Support

Stuck, found a bug, or have an idea? Email support@strokesrowing.com and we'll get back to you. The answers below cover the most common questions.

Which rowing machines work?

Any Concept2 rower with a PM5 monitor: the RowErg, or a Model C, D or E fitted with a PM5. It connects over Bluetooth, and pace, distance, power and stroke rate come straight from the machine. Older PM3 and PM4 monitors don't have Bluetooth, and a PM5 on a SkiErg or BikeErg won't connect, because Streaks Strokes is made for rowing.

On any other rower, Apple Watch counts your strokes and stroke rate by motion. With no monitor and no watch, your iPhone times the row.

How do I connect to my rower?

Turn on Bluetooth, wake the PM5 by pressing a button or pulling the handle, and open Streaks Strokes. The first time, it asks for Bluetooth access, then finds the PM5 and connects. If it can't be sure the machine is yours, it asks you to confirm it with a tap. After that it connects on its own whenever you open the app nearby, with no pairing codes. You can add another rower in Settings → Connected Rowers.

If your PM5 doesn't appear, make sure nothing else is connected to it. A PM5 talks to one app at a time, so close ErgData or any other rowing app first.

Which PM5 firmware do I need?

There's no minimum. A few extras, such as the average force curve on Workout Complete, need firmware from May 2026 or later. If something is unavailable on your monitor, your rower's page in Settings → Connected Rowers says so. Concept2 provides free tools for updating the PM5.

Do I need an Apple Watch?

No. On a PM5, everything you see during a row comes from the machine, and your workouts, streak and Apple Health saves all work without a watch.

With one, the watch app shows your row on your wrist and adds your heart rate. On a rower without a monitor it counts your strokes and stroke rate by motion. Distance and pace are left out there, because a wrist can't tell how far a fixed machine has taken you.

How does heart rate work?

Wear an Apple Watch and your heart rate appears automatically. You can also pair a heart-rate strap with your PM5, and Streaks Strokes reads it through the monitor. The app doesn't connect to a strap directly. With both, the strap takes over whenever the watch loses its reading, which can happen when you grip the handle hard.

Does it save to Apple Health and close my rings?

Yes. Each row is saved to Apple Health as an indoor rowing workout with its duration, distance and active calories, so it counts towards your Move ring. Wear your Apple Watch and the watch records the workout and your heart rate too, so the row counts towards Exercise. Settings → Manage Health shows what the app has access to.

To finish a row exactly when your rings close, use Ring Chaser. It's free.

Is there a subscription?

No. Streaks Strokes is free to download, and Just Row and Ring Chaser are free, along with your streak, stats, trophies, Apple Health and the Apple Watch app.

Workout packs add workouts with a target. Each is a one-off purchase that's yours to keep: Fundamentals (time and distance pieces), The Sweet Spot (holding a heart-rate, pace, stroke rate or power band), Against the Current (intervals), The Long Haul (endurance) and The Engine Room (stroke rate and power work). Unlock Everything gets them all.

How is it different from ErgData?

ErgData is Concept2's own free app for the PM5. Streaks Strokes is built around rowing regularly: the workouts you row sit on its home screen, each row marks a streak calendar against the days you plan to row, and personal bests and trophies come along the way. A PM5 connects to one app at a time, so you choose one for each row.

How do I restore my purchases?

In the app, open Settings → Workout Packs, tap any pack you haven't unlocked, and tap Restore Purchases on its purchase screen. Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID you purchased with.

Something else?

We'd love to hear from you: feature ideas, machines you'd like supported, or anything that isn't working. Email support@strokesrowing.com.

More help: guides on connecting a PM5, closing your rings and pacing a 2k.