruction in the How to Locate the Extra Device? to locate the device page. Repeat the same procedure as in iWatch.

f) Removing and updating the Databases of the Apple Health Apps

The deleted devices might return if the Databases of the Apple Health Apps is not updated. To force an update in the databases, one will have to erase the entire content of the iWatch and start another pairing work to restore iWatch. This time, iPhone will update its content to the databases without the rest of unwanted iWatch devices

 

g) Check if another iWatch Device has been created

Apple Health Apps might create another iWatch Device. Check and delete if necessary. The additional device might be because the automatic synchronised check button has not been uncheck and applied.

h) Don't forget to turn back the Background Apps Refresh to their original position

i) Remember, there is still an old copy left in the backup and that copy must also be updated or else the problem will return when doing another backup. Try uncheck the checkbox of "Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected". If the synchronization has already started. Stop it by clicking "Apply" at the bottom and do a backup immediately. After that check if any extra device added and then turn on the checkbox and click "Apply" again.

Risk: One would not lose any data except those data in the device that one has deleted. No display in the Apple Health Apps and the external Health apps will be affected, One can always do a iTune restore to get back the deleted devices if the backup copy is still around.

Backing up iPhone Personal Data including Health Data Using iTune

31 July 2021

iPhone allows Apple Health Apps data to be stored in the iCloud for restoration work in iOS 11 onwards.

In the iPhone, goto Settings > Apple ID > iCloud and this page will appear.

If one has enough iCloud storage, one can keep all the items toggled on as shown. One can then use the iPhone internal OS to erase and replace iPhone's data at a later stage. But if one does not have enough iCloud storage, one should use iTune. iTune will be able to backup not only all the data but also Apple Health Apps data.

How to Backup iPhone including the Apple Health App Data?

Usually, iTunes will not backup one’s personal data in iTunes backup process. But it will do so if one allows the iPhone data to be encryptedduring backup. Therefore,  one should select "This Computer" and tick the check box to select "Encrypt local backup" as shown attached.

Remember to uncheck the checkbox and click "apply" at the bottom of the page.  This check box is for automatic synchronization of the iPhone.  It should remain off  unless one wants to update the Health Apps and iWatch with the old iWatch devices and other personal data still left in the backup copy.

After supplying the protective passwords, the iTune will start the backup process straightaway. This backup could take several minutes depending on the iPhone storage and the amount of data stored.

iWatch not updating walkout or exercising results in Apple Health Apps

Restore Health data from iTunes backup:

To restore the iPhone including all the Apple Health Data, one can use the iTune as per normal. The iPhone will be restoredonce the restore button is pressed and correct backup file is selected.

The restoration process may take some time to complete.

 

Cannot Reinstall Windows 7’s iTune

10 January 2020

Important Note:  Always backup the Registry using "System Restore" before meddling around with the PC.

One might come across this problem. iTune stopped working and re-installation stuck with this error message:

After that, no matter what we do, we are always stuck with this error message. Trying to do the following as recommended by many will not work as well:

1. Uuninstalling iTune or Bonjour Services or deleting the iTune folder from the PC or LapTop;

2. Re-istalling the Windows Installer or update to the latest version;

3. Doing “System Restore” without any success;

4. Repairing the Operating System using System Inastallation Disk;

5. Registering and unregistering Windows Installer, msiexe.exe;

6. Uninstalling all other Apple device including Bonjour;

7. Playing around with the Registry keys by removing iTune and Apple related products.

At the stage of almost trying to recover the Windows 7 installation, this solution popped up.

What that Solution?

It is actually a solution offered by Microsoft.   It said it will fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed.  Here is the program to download.

Just follow the instructions given by the program. The program is safe to use. It will helps one to repair program installation and uninstallation issues. It will also fix corrupted registry keys.

Should the above fix does not solve the issue,  try to restore the PC back to its original state using "System Restore". 

What could be Wrong?

There was no specific explanation about what was preventing iTune from re-installation. Microsoft only said that the program that fix such issues will fix the following issues

• Corrupted registry keys on 64-bit operating systems that control the update data;
• Prevented new programs from being installed;

• Prevented existing programs from being completely uninstalled or updated;

• Blocked one from uninstalling a program using "Programs and Features" in Control Panel.

What need to do after the fix

Uninstall all Apple Software, reinstall iTunes or iCloud for Windows.

The Missing IPhone Folder in PC's Explorer

5 January 2020

The IPhone folder is always there in the PC’s Explorer when I plug the IPhone using the lightning cable. The other day, the folder disappeared suddenly. It disappeared when I was trying to change the default program for IPhone’s picture JPG. This led me to a witch hunt thinking there was something wrong the PC.

What Happened?

When the folder was missing, I unplugged and replugged the IPhone cable many times. The PC would always acknowledged the connection with a sound. The only problem was there was no IPhone folder found in the Explorer’s screen.

The Symptom

The following were the observations:

1. There was no “Portable Devices” folder shown up in the PC’s Device Manager

 

2. While unplugging the IPhone, the "Portable Devices" would pop up momentary. It would show that “Apple IPhone” was not connected. Soon after, the folder would disappear

3. Deleting the “Apple IPhone” before it disappeared would change it to “MTP USB Device”. Deleting "MTP USB Device” again would need one to reinstall this driver at each IPhone plug-in. But, it would always fail to install each time.

What was Suspected?  What was done?

The immediate reaction was to assume that something was wrong with the PC. The drivers or the Operating System might have been corrupted. There were many such incidents reported before.

Tried almost every “tricks” found in the Net. These include uninstalling the iTune and Apple Mobil Device software. Also carried out Registry keys modifications, MTP and Apple USB drivers reinstallation. This witch hunts went for 2 days. None of the “Tricks” worked.

There was even a thought coming up to re-install the Operation System or to do a System Restore.

How It was Solved?

Thinking out of the box, I connected my old OPPO Android Phone to try out if it was the PC's fault. To my surprise, this old OPPO Android Phone was connected to the PC without any hitch. Finally, a simple “Slide to Power Off” and then “Power on” on the IPhone solved the  problem.

Take Aways

1. Like any human dispute, never assume that the 1st party (in this case the PC) is at fault. This was despite the fault occurred when I was fiddling around with the PC;

2. Always find a 3rd party (in this case the OPPO Android Phone) to confirm whose is at fault;

3. Last but the lest, never depend only on “gossips” from the Net to get your problem solve. Always think out of the box.