Automatic Training Detection
Applies to: Polar Loop
Automatic Training Detection allows your Polar Loop to automatically detect and record training sessions without requiring you to manually start recording via the Flow app. When enabled, your device begins recording once it detects elevated heart rate and activity levels. This feature ensures your training is tracked even if you forget to start it manually—and you don’t need to carry your phone during the session. You can focus fully on your training while your device handles the tracking in the background.
For accurate measurement and tracking, it’s important that the device is positioned correctly on your wrist. See How do I wear my Polar Loop? for instructions. Also, make sure that you are wearing the device on the wrist you selected in the Flow app device settings.
Automatic Training Detection is on by default. You can turn it on or off during the setup or later in the Flow app's device settings where you can also adjust its sensitivity.
In the Flow app, open the device settings by tapping the device card in Diary. You can also go to Devices and choose Polar Loop if you have more than one Polar device.
In the device settings, use the Track training automatically switch to turn automatic training detection on or off.
Adjust the sensitivity of automatic training detection by moving the Training intensity slider toward Low, Medium or High. This setting determines the intensity level at which tracking begins. The higher the intensity, the harder you need to work. You can try different intensity settings to find the optimal intensity level for your training.
Training intensities:
- Low: Even light activity, such as leisurely walking or doing household chores, can trigger training recording.
- Medium (default): Activities like a brisk walk or light jog are enough to start recording.
- High: Training is only recorded when you're doing vigorous activities, such as running, skiing, or other high-intensity sports.
For a training session to be automatically recorded, it must meet certain duration and intensity requirements.
Duration: The activity must last at least 10 minutes to be saved as a workout.
Intensity: Your heart rate and activity need to reach and maintain certain levels:
To start tracking, your heart rate must exceed 50% of your Heart Rate Reserve (HRR) — the difference between your maximum and resting heart rates. This typically means the activity should fall within Heart Rate Zone 1 or higher. To keep tracking, your heart rate must stay above 25% of your HRR, or alternatively, the device must detect continuous high physical activity via the accelerometer.
Example for a person with a maximum heart rate of 190 bpm and a resting heart rate of 50 bpm:
- Heart Rate Reserve (HRR) = 190 – 50 = 140 bpm
- Start threshold (50% HRR) = (140 × 0.5) + 50 = 120 bpm
- Continue threshold (25% HRR) = (140 × 0.25) + 50 = 85 bpm
Your activity level must reach 6.0 METs (a measure of exercise intensity) or higher to start. Tracking stops when activity drops to 3.0 METs or below, unless your heart rate remains high enough despite low movement. This can happen, for example, when cycling, where your wrist stays almost still while holding the handlebars.
MET examples:
1.0 MET: Sitting quietly
2.5 METs: Walking slowly
5.0 METs: Walking briskly
9.8 METs: Running at a 10-minute mile pace (6:00 min/km).
11.0 METs: Running at 7.0 mph (11 km/h, or about 5:25 min/km)
Note: These intensity values apply to the Medium training intensity setting, which is the default. The thresholds are higher for the High setting and lower for the Low setting.
When you start a training session
The device starts recording your training session when it recognizes your heart rate and activity level are high enough.
During the training session
The ongoing training recording and its current duration are shown in the Flow app on the device card in the Diary and on the Start page.
If you want, you can manually stop the training recording by pressing and holding the Hold to stop button.
After the training session
The recording will automatically end when your heart rate drops below the specified thresholds, and no continuous high physical activity is detected. The device will then sync your training data to the Flow app, once your phone is within Bluetooth range. Note that the app must be running, at least in the background, for automatic syncing to work.
The automatically recorded training session will appear in the Diary and Calendar views of the Flow app. You can view the training analysis by tapping the session.
By default, the Other indoor sport profile is used for all automatically recorded training sessions, but you can change it if you want. When you open the training analysis view from the Calendar, you'll be prompted to select the sport profile before entering the analysis view. Tap a sport profile to select it, or select Cancel if you want to keep the Other indoor sport profile.
After selecting a sport profile, you will be asked to rate your session. You can choose a rating on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 represents very, very easy and 10 indicates maximum effort. If you prefer, you can disable this question for future sessions by switching off the "Keep asking" slider at the bottom of the page. After rating, the training analysis view opens.
For automatic training detection to work properly, please make sure that your physical settings in the Flow app are up to date. To access these settings, go to the More menu, then tap your profile image or name at the top of the page.
Your maximum heart rate and resting heart rate values are essential for calculating your heart rate reserve. Other physical details—sex, date of birth, height, and weight—are used to estimate calorie consumption.
- Maximum heart rate: Set your maximum heart rate, if you know your current maximum heart rate value. Your age-predicted maximum heart rate value (220 minus age) is displayed as a default setting when you set this value for the first time.
- Resting heart rate: This is your lowest heart rate when you’re fully relaxed and without distractions. If you don't know your resting heart rate, you can refer to the Lowest heart rate of the day value shown in the Activity view.
For accurate measurement, it is important that the device is positioned correctly on your wrist. See How do I wear my Polar Loop? for instructions. Also, make sure you wear the device on the wrist you selected in the Flow app device settings.
If you want your training sessions to start and end at exactly the right time, we recommend using manual recording in the Flow app. Automatic detection may have slight delays—such as at the beginning of a session if your hands are cold and blood circulation is low, or at the end if your heart rate stays elevated after an intense workout.
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