Stopping Automatic App Exit

Question

Created Aug ’15

Replies 4

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I written a WatchKit app to track golf shots and distances. However many users complain that they are forced to restart the app each time they want to record a golf shot.

My app keeps track of state and resumes where they left off, but users still feel it is klunky that they must continually re-launch from menu. This is apparently not needed with the watch apps from Apple such as activity tracker.

Will the next version of watchkit give control to the developer when the app exits? Or at least allow the user to select which individual apps will stay running?

Answered by PrinceCreed in 41807022

In watchOS 2 you can start a HKWorkoutSession in order to keep your app foreground (for a while).

For now you can just set Apple Watch to always resume last activity instead of Watch Face.

In Settings/General/On Wrist Raise select "Resume Previous Activity".

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Answer 1

PrinceCreed OP

Aug ’15

Accepted Answer

In watchOS 2 you can start a HKWorkoutSession in order to keep your app foreground (for a while).

For now you can just set Apple Watch to always resume last activity instead of Watch Face.

In Settings/General/On Wrist Raise select "Resume Previous Activity".

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Answer 2

27Feathers OP

Aug ’15

Very good to know about HKWorkoutSession. Thank you.

I tell users about Settings/General/On Wrist Raise select "Resume Previous Activity" but they are often reluctant to set it, thinking that it will mess-up other functions of their watch.

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Answer 3

chuckc192000 OP

Aug ’15

I wouldn't use the HKWorkoutSession for other than it's intended purpose. It will run down the battery in a hurry because of heart rate monitoring, motion tracking, etc.

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Answer 4

Bytor99999 OP

Sep ’15

Do you have any alternative suggestions?

There are a vast number of amazing apps that could be created for the watch that users would love. They could be the killer apps that cause more people to buy the Apple Watch. But automatically closing them after a couple of seconds kills those apps.

I have two, that I think are excellent for the few seconds they can run before being shut down, but know the users would love to have them run longer. They themselves can turn it off when not needed. And as another poster commented this is exactly how the Apple Workout app works and the battery doesn't drain any extra.

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