Fixing the Missing Permission Issue with WearOS's startExercise for the Samsung Watch 6

Addressing Permission Issues in WearOS Health Services API

Developing apps for WearOS, especially for the Samsung Watch 6, offers great opportunities for tracking fitness and health activities. However, working with the Health Services API can sometimes lead to unexpected challenges, particularly around permission handling. In this case, a recent issue arises when trying to start an exercise using the startExercise method.

This error, related to missing permissions, wasn't present a few months ago, suggesting that it might be caused by a WearOS update or changes to the libraries in your project. The exact permission that is causing the issue is not clearly identified in the error message, leading to confusion for developers trying to fix it.

It's important to ensure that all necessary permissions are declared properly in the manifest and that the app requests them at runtime. Missing one critical permission can result in the app failing to start the exercise, leaving the user with a frustrating error and no clear solution.

In this article, we'll explore why this error occurs, what permissions need to be checked, and how to configure your app to ensure the startExercise method works smoothly on Samsung Watch 6 with WearOS. Let's dive into diagnosing and resolving this issue efficiently.

Understanding the WearOS Permission Error and Code Solution

The code solutions provided are designed to address the missing permission error that occurs when trying to start an exercise using the Health Services API on WearOS devices like the Samsung Watch 6. The error occurs because specific permissions required to access body sensors, location, and other health-related data are not being properly handled. By utilizing methods such as checkSelfPermission and requestPermissions, the code checks whether the app has been granted the required permissions before attempting to start the exercise.

The first solution written in Kotlin demonstrates how to handle runtime permission requests in a modular and reusable way. The checkAndRequestPermissions function filters the required permissions, checking whether any are missing. If permissions are denied, it requests them dynamically using the fragment's requestPermissions method. This ensures the app only proceeds if all permissions have been properly granted, preventing the SecurityException from being thrown when the exercise is initiated.

In both scripts, the startExercise function is key to initiating a workout session using the Health Services API. The method tries to start the exercise based on the configuration provided. If any permissions are missing, it catches the exception and provides feedback to the user with a message describing which permission is missing. This approach not only improves the user experience but also ensures the exercise will not start unless all necessary permissions have been granted.

The second solution, which is written in Java, follows a similar approach to ensure proper permission handling, but it uses ActivityCompat to request permissions at runtime. This method is specific to managing permissions within Android activities, making it ideal for developers working with WearOS apps that require sensor and location access. The script is flexible and can easily be adapted for use in both fragments and activities, ensuring broad applicability for various app structures. Both solutions ensure that exercises are started securely, using optimized methods to handle potential permission issues.

// Import necessary libraries
import android.Manifest
import android.content.pm.PackageManager
import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
import androidx.health.services.client.HealthServicesClient
import androidx.health.services.client.data.ExerciseConfig
import androidx.health.services.client.data.DataType
import androidx.fragment.app.Fragment
import android.widget.Toast
// Ensure permissions are granted before starting exercise
fun checkAndRequestPermissions(fragment: Fragment) {
    val permissions = arrayOf(
        Manifest.permission.BODY_SENSORS,
        Manifest.permission.ACTIVITY_RECOGNITION,
        Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
    )
    val missingPermissions = permissions.filter {
        ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(fragment.requireContext(), it)
        == PackageManager.PERMISSION_DENIED
    }
    if (missingPermissions.isNotEmpty()) {
        fragment.requestPermissions(missingPermissions.toTypedArray(), PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE)
    }
}
// Call startExercise after permission checks
fun startWearExercise(healthServicesClient: HealthServicesClient, config: ExerciseConfig) {
    try {
        healthServicesClient.exerciseClient.startExercise(config)
        Toast.makeText(context, "Exercise started!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
    } catch (e: SecurityException) {
        Toast.makeText(context, "Missing permissions: ${e.message}", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show()
    }
}
// Constant to define request code
private const val PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE = 1001

// Import statements
import android.Manifest;
import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
import androidx.core.app.ActivityCompat;
import androidx.health.services.client.HealthServicesClient;
import androidx.health.services.client.data.ExerciseConfig;
import androidx.health.services.client.data.DataType;
import android.widget.Toast;
// Check permissions before exercise starts
public void checkPermissions(Activity activity) {
    String[] permissions = {
        Manifest.permission.BODY_SENSORS,
        Manifest.permission.ACTIVITY_RECOGNITION,
        Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
    };
    for (String permission : permissions) {
        if (ActivityCompat.checkSelfPermission(activity, permission) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_DENIED) {
            ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(activity, permissions, 1001);
        }
    }
}
// Start exercise after checking permissions
public void startExercise(HealthServicesClient client, ExerciseConfig config) {
    try {
        client.getExerciseClient().startExercise(config);
        Toast.makeText(context, "Exercise started successfully!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    } catch (SecurityException e) {
        Toast.makeText(context, "Permissions missing: " + e.getMessage(), Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    }
}
// Request permissions if not granted
public static final int PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE = 1001;

Exploring Permissions and API Updates in WearOS Health Services

When working with the Health Services API on WearOS, particularly on devices like the Samsung Watch 6, it's essential to keep in mind that WearOS updates or API changes can introduce new requirements. Developers may encounter permission-related issues after updating their app or the system software. This is because modern Android systems are becoming more restrictive with sensitive data access like location, sensors, and activity recognition.

One of the key areas that developers need to focus on is proper permission management. It's crucial to declare permissions in the app’s manifest and dynamically request them at runtime. Missing a required permission could result in errors like the SecurityException seen in the Health Services API, which may not always specify which permission is missing. Using runtime checks, like the ones we discussed earlier, ensures that the app won't break due to permission denial, and instead, prompts the user for action.

Another aspect worth noting is the importance of proper error handling in WearOS apps. Since WearOS devices rely on sensitive health data, any failure in accessing these permissions can disrupt the user experience. It's recommended to implement fallback mechanisms or show clear messages to users, so they know exactly which permissions are necessary for smooth operation. Ensuring robust permission handling not only improves security but also enhances the performance of apps using features like exercise tracking and real-time sensor data processing.