Apple Watch users on watchOS 10.5 facing connectivity issues with Planet Fitness gym equipment

Apple Watch owners who frequent Planet Fitness are grappling with a frustrating problem since updating to watchOS 10.5. According to several reports, the Apple Watch no longer automatically connects to some Planet Fitness gym equipment (especially Matrix models), disrupting workout tracking and data syncing.

Before the update, connecting was effortless. Users could simply tap their Apple Watch to treadmills, ellipticals, or stationary bikes, and the Workout app would spring into action, diligently recording and syncing their exercise data. Now, the once-seamless process is unreliable or completely broken.

Affected users describe a range of frustrating scenarios: the gym equipment beeps as if detecting the watch, but the connection fails to materialize; some hear a sound reminiscent of an Apple Pay transaction instead of the usual workout connection tone; and the Workout app might scroll through exercise categories without actually connecting to the equipment.

The root of the problem remains a mystery. Apple’s official changelog for watchOS 10.5 doesn’t mention any changes that would affect gym equipment connectivity. Although the update did patch several security vulnerabilities, none of them seem directly linked to this specific issue. Interestingly, some users are even receiving notifications that automatic gym equipment detection is no longer supported, urging them to connect manually. Yet, even enabling this setting hasn’t resolved the problem for those affected.

Interestingly, this development comes on the heels of reports from February that Planet Fitness had temporarily removed support for their Apple Watch app. At the time, there was no indication of when the app might return, and this latest episode only deepens the mystery surrounding the relationship between Apple and Planet Fitness gym equipment. It has also been reported that Peloton is ditching Apple Watch’s Gymkit in favor of its own fitness app, so there seems to be a lot going on behind the scenes that we may not be privy to.

Expectedly, theories are swirling within the Apple Watch community, with some suggesting a software bug in watchOS 10.5 that inadvertently interferes with the connection process. Others suspect a compatibility issue between the update and the gym equipment’s software. Network connectivity glitches within the gym could also be to blame.

Another theory circulating amongst users suggests that Planet Fitness may have discovered a security vulnerability or exploit related to how Apple Watches connect to their gym equipment. This potential exploit could involve malicious actors spoofing exercise equipment to gain unauthorized access to users’ data or even their Apple Watch. If this theory holds true, Planet Fitness might have alerted Apple, giving them a window to fix the issue before it was publicly disclosed. This could explain the sudden disruption in connectivity and the lack of official communication, as both companies work behind the scenes to address the problem and ensure user safety.

Apple and Planet Fitness have yet to offer an official explanation or solution. In the meantime, affected users can attempt a few troubleshooting steps: ensure both the Apple Watch and gym equipment software are up to date, restart both devices, manually initiate a workout on the watch before tapping it to the equipment, report the issue to Apple Support, and inform Planet Fitness so they can investigate.

Despite the lack of a clear cause or solution, the growing reports hint at a significant problem for Apple Watch users who rely on Planet Fitness equipment for tracking their workouts. The absence of official acknowledgment and a definitive fix only adds to the frustration. For now, users are left to experiment with workarounds while hoping for a swift resolution from Apple and Planet Fitness.

Featured image: Apple