# Healthkit

Read, write, and query Apple Health data using HealthKit.

- Repository: https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills (1266 stars)
- Category: Writing
- License: see repository
- Last updated: 2026-07-31
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill healthkit -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill healthkit -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill healthkit -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill healthkit -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills`

## Description

Read, write, and query Apple Health data using HealthKit. Covers HKHealthStore authorization, sample queries, statistics queries, statistics collection queries for charts, saving HKQuantitySample data, background delivery, workout sessions with HKWorkoutSession and HKLiveWorkoutBuilder, HKUnit, and HKQuantityTypeIdentifier values. Use when integrating with Apple Health, displaying health metrics, recording workouts, or enabling background health data delivery.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# HealthKit

Read and write health and fitness data from the Apple Health store. Covers authorization, queries, writing samples, background delivery, and workout sessions. Targets Swift 6.3 / iOS 26+.

## Contents

- [Setup and Availability](#setup-and-availability)
- [Authorization](#authorization)
- [Reading Data: Sample Queries](#reading-data-sample-queries)
- [Reading Data: Statistics Queries](#reading-data-statistics-queries)
- [Reading Data: Statistics Collection Queries](#reading-data-statistics-collection-queries)
- [Writing Data](#writing-data)
- [Background Delivery](#background-delivery)
- [Workout Sessions](#workout-sessions)
- [Common Data Types](#common-data-types)
- [HKUnit Reference](#hkunit-reference)
- [Common Mistakes](#common-mistakes)
- [Review Checklist](#review-checklist)
- [References](#references)

## Setup and Availability

### Project Configuration

1. Enable the HealthKit capability in Xcode (adds the entitlement)
2. Add `NSHealthShareUsageDescription` (read) and `NSHealthUpdateUsageDescription` (write) to Info.plist
3. For background delivery, enable the "Background Delivery" sub-capability

### Availability Check

Always check availability before calling other HealthKit APIs. Health data is
available on iOS, watchOS, visionOS, iPadOS 17+, and iOS apps running on
Vision Pro. It is unavailable on iPadOS 16 or earlier and may be restricted by
managed device policy.

```swift
import HealthKit

guard HKHealthStore.isHealthDataAvailable() else {
    // Health data is unavailable or restricted on this device.
    return
}

let healthStore = HKHealthStore()
```

Create a single `HKHealthStore` instance and reuse it throughout your app. It
is thread-safe. If HealthKit is optional, review Xcode's generated
`UIRequiredDeviceCapabilities` `healthkit` entry so unsupported devices are not
excluded unintentionally.

## Authorization

Request only the types your app genuinely needs. App Review rejects apps that over-request.

The rest: https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/healthkit/SKILL.md