If you own a Sole treadmill and an Apple Watch, you’re probably wondering: does Sole treadmill connect to Apple Watch? The good news is, yes, they can work together, but not always in the direct way you might hope. This guide will walk you through every method to get your devices talking, so you can track your runs and workouts seamlessly.
Does Sole Treadmill Connect To Apple Watch
Direct Bluetooth pairing between your Sole treadmill and your Apple Watch for live metrics is not supported. Sole treadmills are designed to connect with their own Sole Fitness app and other third-party apps via Bluetooth, but this connection is typically for your phone, not the watch. However, you have several effective workarounds to sync your data.
How to Sync Your Workout Data (The Main Methods)
You can’t see treadmill metrics on your watch face in real-time, but you can ensure all your workout data ends up in the Apple Health app. This gives you a complete picture of your fitness. Here are the primary ways to make it happen.
Method 1: Use the Apple Watch Workout App
This is the simplest and most reliable method. You start an Indoor Run workout on your watch while you run on the treadmill.
- On your Apple Watch, open the Workout app.
- Select Indoor Run.
- Press start and begin your treadmill session. Your watch uses its accelerometer to estimate distance, calories, and pace.
- When finished, end and save the workout. It automatically syncs to the Fitness and Health apps on your iPhone.
The downside is the watch’s estimated metrics may differ from the treadmill’s console, which is often more accurate for distance.
Method 2: Use the Sole Fitness App with Your iPhone
This method captures the treadmill’s own data. You’ll need your iPhone nearby.
- Download the Sole Fitness app from the App Store on your iPhone.
- Enable Bluetooth on your iPhone.
- On the treadmill console, press the Bluetooth button or navigate to the Bluetooth setting. The console icon is usually a “B” or says BT.
- Open the Sole Fitness app and follow the prompts to pair your treadmill. It should find your treadmill model.
- Start your workout on the treadmill. The app will record data like speed, incline, and calories from the console itself.
For this to sync to Apple Health, you must grant permission. Go to the Apple Health app > Profile picture > Privacy > Apps. Find “Sole Fitness” and turn on all the data categories you want to share. Now, your treadmill data and your watch’s heart rate data will combine in one place.
Method 3: Use a Third-Party App like Zwift or Kinomap
If you want a more immersive experience, apps like Zwift can act as a bridge. They connect to your treadmill via Bluetooth and also run on your Apple Watch for heart rate.
- Install Zwift on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
- Pair your Sole treadmill as a controllable device in Zwift’s settings (it often appears as a FTMS treadmill).
- Your watch provides heart rate to Zwift, and Zwift records the detailed treadmill metrics.
- Zwift can then write the comprehensive workout data to Apple Health.
Getting Heart Rate from Apple Watch to the Treadmill Console
Some newer Sole treadmills with an LCD console may display heart rate if you broadcast it from your watch. Here’s how to try:
- On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- On the treadmill, enter the heart rate monitor pairing mode (check your manual).
- On your watch’s Bluetooth list, look for the treadmill (e.g., “Sole HR” or a model number).
- If it appears, tap to pair. If it doesn’t, this feature isn’t supported by your specific treadmill model.
Remember, this is only for showing your heart rate on the treadmill display—it doesn’t mean the treadmill is sending data to your watch.
Troubleshooting Common Connection Problems
Sometimes things don’t go smoothly. Here’s how to fix frequent issues.
Bluetooth Won’t Pair
- Restart both the treadmill and your iPhone. Power the treadmill off completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on.
- Delete the treadmill from your phone’s Bluetooth device list and from within the Sole app, then try pairing again from scratch.
- Ensure you’re within range (about 10 feet) with no major obstructions.
Data Not Syncing to Apple Health
- Check permissions in the Apple Health app again. This is the most common fix.
- Make sure your iPhone and Apple Watch are updated to the latest OS versions.
- Open the Sole Fitness app after your workout to force a sync to their servers, which can then trigger the Health app update.
Inaccurate Calorie or Distance Counts
If you use the watch alone, remember it’s an estimate. For the most accurate data, rely on the Sole app’s recording from the treadmill console and sync that to Health. Calorie counts will always vary between devices because they use different calculations.
FAQ: Your Quick Questions Answered
Can I connect my Sole F80 or F63 treadmill to Apple Watch?
The process is the same for all Sole treadmill models (F80, F63, TT8, etc.). None connect directly to the watch for two-way data. Use the Sole Fitness app with your iPhone as the go-between for console data.
Does Sole sync with Apple Fitness+?
No, Sole treadmills do not natively integrate with Apple Fitness+ workouts. You can play a Fitness+ treadmill workout on your screen and run along, but the treadmill won’t auto-adjust speed or incline. You have to manually change them on the console, which can be a bit inconvienient.
Which method gives the most accurate workout data?
Using the Sole Fitness app to record the treadmill’s console data provides the most accurate speed, distance, and incline metrics. Pair that with your Apple Watch’s heart rate reading (via the Health app merge) for the best overall dataset.
Is there any direct Apple Watch app for Sole?
No, Sole does not offer a standalone Apple Watch app. You must use your iPhone as the primary connection device for their equipment.
My old Sole treadmill doesn’t have Bluetooth. What can I do?
If your treadmill lacks Bluetooth, you cannot sync its data digitally. Your best option is to manually add the workout to Apple Health using the “Add Data” feature in the Health app, or simply use your Apple Watch’s Indoor Run workout for tracking.
Final Recommendations
For most users, the best combo is to start an Indoor Run workout on your Apple Watch for heart rate and effort tracking, and simultaneously let the Sole Fitness app on your paired iPhone record the precise treadmill metrics. With both apps permissioned to write to Apple Health, you’ll get a rich, combined workout summary. While a direct “Does Sole treadmill connect to Apple Watch” link isn’t there, these steps create a powerful and almost seamless alternative. Just remember to check your Bluetooth and Health app permissions if anything stops working—that solves most problems right away.