Session Mode on iPhone

What can I use for heart rate on iPhone?

Two options, and you can switch between them whenever you like:

• Apple Watch — no extra hardware, and it’s the one-tap option. Your session shows up in Apple Health and counts toward your Activity rings.
• A Bluetooth heart-rate monitor — any standard Bluetooth chest strap or armband (Polar, Garmin, Wahoo, Coospo, Scosche and others). More accurate than a wrist sensor during heavy footwork.

You pick one as your active source in Profile → Connected devices → Heart Rate Source. 

Do I need an Apple Watch?

No. A Bluetooth chest strap works just as well and — during DDR specifically — usually reads more accurately, because wrist sensors struggle with the impact and arm movement.

How do I set up the Upscore Apple Watch app?

1. Install Upscore on your iPhone.
2. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
3. Find Upscore in the list and tap Install (or turn on Automatic App Install and it arrives on its own).
4. Open Upscore on your watch and allow the Health permissions it asks for.

Needs watchOS 10 or later.

Can I start a session from my watch?

Yes. Open Upscore on your Apple Watch and start from there — your phone doesn’t need to be in your hand. Your DDR code shows on the watch’s start screen so you can check you’re recording as the right player.

What is the Live Activity / Dynamic Island thing?

While a session is running, Upscore puts your session on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island at the top of your screen, so you can glance at it without unlocking your phone or opening the app. It shows your current heart rate, your heart-rate zone, calories, and elapsed time. ✅

It updates every few seconds while you play. ✅ And it works with whichever heart-rate source you’re using — Apple Watch or Bluetooth strap, it makes no difference. ✅

Why don’t I see the Live Activity or Dynamic Island?

A few things it needs:

• iOS 18 or later. ⚠️ (see §7 — this is what the widget target is set to today, worth confirming before publishing)
• Live Activities turned on. iPhone Settings → Upscore → Live Activities.
• The Dynamic Island specifically needs the hardware for it — iPhone 14 Pro and later. On other iPhones you still get the Lock Screen version, which shows the same information.
• A session has to actually be running. It appears when you start a session and disappears when you end it.

It says “CONNECTING…” and — where my heart rate should be

That’s the Live Activity’s normal starting state — the session has begun, but no heart-rate reading has arrived yet. ✅ If it stays that way, your source isn’t streaming: check the Apple Watch is on your wrist and Upscore is open on it, or that your strap is worn and awake.

Do I need Apple Health? What does Upscore put in it?

You need Apple Health if you want to use your Apple Watch as the heart-rate source — the watch’s heart rate reaches your phone through Health. ✅ If you’re using a Bluetooth strap, Apple Health is optional.

When it’s connected, Upscore writes your workouts, steps and calories to Apple Health. ✅ That’s what makes your DDR sessions count toward your Exercise ring. ✅

You can review or change exactly what Upscore shares at Settings → Health → Data Access & Devices → Upscore. ✅

My steps aren’t showing up in Apple Health

This is a known Apple Health behaviour, not an Upscore bug — Health picks one source for steps to avoid double-counting, and your iPhone usually wins by default. To make Upscore’s steps count during a session:

1. Open the Apple Health app
2. Browse → Steps → Data Sources & Access → Edit
3. Drag Upscore above iPhone ✅

Can I use a chest strap with my iPhone instead of the watch?

Yes. Go to Profile → Connected devices, tap rescan under Heart Rate Source, and pick your strap from the list. ✅ Everything else behaves identically — the session, the recap chart, the Live Activity and the Dynamic Island all show your strap’s heart rate. ✅

I have both an Apple Watch and a chest strap. Which one does Upscore use?

Whichever you’ve selected as your Heart Rate Source — only one is active at a time. ✅ Change it any time in Profile → Connected devices; the switch takes effect from your next session.

Which iPhones and watches are supported?

• iPhone: iOS 16 or later ✅
• Apple Watch app: watchOS 10 or later ✅
• Bluetooth heart-rate monitors: any iPhone that runs Upscore

Why is Upscore asking for Bluetooth permission?

Only to find and connect your heart-rate monitor. If you decline, everything else in Upscore still works — you just won’t be able to connect a strap. If you declined by accident, turn it back on at Settings → Upscore → Bluetooth. ✅

Can I use my Apple Watch as the source without wearing my phone?

Your iPhone needs to be with you and running Upscore for the session to record — it’s the phone that captures your scores. The watch handles heart rate and the start button.