- Regarding App Update Synchronization During Workout Mode:
My watchOS app has workout mode enabled. When I update the app from the App Store on my iPhone while a workout session is active on my Apple Watch, the update does not sync to the watch. Why does this happen, and when can I expect the watch app to be updated?
- Regarding Automatic App Launch After a Prolonged Shutdown:
I would like my watchOS app to launch automatically on my Apple Watch after it has been powered off for an extended period and then turned back on. Is this functionality possible to implement? If not, please provide a definitive answer regarding this capability.
Updating an app means to kill the app, remove the existing app bundle, and install the new app bundle. When your watchOS app is running a workout, killing the app interrupts the workout and lose the data, and so it's quite reasonable to me that the system holds off the update process in that situation.
I’d expect that the system will kick off the update process again sometime after the workout is done – If you don’t see that happening, I’d suggest that you file a feedback report <https://developer.apple.com/bug-reporting/>, and I’d follow up from there.
There is no API that allows you to launch your app on demand when the watch is restarted. Your might consider the following, but none of them launches your app without user interaction:
- Provide a complication or live activities so a user can tap to launch your app.
- Use local notifications to remind a user to launch your app.
Best,
——
Ziqiao Chen
Worldwide Developer Relations.