Open the Activity app and tap the plus sign

The Activity app on your Apple Watch is where you track workouts and movement. To add a new activity, open the Activity app on your watch — it shows three colored rings and is usually on your home screen. Swipe or scroll until you see it, then tap it.

Once the app opens, you will see your current activity rings for the day. Look for a plus sign (+) in the top right corner of the screen. Tap that plus sign to start adding a new activity.

Key Takeaways

  • The Activity app on your watch has a plus sign in the top right corner that lets you add a new activity at any time.
  • You can choose from built-in activities like Walking, Running, Cycling, Swimming, and Yoga, or search for custom activities.
  • The watch will start tracking your heart rate, movement, and calories as soon as you begin the activity.
  • You can pause, resume, or end an activity at any time by tapping the screen and selecting the action you want.

Choose your activity type from the list

After you tap the plus sign, your watch shows a list of common activities. The list includes Walking, Running, Cycling, Swimming, Yoga, Elliptical, Rowing Machine, and others. Scroll down to see more options if the activity you want is not visible at first.

Tap the activity you want to track. Your watch will when ready begin recording your heart rate, movement, and calories burned for that activity. The screen will show a timer counting up from zero and your current metrics.

Search for activities not on the main list

If you do not see your activity in the main list, scroll all the way down and tap "Add Activity" or look for a search icon. This opens a search field where you can type the name of the activity you want — for example, "Pilates", "Dancing", "Hiking", or "Strength Training".

Type the activity name and tap it when it appears in the results. Your watch will add it to your activity list and begin tracking when ready. The next time you want to track that same activity, it will appear in your main list for faster access.

Control your activity while it is running

Once an activity is running, the watch screen shows your elapsed time and current heart rate. You can pause the activity by tapping the screen and selecting the pause icon (two vertical lines). To resume, tap the screen again and select the play icon.

To end the activity completely, tap the screen and look for the stop or end icon (usually an X or checkmark). Your watch will save the activity with your total time, distance (if applicable), calories burned, and average heart rate. You can view this summary when ready or check it later in the Activity app.

Add activities from your iPhone if you prefer

You can also add activities through the Watch app on your iPhone instead of using the watch itself. Open the Watch app, go to the Activity section, and look for "Workouts" or "Activities". Tap the plus sign and choose or search for the activity you want to add.

Any activities you add on your iPhone will sync to your watch within a few seconds. This method is useful if you find the watch screen too small to navigate, or if you want to set up multiple activities ahead of time before you start exercising.

Customize activity goals if needed

Your Apple Watch comes with a default Move goal — the number of active calories you aim to burn each day. When you add certain activities, the watch may ask if you want to adjust your goal for that specific activity. You can accept the suggested goal or change it to match your fitness level.

To change activity goals later, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Activity, and look for the goal settings. You can set different goals for different activities, or keep one overall goal that applies to all of them. Your watch will track progress toward whichever goal you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add an activity that is not on the Apple Watch list?

Yes. Scroll to the bottom of the activity list and tap "Add Activity" or use the search function. Type the name of any activity — Pilates, Dancing, Martial Arts, or anything else — and your watch will create a custom activity that tracks your heart rate and calories.

What happens if I pause an activity and forget to resume it?

The activity will stay paused until you tap the screen and select resume, or until you end it. Your watch will not automatically resume or save a paused activity, so you can take breaks without losing your progress as long as you do not tap end.

Does the Apple Watch track distance for all activities?

No. Activities like Running and Cycling use GPS to track distance. Activities like Yoga, Strength Training, and Swimming track heart rate and calories but not distance. Your watch will show you which metrics it is tracking for each activity type.

Can I delete an activity after I add it?

Yes. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Activity, find the activity you want to remove, and swipe left on it. Tap Delete. The activity will no longer appear in your list, though your past workouts using that activity will remain in your history.

Why is my activity not showing up on my iPhone?

Activities sync between your watch and iPhone automatically, but it can take a few minutes. Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network or that your watch is near your iPhone. If it still does not appear, restart the Watch app on your iPhone.