Charge 5 won't show my heart rate while exercising

[rbroaddus4]

Just got the device 4 days ago. Since it's main function seems to be monitoring one's heartrate, it seems weird to me that while doing an exercise (so far, I've walked and biked), that it only shows me time and distance. It will vibrate to tell me when I have gone to a zone, but it doesn't tell me if I have dropped out of it. Have I got this set up wrong? I know that it keeps the heartrate data, and that I can view it after the exercise is over, but it seems strange to me that I can't seem to check my rate while I am doing the exercise.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[JohnnyRow]

I have a Charge 5 on my desk somewhere that I can't locate at the moment so can't give you exact directions, but can give you general idea.  In Exercise App on watch, after selecting 'Walk', swipe up from the little up arrow at the bottom of screen to see additional options that will apply only to 'Walk' but will remain in effect for future Walks.  Somewhere is there is a selection that lets you select the stats that display on top, middle, and bottom of screen during workout.  I think the top and bottom are fixed and middle can scroll though a series of stats as you tap it.

If you haven't seen this yet, here is the Charge 5 manual: Charge 5 manual (pdf) 

[rbroaddus4]

Not on mine. The only options there are Heart Zone Notification, GPS, and Always-on Display. The heart zone thing is on, and it does let me know when I first advance a zone, but nothing after that.

[rbroaddus4]

And thanks, but I checked the manual and can't find anything at all in it about display during exercise. If I don't set the thing in exercise, but just go, it shows my heartrate fine, I just think it's weird that it won't do so while using the exercise mode.

[JohnnyRow]

Maybe I'm thinking of another tracker model; guess I should be sure before I answer.

[rbroaddus4]

It's not impossible that I'm an idiot, and am just missing something.

[JohnnyRow]

I'm frustrated I can't find my Charge 5; I still think there is a way but not sure how.

[RiekoC]

Hi & welcome @rbroaddus4 

Well, first of all, I don't think you're an idiot. A newbie to the mysterious working of the Charge 5, but definitely not an idiot. 

The Charge 5 will notify you via vibration when you move between heart rate zones during a workout, starting with Fat Burning. However, it doesn't notify you when you drop below the Fat Burning zone. 

If you use the Exercise app to manually start your workout, the display should show your heartrate. You tap on the display to scroll through the various screens. I confirmed that Walk and Bike include Heartrate as one of the displayed screens during the workout. So you should be able to see your heartrate during your workout using the Exercise app if you manually start it. However, I don't remember if your Charge 5 auto-recognizes that you're doing a workout if the Exercise app will show the workout and display the screens. 

Another option to consider is using a different clock face that always shows your heartrate. I use Runliner which always shows my current heartrate. Slashed is the other clock face that shows heartrate. 

If this doesn't answer your question, please let us know. 

[rbroaddus4]

Mine very definitely does NOT show heartrate when I use the Exercise app, on either of the two screens that are available to me, at least on the Walk or Bike ones. It does on the regular clockface. I haven't tried the running one yet. Since I always have my phone when I walk or bike, not using the Exercise app isn't a big loss. I will be upset, though, if it isn't on the Run app, as I would like to use the GPS features then.

[rbroaddus4]

Oh... I have to tap it to show cycle through stuff, and heartrate is one of those. I had only been swiping. My bad.

[RiekoC]

Yay! You figured it out. Thanks for confirming that your Exercise app is working correctly and you can see your Heartrate data. 

[rbroaddus4]

Yay, but... It shows heartbeat and elapsed time together. I guess I am picky, but I wish I could get it to show heartrate and distance without having to fiddle with it. Oh well! Maybe some future update will include that.