StrideSync Help

Features

Real-Time Cadence Detection

StrideSync measures your step rate in two ways depending on your setup.

With Apple Watch: the Watch accelerometer tracks your cadence continuously and sends it to the iPhone every second.

Without Apple Watch (iPhone-only mode): your iPhone's built-in motion sensor detects steps via the CMPedometer framework. Carry your phone in a hip pocket or waistband for best results — this position is often more reliable than wrist detection for step counting.

iPhone-Only Workout Mode

An Apple Watch is not required. Toggle “Using Apple Watch” off on the main screen to run a workout entirely from your iPhone.

In this mode, your iPhone's built-in motion sensor measures cadence, tracks distance, and controls music playback — no Watch needed. Music starts immediately at 110 BPM and adjusts to your detected cadence once steps are registered.

Note: Heart rate and calories are not available in iPhone-only mode, as those sensors are on the Apple Watch. Duration, distance, average cadence, and songs played are all tracked normally.

Automatic Music Matching

StrideSync selects songs from your library whose BPM tag falls within your chosen tolerance of your current stride rate.

Lock-Screen Playback

Music continues playing through the lock screen, workout sessions, and app switches — no need to keep the phone unlocked.

Workout Tracking

Tracks duration, distance, average cadence, and songs played. With an Apple Watch, heart rate and calories are also recorded. A summary is shown at the end of every workout.

Adjustable Tolerance

Set the BPM tolerance from ±1 to ±10 BPM using the slider or Siri. Wider tolerance = more song matches; narrower = tighter fit.

Playlist Support

Choose any playlist from your library. StrideSync matches only within that playlist, so you can curate your workout music.

Shuffle Mode

Shuffle randomizes the matched song queue. Toggle from iPhone or Apple Watch.

Playback Controls

Skip, previous, pause/resume, and stop are available on both the iPhone and Apple Watch. Shuffle and tolerance adjustments are also available on both devices.

Now Playing on Watch

Page 3 of the Watch app shows the current song, artist, BPM, and your live stride rate with tolerance.

Watch Complication

StrideSync adds Watch face complications in four styles:

• Corner — your live cadence as a large number, plus a curved gauge arc. A yellow tick marks your current pace; a red tick marks the song's BPM target. When they meet, both merge to orange — you're in sync. Labels at each end show the ±tolerance boundary in BPM.
• Circular — the StrideSync “SS” initials with a green ring border.
• Rectangular — StrideSync logo with “BPM Cadence Match” label.
• Inline — compact text showing the current song BPM (for example, “SS · 128 BPM”).

All styles tap to open the app.

To add: long-press your Watch face → Edit Watch Face → tap any complication slot → scroll to StrideSync.

BPM Library Editor

Tap the waveform icon in the header to open the BPM Library Editor — a full-screen tool for tagging your music before or between workouts. Songs without a BPM value are invisible to StrideSync during a workout, so tagging in advance gives you the best matching results.

StrideSync detects BPM through three automatic methods:

1. ReccoBeats — an online music database. Tap “Tag Untagged Songs” to look up your entire library in one pass.
2. On-Device Audio Analysis — for locally downloaded non-DRM songs, StrideSync reads the audio file directly and extracts the tempo without any internet connection. Tap “Analyze” in the no-match banner, or open an individual song and tap “Analyze BPM from Audio”.
3. Tap Tempo — tap a rhythm button while previewing the song. A smoothing algorithm filters out timing inconsistencies and stabilizes the reading as you tap.

You can also type a BPM value directly or step up and down with arrow buttons. A built-in metronome lets you hear the tempo while you set it.

Manual overrides always take priority over automatic sources and are saved permanently per song. Sort your library by BPM, title, or artist, and filter to a specific playlist.

DRM-protected Apple Music tracks cannot be analyzed from the audio file directly. Use tap tempo, or tag them with the companion Stride BPM macOS app — values sync automatically to StrideSync via iCloud.

Siri & Shortcuts

Ask Siri to read or change your BPM tolerance. Both actions are also available in the Shortcuts app for automations.

Stride Speedometer

A gauge displayed to the right of your steps-per-minute reading. It gives you an instant visual read on how your current stride rate compares to the BPM of the song that is playing.

When your stride perfectly matches the song's BPM, the needle points straight up (12 o'clock). If your stride is too slow — meaning the song is playing faster than you are stepping — the needle swings left into the green zone, prompting you to speed up. If your stride is too fast, the needle swings right into the red zone, prompting you to slow down. The further the needle deflects from vertical, the greater the mismatch.

When your stride falls completely outside the current tolerance window and no matching song is playing, the speedometer blinks to alert you. It stops blinking the moment a well-matched song begins.

Workout Chart

Tap the green chart icon next to the StrideSync title to view a detailed performance chart, during or after a workout (the icon turns green after the first song match).

The yellow line shows your cadence over time, the red line shows the BPM of each song played, and the green band shows your ±tolerance window. Red dots mark skipped songs; small dots are auto-skips, and big dots are manual skips. Below the chart is a full song timeline with timestamps and manual skip indicators.

Gestures: pinch to zoom in/out on both axes simultaneously; drag left/right to scroll through time; drag up/down to pan the BPM axis after zooming in; double-tap to auto-fit all recorded data into view.

Cycling Cadence Sensor (Bluetooth)

For indoor cycling workouts, StrideSync on Apple Watch supports any Bluetooth Low Energy cycling cadence sensor using the standard CSC (Cycling Speed and Cadence) profile — compatible brands include Garmin, Wahoo, Polar, and most others.

The sensor measures your pedal RPM directly and sends it to the Watch, which uses it in place of the accelerometer-based step detection. This gives you precise cadence matching even when your arms aren't moving.

How to pair a cycling cadence sensor:

1. Start a workout on your Apple Watch and select Indoor Cycling.
2. A Bluetooth sensor sheet appears automatically — tap Scan.
3. Spin your pedals to wake the sensor, then select it from the list.
4. A green dot on the Watch Stats page confirms the sensor is connected.

Note: Bluetooth cadence sensors apply only to indoor cycling mode. Walking and running workouts use the built-in Watch accelerometer.

Requirements

Apple Watch (Optional)

An Apple Watch is not required. StrideSync works in iPhone-only mode using your phone's built-in motion sensor for cadence detection.

With an Apple Watch (Series 4 or later recommended), you also get heart rate monitoring, calorie tracking, Watch-side workout controls, and the complication. If using a Watch, both the iPhone and Watch apps must be running during the workout.

iOS 18+

StrideSync requires iOS 18 or later. watchOS 11 or later is required only if you pair an Apple Watch. Siri intent support requires iOS 16+.

BPM-Tagged Music

Songs must have a BPM (Beats Per Minute) tag in your library. Untagged tracks are invisible to StrideSync. The companion Stride BPM app is perfectly suited for this task.

Apple Music & Local Songs

StrideSync plays both locally downloaded tracks and DRM-protected Apple Music streams. An active Apple Music subscription is required to play streaming tracks.

Music Library Permission

Grant access to your music library when prompted. Required for StrideSync to read playlists and song metadata.

Limitations

BPM Tagging Required

Songs without a BPM value cannot appear as matches during a workout. Use the BPM Library Editor (waveform icon in the header) to tag your music before you run. StrideSync can find BPM automatically via ReccoBeats lookup or on-device audio analysis — so in practice most songs can be tagged in a few taps without needing any external tools.

Apple Music Subscription

DRM-protected Apple Music streams require an active Apple Music subscription on the device. Tracks you've purchased or imported are always available regardless of subscription status.

iPhone Must Be Running

Music playback is always handled by the iPhone. In Watch-paired mode, the Watch controls the session but the iPhone app must be open and running for audio. In iPhone-only mode, everything runs on the iPhone.

Cadence Sensor Accuracy

With Apple Watch, cadence is measured from wrist movement. Unusual arm-swing patterns, carrying objects, or pushing a stroller may reduce accuracy.

In iPhone-only mode, cadence is measured via your iPhone's motion sensor. Carrying the phone in a hip pocket or waistband gives the most reliable readings. A phone held in your hand or in a bag may produce less accurate results.

BPM Tag vs. Perceived Tempo

Some songs are tagged at half- or double-time of their felt tempo. If a song feels off-beat, it may be a tagging issue in your library.

Tips — Terrain

Flat Pavement

Cadence is steady on flat ground. Use a narrow tolerance (±2–3 BPM) for the tightest music matching.

Uphill

Your cadence naturally drops on climbs. Widen tolerance to ±5–7 BPM to keep music flowing without frequent song changes.

Downhill

Cadence can spike going downhill. A medium tolerance (±4–6 BPM) prevents erratic song switching on descents.

Trail / Uneven Ground

Irregular footing causes arm movement variability. Use ±6–8 BPM so the app isn't chasing small cadence fluctuations.

Treadmill

The most consistent cadence environment. Narrow tolerance (±2–4 BPM) works great and gives the most precise matching.

Sand or Soft Surface

Cadence typically drops on soft surfaces. Use ±5–7 BPM and ensure your playlist has songs in the lower part of your typical range.

Tips — Effort Level

Easy / Recovery Walk

Lower cadence (85–100 spm). Widen tolerance to ±7–10 BPM to maximize song matches, as fewer library songs may be tagged this low.

Moderate Pace

Steady cadence (100–115 spm). Standard tolerance of ±5 BPM is a good starting point for most libraries.

Brisk Walk / Run-Walk

Variable cadence transitions. Use ±6–8 BPM to smooth handoffs between walk and run phases.

Running

High cadence (150–180 spm). Narrower tolerance (±3–5 BPM) keeps songs tightly matched since cadence is more consistent at pace.

Interval Training

Cadence swings sharply between fast and slow. Use ±8–10 BPM, or pause the workout during rest intervals to prevent the app from hunting for songs.

Cool-Down

As you slow to a walk, cadence drops quickly. Pre-set tolerance to ±7–8 BPM before your cool-down begins so transitions are seamless.

Siri Commands

“What's my StrideSync tolerance”

Siri reads your current BPM tolerance aloud (for example, “Your StrideSync BPM tolerance is ±5 BPM.”).

“Get StrideSync BPM tolerance”

Alternative phrase — same result as above.

“What is StrideSync set to”

Another alternative to query the current tolerance.

“Set StrideSync tolerance”

Siri prompts: “What BPM tolerance would you like? Say a number between 1 and 10.” Speak the value and it is applied immediately.

“Change StrideSync BPM tolerance”

Alternative phrase for setting tolerance — Siri will ask for the value.

“Adjust StrideSync music matching”

Another alternative for changing the tolerance setting.

Shortcuts App

Both commands are available as Shortcuts actions. Add them to personal automations — for example, auto-narrow tolerance when a treadmill workout starts.

Next Song, Previous Song, Volume Up/Down

These standard Siri commands will quickly navigate songs, or adjust your volume.

StrideSync is developed by Cody Cabana Productions. For support, contact [email protected].