Use the Workout app on your Apple Watch

Get progress updates while you're working out and know when you've reached your goal.

Start a workout

  1. Open the Workout app.

  2. Find the workout that best matches what you’re doing. Find out more about each workout type.

  3. To set a goal, tap the More button  {the ... icon next to the workout that you want to do. You can also set or start a custom workout. To skip setting a goal, tap the workout.

    The Multisport workout option in the Workout app on Apple Watch.
  4. Wait for the three-second countdown. To skip the countdown, tap the screen.

  5. Do the workout. To add another type of workout without ending your session, open the Workout app, swipe right. Tap End, then tap New Workout.

Siri can also help you start a workout. Say something such as "go for a five-mile walk".

If you have Apple Watch Ultra, you can set and start your workout with the Action button. Find out how to use the Action button on your Apple Watch Ultra.

Forgot to start your workout? Your Apple Watch can detect when you start working out automatically.

End, pause or unlock your workout

The End, Pause and Segment options during an Indoor Run workout on Apple Watch.
  • To end your workout, swipe right, then tap the End button  the X button. To add or a remove a confirmation when ending a workout, open the Settings app on your Apple Watch, then tap Workout > End Workout Confirmation.

  • To pause a workout, swipe right, then tap the Pause button  the Pause button. Or you can press the Digital Crown and the side button at the same time. To resume, press both buttons again.

  • If you start a swimming workout, your screen locks automatically to prevent accidental taps from water droplets. To unlock the screen, press and hold the Digital Crown. Find out how to pause or end a swimming workout.

Forget to end your workout? Find out how your Apple Watch can automatically detect when you stop working out.

Track your progress

Progress for a running workout on Apple Watch.

To see how you're doing during a workout, raise your wrist. Then turn the Digital Crown to see a different Workout View. Depending on the type of workout, you can include Workout Views such as:

  • Heart Rate Zones

  • Running Power

  • Segments

  • Splits

  • Elevation

  • Activity Rings

When you're running or walking, your Apple Watch taps you every mile or kilometre, and displays an update on the screen. If you're cycling, your Apple Watch taps you every five miles or kilometres instead.

Customise a workout

You can add structured intervals to most workouts.

  1. On your Apple Watch, open the Workout app.

  2. Tap the More button the ... icon next to the workout that you want to do.

  3. Scroll down and tap Create Workout, then tap Custom.

  4. Tap Warmup to set a Goal Type or Skip.

  5. Tap Add, then tap Work or Recovery and select a Goal Type.

  6. Tap Cooldown to set a Goal Type or Skip.

  7. Enter the Custom Title of your workout, then tap Done.

    Naming a custom workout on Apple Watch.
  8. Tap Create Workout.

Your custom workout will appear as an available goal option for the selected workout.

Change the metrics for each workout

  1. On your Apple Watch, open the Workout app.

  2. Tap the More button the ... icon next to the workout that you want to do.

  3. Scroll down and tap Preferences.

  4. Tap Workout Views.

  5. Tap Include to add the metric to your Workout View. You can also tap the Edit buttonEdit button next to a metric, then select a metric to edit.

    The available metrics to edit for a Workout View on Apple Watch.

Depending on the type of workout, you can include metrics such as:

  • Heart Rate

  • Power

  • Segments

  • Splits

  • Elevation

  • Pace

  • Cadence

  • Distance

  • Duration

  • Vertical Oscillation

  • Running Stride Length

  • Ground Contact Time

  • Speed

  • Calories

You can also tap Reorder, then touch and hold the Change Order button the accordion icon to change the order.

Switch between different units of measurement for energy burnt and distance

  1. On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app.

  2. Tap Workout, then tap Units of Measure.

  3. Select the appropriate unit of measurement:

    • For Energy Units, select Calories, Kilocalories or Kilojoules.

    • For Pool Length Units, select Yards or Metres.

    • For Cycling or Walking and Running workouts, select Miles or Kilometres.

    • For Automatic Track Detection, select Miles or Metres.

Mark segments in your workout

You can use segments to track different sections of your workout. For example, in an Outdoor Run workout on a track, you could mark each lap or a specific distance. In a 30-minute Indoor Cycle workout, you could split the session into three 10-minute segments. Here’s how:

  1. During a workout, double-tap the screen.

  2. Wait for the segment summary to appear.

    The first segment of a workout at 12 minutes and 36 seconds on Apple Watch.

To see all of your segments after a workout:

  1. On your iPhone, open the Fitness app.

  2. Tap Show More next to History.

  3. Tap the workout, then scroll down.

Because your screen is locked during swimming workouts, you can't mark segments. But in Pool Swim workouts, sets are marked automatically every time you rest at the side of the pool for 10 seconds or longer. Auto Sets appear in the workout summary in the Fitness app on your iPhone.

Add a workout

You can browse and add new workout types to the Workout app.

  1. On your Apple Watch, open the Workout app.

  2. Scroll down and tap Add Workout.

  3. Tap the desired workout.

Choose Other when you can't find a matching workout type.

Find out how to get accurate measurements using your Apple Watch to make sure you're earning the most from your workout.

Get reminders to start or end a workout

A reminder to start recording an Outdoor Run workout on Apple Watch.

In watchOS 5 or later, when your Apple Watch senses that you’re working out, it taps you on the wrist and asks. Tap an option within the notification to record, end or pause the workout, change the workout type, mute notifications for the day or dismiss the notification. No matter when you tap, you’ll get all of your workout credit from the time you started exercising. If you don't respond to the notification or you dismiss it, your workout continues until you choose to end or pause.

How long it takes your watch to alert you to record a workout varies by workout type. Here are the workouts that your watch can give you reminders for:

  • Indoor Walk

  • Outdoor Walk

  • Indoor Run

  • Outdoor Run

  • Outdoor Cycling

  • Elliptical

  • Rowing Machine

  • Pool Swim

  • Open Water Swim

To turn this setting on or off, open the Settings app on your Apple Watch, tap Workout, then go to Start Workout Reminder or End Workout Reminder.

Save power while you're working out

To preserve your battery life on long walks and runs, you can use Low Power Mode. Your Apple Watch will still calculate active calories, distance, pace and elapsed time.

Turn Low Power Mode on or off:  

  1. On your iPhone, open the Watch app.

  2. Tap the My Watch tab, then tap Workout.

  3. Turn Low Power Mode on or off.

Check your Activity history, workout history and your awards

  1. On your iPhone, open the Fitness app.

  2. Tap your Activity progress.

  3. Tap the calendar icon No alt supplied for Image in the top right to view your Activity history.

    Workout history for July 2023 on iPhone.

To see your workout history or awards, tap the Summary tab, then tap Show More next to History or Awards. You can tap an item to see additional details.

Workout shares information with Activity All of your data is automatically stored in the Health app, where it can be used by third-party apps with your permission.

Do more with your workouts

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