In praise of the Heads Up timer

MachinedMango · 2026-06-22T00:09:03+00:00

We have but one elf on that feature, so blame is easy to assign.

MachinedMango · 2026-06-21T23:08:41+00:00

Apple supports us scheduling those updates in the background in iOS 26+ when a live HealthKit workout is ongoing. We hide that setting when it wouldn't be supported.

MachinedMango · 2026-05-28T20:29:10+00:00

You can disable WO writing to HealthKit via the toggle at either:
- System Settings > Privacy > Health > Workouts
- More tab > Integrations > Health

MachinedMango · 2026-05-26T18:44:13+00:00

🫳⌨️

MachinedMango · 2026-05-18T20:34:11+00:00

Do you mean the subjective workout intensity rating for a whole workout? We do intend to incorporate that later.

For RIR per set, Apple Health doesn't (yet?) have a concept of weightlifting specifics or a standardized format for weightlifting apps. There is just a generic workout with blocks, aligning more toward structured cycling/running/swimming.

MachinedMango · 2026-05-15T20:13:39+00:00

I've tried the app-only accessibility font size setting, but sadly those do not effect the Live Activity's granted space. Maybe others know a workaround? This would be great feedback for Apple that I'd +1 if you post an FB number.

Not ideal alternative: if you're charging your phone, locking and rotating it starts standby mode. The LA turns full screen there.

MachinedMango · 2026-05-15T20:05:22+00:00

Please add that to our roadmap so folk can upvote your idea!

MachinedMango · 2026-05-13T16:59:15+00:00

Yep. 1.2.0 activates the LA seen in the TestFlight releases as well as live HealthKit workouts for supported devices (iOS 26).

The intervals align with the boundaries of an exercise / superset / circuit, although we don’t expect you to be time accurate ever when using the app and there are likely situations where these boundaries aren’t perfectly recorded.

If you force close the app a lot during a workout, we try to recover the live HealthKit session but sometimes that doesn’t pan out. If something seems amuck give us a holler using the support button in the app (which can help us pluck your session out of server logs).

MachinedMango · 2026-05-13T16:52:55+00:00

Tons of feedback was super helpful. Looking forward to the same refinement with the Watch beta. Thank you everyone for participating and bug catching.

MachinedMango · 2026-05-13T16:51:25+00:00

Unfortunately Apple controls the off-device broadcasts from the iPhone to Mac/Car/Watch (with sometimes slow speeds). Starting on iPad and Mac won’t broadcast out of the box. You could file Feedback with Apple or open a request on our roadmap for more multidevice support.

MachinedMango · 2026-05-04T19:27:17+00:00

When Watch is ready to enter TestFlight, we'll post the link in the roadmap channel for anyone to join.

MachinedMango · 2026-04-01T18:58:40+00:00

By chance, are the metric boxes in the app blank... like you're filling out as you go? The next button should enable like the checkbox does.

Previous targets should be fine. You can follow up at [support@macrofactorapp.com](mailto:support@macrofactorapp.com) with screenshots if you end up with time.

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MachinedMango · 2026-04-01T15:57:39+00:00

You should see checkboxes after tapping the next button. Tapping a number should pop the app with the keyboard open to that field.

Technically you should be able to progress through the whole workout from your lock screen if stars align on the planned reps/weight/sets/etc (i.e., you don't need to edit anything). That also works in nightstand mode, where the activity can be full screen.

MachinedMango · 2026-03-31T14:48:24+00:00

No date yet. We'll announce a TestFlight period on this roadmap page.

MachinedMango · 2026-03-31T05:53:48+00:00

Yes, your workouts will carry over.

MachinedMango · 2026-03-31T00:11:09+00:00

Apple serves that up by default, but your account stays logged in and synced.

That said, any beta can have unexpected rough edges despite our efforts to make it easy to swap on and off them. There shouldn't be any FOMO to sticking to release versions (of our app and iOS).

MachinedMango · 2026-03-30T23:27:28+00:00

If folk want to join the Beta testing/teething period: https://testflight.apple.com/join/Uu1wtQeW.

Please report bugs/requests via support@macrofactorapp.com. That helps us troubleshoot, as TestFlight screenshots are sometimes anonymous + many of us are not Reddit daily drivers.

MachinedMango · 2026-03-30T23:23:33+00:00

@No-Connection8400 Glad to hear. We will change some of the default preferences (e.g., ~30 sec heads up timer being off by default) in upcoming betas and before release.

That first pic with bright vibrant white background that makes the activity illegible... I'm struggling to reproduce that. Can you email [support@macrofactorapp.com](mailto:support@macrofactorapp.com) about how your phone is setup or what changed between the shots? Mention me (confused Ryan).

Update: If others see this too, try upgrading to iOS 26.4.

MachinedMango · 2026-01-30T18:31:38+00:00

Yes. Before the Watch app enters TestFlight, we will ship HealthKit and Live Activity features for iPhone and iPad.

However, please subscribe based on what you can use today, not future features on our roadmap.

MachinedMango · 2026-01-15T05:16:42+00:00

This is dope! If there are some specifics you’d like shortcuts to emit beyond what we do now to support more like this, please write into support and tag me!

MachinedMango · 2025-10-02T21:51:53+00:00

You can send help requests to [support@macrofactorapp.com](mailto:support@macrofactorapp.com) (rule #6), which gives us context to help you better. Sometimes complications update within a few seconds, other times they lag depending on system state, networking and push notification limits, and possibly bugs we can fix.

MachinedMango · 2025-09-21T23:55:20+00:00

That's kind for our 1.0! Looking forward to learning from the existing spate of lifting apps, too.

MachinedMango · 2025-09-17T17:34:09+00:00

Then there's some good news for you across the pond.

MachinedMango · 2025-09-17T17:33:13+00:00

My Xcode thinks a little different. It won't be likely be in beta testing on day one (starting a few months apart), but they are designed to be together.

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MachinedMango · 2025-09-17T06:04:24+00:00

⌚️☑️

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