*Note: The Trailforks Watch app requires iOS Operating System (OS) 15.0 or higher, Apple Watch OS 10.0 or higher, and the most up-to-date Trailforks app version.
Initial Set-Up
1. Download the Trailforks app onto your iPhone from the App Store. Ensure that you are running on the most up-to-date Trailforks app version.
2. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, select the My Watch tab, scroll down to the Available Apps section, and select Install next to the Trailforks app.
3. If you are not logged into the Trailforks app on your iPhone, you will be prompted to log-in or sign-up on the Trailforks app on your phone.
If you have already logged into the Trailforks app on your iPhone, keep the app open or running in the foreground while you open the Trailforks Watch app. You should be automatically logged into the Trailforks app on your Apple Watch.
Granting Permissions
Once you have installed the Trailforks app on your Apple Watch, you’ll receive a few pop-ups asking you to grant permissions. Accepting these permissions is very important as doing so will affect your metrics when recording an activity:
Accepting HealthKit permissions: Heart Rate, Calories Burned, & Auto-Pause Ability
Granting the Trailforks Apple Watch app access to HealthKit permissions will allow for your heart rate and calories burned to show when recording an activity. Additionally, the auto-pause functionality while recording an activity relies on these permissions being turned on to work accurately.
If you do not accept these permissions initially, you will NOT see your heart rate and calories burned on the metrics screen when recording an activity. Auto-pause functionality for biking and running will also not work if these permissions are turned off.
Why is auto-pause functionality impacted by HealthKit permissions?
This is because the Trailforks Apple Watch app relies on motion detection from Apple HealthKit to automatically pause/resume recording. The functionality works on all biking activity types as well as for running and trail running.
How do I change my HealthKit permissions?
To change your HealthKit permissions, you must do so on your iOS device:
General Settings → Privacy & Security → Health → Trailforks
From this screen, you can choose to turn on all permissions or specifically select certain permissions that the Trailforks Apple Watch app can access. Keep in mind that turning on certain permissions, like cycling distance and walking/running distance, will significantly improve recording accuracy.
You will not be able to start a recording if you do not grant certain HealthKit permissions. We recommend turning on all HealthKit permissions for full functionality of the Trailforks Watch app.
Accepting Motion & Fitness Permissions: Elevation & Speed
Granting the Trailforks Apple Watch app access to Motion & Fitness tracking allows for the elevation of your activity to be recorded accurately.
If you do not accept these permissions initially, you will not see the elevation values reflected on the watch screen.
How do I turn on Motion & Fitness Permissions?
To turn these permissions on, you must do so through your iOS device:
General Settings → Privacy & Security → Motion & Fitness → Toggle On for Trailforks
Note: You may just see the ‘Health’ app reflected under Motion & Fitness. As long as you enable all Health permissions for the Trailforks app, you should see elevation values reflected in your metrics screen.
Accepting Location Permissions: Accurate Distance Tracking
Granting Location access and importantly, precise location access, is the most important step towards recording your activities with the Trailforks Watch app.
If you do not grant precise location permissions, you will not be able to start a recording with the Trailforks Watch app.
Without granting access to location permissions, you will not be able to see the total distance traveled on your metrics screen, nor will you have basic functionality on the map screen.
How do I turn on Location permissions?
To turn Location permission access on, you must do so through your iOS device:
General Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Trailforks
You can choose whether you want to allow Location access while using the app or always. You must toggle ‘Precise Location’ on in order to record activities with the Trailforks Watch app. Toggling these permissions on will allow for accurate distance tracking, as well as full map functionality on the map screen of the app.
For more information and troubleshooting tips, please visit our troubleshooting article here.