3 min read

How to get Zwift workouts automatically synced to Apple Health

Close your activity rings and have your Zwift workouts fully synced to Apple Health. In this how to you learn what steps you need to take to succeed.
How to get Zwift workouts automatically synced to Apple Health

A few months ago, I joined the Apple Watch again and flipped my Garmin. Having an Apple Watch brings the Apple Health app and Apple Fitness app to the agenda, which are the spots for all your health related data. It didn't take long for me to realise that my 2-hour bike session in Zwift didn't show up fully on my phone and even worse, my activity and movement rings didn't close! All I got was the workout, but without activity data.

I went on a journey to discover for everyone out there how to get your Zwift workouts fully synced to Apple Health and ultimately close your rings.

What setup do you have?

Firstly, there's no technical guide or documentation where there aren't requirements listed. But to make it even worse, the requirements depend on the way you monitor your heart rate. There are two options to have your workouts synced. All options require you to have the Zwift Companion App installed on your iPhone.

Option 1: Using the Apple Watch as a Heart Rate Monitor

If you want to use your Apple Watch as an HRM, you must have the Zwift Companion App installed on your watch and phone.

What you need

  • your iPhone with Zwift Companion app
  • your Apple Watch with the Zwift Companion app
  • another device to launch Zwift (e.g., AppleTV, iPad, another iPhone, Mac or Computer)

How does it work

All you got to do is to launch the Zwift Companion app on your watch and your iPhone. Then start Zwift on the third device and log into your Zwift account.

On the pairing screen, you must select to use the Zwift Companion app as a pairing device instead of Bluetooth (BTLE).

On iPad, there isn't such an option available. Therefore, you must use your Apple Watch as the Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) in the pairing screen.

After you're done with your workout, just stop & save the workout within Zwift. The Zwift Companion app should change its design back to the main overview, and the workout is fully listed in Apple Fitness and Apple Health.

Option 2: Using another device as a Heart Rate Monitor

Attention: This option does not work if Zwift is running on an iPad or another iPhone! This only works with AppleTV, a Mac or PC.

What you need

  • your iPhone with Zwift Companion App
  • a heart rate monitor of your choice
  • another device to launch Zwift (e.g., AppleTV, Mac or Computer)

How does it work

All you got to do is to launch the Zwift Companion app on your iPhone. Then start Zwift on the second device and log into your Zwift account.

On the pairing screen, you must select to use the Zwift Companion App as a pairing device instead of Bluetooth (BTLE). Select all your devices and enjoy your ride or run in Zwift.

After you're done with your workout, just stop & save the workout within Zwift. The Zwift Companion app should change its design back to the main overview, and the workout is fully listed in Apple Fitness and Apple Health.

Known issues

In Strava or TrainingPeaks I see my workouts twice, how do I fix it?

You're probably using the HealthFit app to sync your workouts to another platform. As Zwift is syncing it already there and now your workouts show up in Apple Health, you need to modify the syncing settings in the HealthFit app – or delete the sync in Zwift. Personally, I recommend you to update the settings in HealthFit.

  • Open the HealthFit app and select "More" in the lower-right corner
  • Scroll to the service you're syncing to, for example, Strava
  • Select Strava and tap on "Edit" on the upper right
  • Deselect "All workouts" and then deselect "Indoor cycling" and "Indoor running"
  • Tap on "Done" in the upper-right corner

Keep in mind that you're still able to sync the indoor workouts manually if you didn't use Zwift on an indoor workout.

The Apple Watch doesn't show up in the pairing screen.

Close the Zwift Companion app on your Apple Watch by hitting on the Side button and swiping the Zwift Companion app to the left. Tap on the red button to close the app. Relaunch Zwift Companion and wait a few minutes.

I don't see my heart rate anymore after I joined the world

This happens mostly on iPads. Switch via the Zwift Menu to the pairing screen and do nothing there. Restart the Zwift Companion app on your Apple Watch.