Watch permissions
The first time you open RawPace on the watch, it asks for a few permissions. They’re all for recording your activity, and the app only uses them while it’s open or recording.
What each one is for
First you see a single screen, Permissions, that explains them all; when you tap Continue, the watch asks for each one in turn with its usual system dialogs.
| Permission | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Precise location | GPS: distance, pace, your track, the map and route alerts. |
| Heart rate (body sensors) | Heart rate from the wrist sensor. |
| Physical activity | Cadence and steps. |
| Notifications | The activity in progress on the watch face, and map download notifications. |
| Nearby devices (Bluetooth) | Only if you use a heart rate strap: to connect to it. It’s only requested when the external sensor is turned on and a strap is paired. |
Precise location
Android lets you choose between precise and approximate location. With approximate location, the watch only knows where you are to within a kilometer or more, so distance, pace and your track would all be wrong. That’s why RawPace won’t start without precise location, and tells you so (“Precise location is needed: with approximate location, distance and your track will be inaccurate”).
If you deny one
Without location you can’t start; without any of the others you can, just without whatever depends on that permission. Whatever’s missing shows up below START on one line, separated by “·” (tapping it opens the watch settings). For example:
- “No location permission: no GPS”: START asks for it again and won’t start without it.
- “No heart rate permission”: no heart rate.
- “No cadence or steps”: the physical activity permission is missing.
If you deny one, the app explains what it’s for, with Allow (asks again) and Not now; if Android won’t let it ask any more, it tells you to turn it on in the watch settings (for location, with a Settings button). When you come back to the app without location, it offers it at most once each time you open the app, and START always asks for it.