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Apple Watch and Kinni

Use this guide to install Kinni on Apple Watch, allow Apple Health permissions, open the watch app, and confirm live heart rate is ready for your next run.

Apple Watch can provide live heart rate while you record a Kinni run from your iPhone. The iPhone app remains the main control surface: choose the workout, start the run, stop the run, and review the session in Kinni on iPhone.

Before you start

Section titled “Before you start”
  • Use Kinni on iPhone with a paired Apple Watch.
  • Install Kinni on Apple Watch from the iPhone Watch app if it is not already installed.
  • Keep the watch unlocked and worn so heart-rate measurement can work.
  • Allow Apple Health permissions when Kinni asks.

Set up Apple Watch

Section titled “Set up Apple Watch”
  1. In Kinni on iPhone, open Profile.
  2. Under Connected apps & devices, tap Apple Watch.
  3. If Kinni says the watch app is not installed, open the iPhone Watch app, find Kinni, and tap Install.
  4. Return to Kinni and allow Apple Health Permissions.
  5. Open Kinni on Apple Watch once.
  6. Wait for the watch app to show a latest heart-rate preview or workout-ready state.
  7. Return to the Apple Watch setup screen in Kinni and tap Done.

The setup screen shows Watch app installed, Apple Health Permissions, and Open Kinni on Apple Watch so you can see which step still needs attention.

Use Apple Watch during a Kinni run

Section titled “Use Apple Watch during a Kinni run”
  1. Open Go Run or the workout run setup screen.
  2. Check Run devices for the Apple Watch card.
  3. Start the Kinni run from the iPhone.
  4. Keep the watch on your wrist during the run so Kinni can receive live heart-rate updates.
  5. Stop the run from Kinni on iPhone when you are finished.

When live heart rate is current, Kinni can show the BPM value on the watch-ready surfaces. If the value is still measuring or unavailable, keep the watch awake, worn, and close to the phone.

What Apple Watch does not replace

Section titled “What Apple Watch does not replace”

Apple Watch is not a treadmill connection and does not control treadmill speed or incline. Use Kinni’s treadmill connection articles for FTMS, FitShow, or treadmill-control questions.

Apple Watch also differs from Apple Health sync. Apple Watch is the live companion path; Apple Health is the phone health store used for completed-session import and export.

If Apple Watch is not ready

Section titled “If Apple Watch is not ready”
  • Confirm Apple Watch is paired with the iPhone you use for Kinni.
  • Confirm Kinni is installed on Apple Watch.
  • Reopen Kinni on Apple Watch and keep the watch unlocked.
  • If permissions show as denied or need attention, use Settings from the Apple Watch setup screen and allow the requested Apple Health access.
  • If heart rate stays unavailable, check that the watch is being worn snugly and that no other condition is preventing the watch from measuring heart rate.
Section titled “Related articles”

Still need help?

If an article does not answer your question, open Kinni and use in-app support, or join the Kinni Discord community for help from the team and other runners.

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