Open the Workout app and tap the plus sign to add an exercise

The Workout app on your Apple Watch is where you log exercises. Open it by pressing the Digital Crown or swiping to find the app icon — it looks like a person running. Once inside, scroll to the bottom of the list of available workouts and tap the plus sign (+). This opens a menu of all the exercises Apple Watch can track.

If you do not see the plus sign, you are looking at your recent workouts instead of the full list. Scroll down past any workouts you have already done, and the plus sign will appear at the bottom.

Key Takeaways

  • The Workout app's plus sign at the bottom of the exercise list lets you add any supported workout type to your Apple Watch.
  • Apple Watch tracks about 100 different exercise types, from running and cycling to pilates and tai chi, and adds more with each watchOS update.
  • Once you add an exercise, it stays in your Workout app list so you can start it without scrolling through the full menu again.
  • You can also add exercises through the Fitness app on your iPhone, which syncs to your watch automatically.
  • Custom workouts you create on your iPhone appear on your watch within a few minutes if both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Browse the full list and select the exercise you want to track

After tapping the plus sign, you see a scrollable list of every workout type your Apple Watch supports. The list includes common exercises like running, walking, and cycling, but also less obvious ones like pilates, tai chi, kickboxing, and rowing. Scroll through until you find the exercise you want to add, then tap it once.

If the list is long and you know what you are looking for, you can also swipe down from the top of the screen to reveal a search box. Type the first few letters of the exercise — "pil" for pilates, "row" for rowing — and the list filters to show matches.

The exercise now appears in your Workout app for quick access

Once you select an exercise, it moves to the top of your Workout app list, right below any workouts you have done recently. The next time you want to do that exercise, you can tap it directly without hunting through the full menu. Apple Watch remembers your choice and keeps it pinned to the top.

If you add an exercise but then decide you do not want it there, you can remove it by opening the Workout app, pressing firmly on the exercise name, and tapping Remove. You can add it back anytime using the same plus-sign method.

Add exercises from the Fitness app on your iPhone instead

You can also add exercises through the Fitness app on your iPhone, which is often faster if you are setting up multiple workouts at once. Open the Fitness app, tap the Workouts tab at the bottom, then tap the plus sign in the upper right corner. Select the exercise type you want, and it syncs to your Apple Watch within a few minutes if both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.

The iPhone method is useful if you prefer a larger screen or if you want to add several exercises in one session. The workouts appear on your watch automatically without any extra steps.

Create a custom workout if your exercise is not on the standard list

If you do an exercise that Apple Watch does not recognize — say, a specific type of dance or a sport not in the standard menu — you can create a custom workout on your iPhone. Open the Fitness app, tap Workouts, then tap the plus sign and select Other at the bottom of the list. Give your custom workout a name, choose a color and icon, and save it.

Custom workouts sync to your Apple Watch and appear in your Workout app list just like built-in exercises. When you start a custom workout, your watch tracks time and calories burned based on your movement, though it cannot measure distance or pace the way it does for running or cycling.

Check which exercises your watch version supports

The number of exercises Apple Watch can track has grown with each watchOS update. Older watch models may not support every exercise type that newer models do. If you do not see an exercise you expect in the list, it may not be available on your specific watch model or watchOS version.

You can see which version of watchOS your watch is running by opening the Settings app on your watch, tapping General, then About. If you want to check whether a specific exercise is supported before updating, you can look at the full list of supported workouts on Apple's website, which updates with each new watchOS release.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add an exercise that is not in the standard list?

Yes. If your exercise is not listed, create a custom workout through the Fitness app on your iPhone. Name it, pick a color and icon, and it syncs to your watch. Your watch will track time and calories, though it cannot measure distance or pace for custom workouts the way it does for running or cycling.

Do I have to add an exercise before I can do it?

No. You can start any exercise from the full list without adding it first. Adding just moves it to the top of your Workout app so you do not have to scroll next time. If you do an exercise only once, there is no reason to add it.

Will exercises I add on my iPhone show up on my watch?

Yes, if both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Exercises you add through the Fitness app on your iPhone sync to your Apple Watch within a few minutes. You do not have to do anything else — the watch updates automatically.

What happens if I remove an exercise from my watch?

Removing an exercise from your Workout app list does not delete any past workouts you have already logged. It just takes the exercise off your quick-access list. You can add it back anytime by tapping the plus sign and selecting it again.

Can I reorder the exercises in my Workout app?

No. Apple Watch orders exercises by how recently you used them, with your most recent workouts at the top. You cannot manually arrange them, but the order updates automatically as you do different exercises.