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Health Profile

Connecting and Managing Apple Health Data

Learn how to connect Sunu to Apple Health and manage data permissions at any time.

Your connection to Apple Health is the key to unlocking Sunu's full potential on iPhone. You can manage this connection at any time from the Profile tab.

🤖 On Android?

Sunu uses Google Health Connect on Android instead of Apple Health. See Connecting to Health Connect (Android) for the Android-specific setup guide.

Accessing Data Source Settings

Step 1: Navigate to the Profile tab

Step 2: Tap on "Data Sources"

Step 3: You will see a row for "Apple Health"

Connection Statuses

Connected

What it means:

  • Sunu has permission to read data from Apple Health
  • Your health metrics are syncing automatically
  • AI can analyze your complete health picture

What you can do:

  • Tap to open the Health app directly
  • Adjust which categories are shared
  • View sync status and last update time

Not Connected

What it means:

  • Sunu doesn't have Apple Health permissions
  • Health data won't sync automatically
  • Limited app functionality

What you can do:

  • Tap to start the connection process
  • Follow the permission screens
  • Enable all or selected categories

Initial Connection

If you skipped the connection during onboarding, you can connect at any time.

Step 1: Tap the "Apple Health" row when it shows "Not Connected"

Step 2: The Apple Health permission screen will appear

Step 3: Choose which categories to share:

  • Tap "Turn On All" for full functionality
  • Or select individual categories
  • Enable both read and write permissions (recommended)

Step 4: Tap "Allow" to confirm

Adjusting Permissions

You always have full control over what data Sunu can access.

Method 1: Via iPhone Settings

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone

Step 2: Scroll down and tap "Health"

Step 3: Tap "Data Access & Devices"

Step 4: Find and tap "Sunu"

Step 5: From this screen, you can individually enable or disable any health category:

  • Toggle categories on/off
  • Grant read access only
  • Grant write access for logging
  • Remove all permissions

Method 2: Via Sunu App

Step 1: Go to Profile > Data Sources > Apple Health

Step 2: Tap "Manage Permissions"

Step 3: This opens the Health app settings

Step 4: Adjust permissions as needed

Understanding Permission Types

Read Access

What it allows:

  • Sunu can view your health data
  • Display metrics on Home and History
  • Generate AI insights and trends
  • Create health scores

Recommended for:

  • All health categories you want to track
  • Metrics you want AI to analyze
  • Data for trend visualization

Write Access

What it allows:

  • Sunu can add data to Apple Health
  • Log meals, water, workouts
  • Save manual health entries
  • Share data with other apps

Recommended for:

  • Water intake
  • Dietary information
  • Body measurements
  • Mindful minutes

Recommended Permissions

Essential Categories

For full functionality, enable:

Activity & Fitness:

  • Steps
  • Active Energy
  • Exercise Minutes
  • Workouts
  • Distance

Heart & Vitals:

  • Heart Rate
  • Heart Rate Variability
  • Blood Pressure
  • Respiratory Rate

Sleep:

  • Sleep Analysis
  • Time in Bed

Body Measurements:

  • Weight
  • Height
  • Body Fat Percentage

Optional but Useful

Nutrition:

  • Dietary Energy (calories)
  • Water
  • Macronutrients

Lab Results:

  • Blood Glucose
  • Clinical records
  • Other lab data

Mental Wellness:

  • Mindful Minutes

Syncing and Data Updates

Automatic Sync

When data syncs:

  • App is opened
  • Pull to refresh on any screen
  • Periodic background updates
  • After recording new activity

What gets synced:

  • New health readings
  • Updated workout data
  • Latest sleep sessions
  • Recent measurements

Manual Sync

Force a sync:

Step 1: Go to any screen showing health data

Step 2: Pull down to refresh

Step 3: Wait for sync indicator to complete

When to manual sync:

  • After completing a workout
  • After waking up (for sleep data)
  • Before checking health scores
  • When data seems outdated

Troubleshooting Connection Issues

"Not Connected" Despite Granting Permissions

Solution 1: Restart the app

  • Force quit Sunu
  • Reopen the app
  • Check connection status

Solution 2: Re-grant permissions

  • Go to Settings > Health
  • Remove Sunu's permissions entirely
  • Reconnect through the Sunu app

Solution 3: Check iOS version

  • Ensure iOS is up to date
  • Some features require latest iOS
  • Update if needed

Data Not Syncing

Possible causes:

  • Permissions not granted for specific category
  • Apple Watch data hasn't synced to iPhone yet
  • Background refresh disabled
  • iOS Health app having issues

Solutions:

Step 1: Verify permissions are enabled

Step 2: Open Apple Health app

  • Confirm data exists there
  • Check dates of last entries
  • Verify source of data

Step 3: Enable background refresh

  • Settings > Sunu
  • Enable "Background App Refresh"

Step 4: Restart both apps and iPhone

Duplicate Data

Why it happens:

  • Multiple sources writing same data
  • Manual entries plus device entries
  • Different apps tracking same metrics

How to fix:

Step 1: In Health app, check data sources

  • Health > Browse > [Metric] > Data Sources & Access

Step 2: Prioritize sources

  • Drag preferred source to top
  • This determines which data displays

Step 3: Remove duplicate entries

  • In Health app, delete unwanted data points
  • Or hide sources in Sunu

Privacy and Security

What Apple Health Protects

Your data is secure:

  • Encrypted on device
  • Requires authentication to access
  • Not shared with Apple
  • You control all permissions

What Sunu sees:

  • Only categories you explicitly allow
  • Can't access without permission
  • Can't modify Health app settings
  • Respects Apple's privacy framework

Revoking Access

To completely disconnect:

Step 1: Settings > Health > Data Access & Devices > Sunu

Step 2: Tap "Delete All Data from Sunu"

Step 3: Confirm deletion

What happens:

  • Sunu loses all access
  • Historical data in Sunu preserved
  • No new data syncs
  • Must re-grant to reconnect

Managing Multiple Devices

Apple Watch + iPhone

How it works:

  • Watch syncs to iPhone Health app
  • Sunu reads from iPhone Health
  • All data appears in Sunu
  • Automatic consolidation

Best practices:

  • Wear Watch consistently
  • Keep devices paired
  • Allow background sync
  • Check both devices charged

Other Health Devices

Compatible devices:

  • Smart scales (WiFi connected)
  • Blood pressure monitors
  • Glucose meters
  • Fitness trackers

Setup:

  • Connect device to its own app
  • That app writes to Apple Health
  • Sunu reads from Health
  • Data flows automatically

Data Source Priority

When Multiple Sources Exist

Apple Health handles this:

  • Prioritizes most recent data
  • Can set preferred sources
  • Averages multiple readings
  • Removes obvious errors

In Sunu:

  • Displays source for each reading
  • Shows all data points
  • Respects Health app priorities
  • Can filter by source

Best Practices

Keep Permissions Updated

Review regularly:

  • Check every few months
  • Add new categories as needed
  • Remove unused permissions
  • Ensure optimal functionality

When to review:

  • After iOS updates
  • When adding new devices
  • If features aren't working
  • When privacy concerns change

Balance Privacy and Functionality

Consider:

  • More data = better AI insights
  • Less data = more privacy
  • Choose what matters to you
  • Can always adjust later

Recommendations:

  • Enable essential health metrics
  • Add categories as you use features
  • Disable truly unused categories
  • Write access only where needed

🔒 Privacy Note

Sunu never uploads your raw Apple Health data to servers. The AI analyzes your data locally on your device when possible, and only minimal, aggregated data is sent for complex analysis. You control exactly what Sunu can access through Apple's permission system.

💡 Pro Tip

If you're unsure which permissions to grant, start with "Turn On All" for 2 weeks. Then review the Profile > Data Sources screen to see which categories you actually use. Disable permissions for categories you haven't looked at—you can always re-enable them later.