Apple Watch · Apps
Track workouts, heart rate, and activity rings
Apple Watch continuously tracks heart rate, activity rings (Move, Exercise, Stand), and workouts through the Workout app, syncing everything to the Health app on iPhone. Features like Fall Detection and Crash Detection add automatic safety alerts.
How to open Health & Fitness
- Open the Activity app on the watch and review your current ring progress, or the Watch app's My Watch → Activity to change your Move goal.
- Open the Workout app, scroll to select a workout type, and tap to start — GPS and heart rate begin automatically.
- End the workout with a swipe and tap End to save it to Health and Activity history.
What you should know
- Activity rings track daily Move (calories), Exercise (minutes), and Stand (hourly movement) goals, adjustable in the Activity app.
- The Workout app supports dozens of workout types with GPS, heart rate, and (on supported models) blood oxygen tracking.
- Fall Detection and Crash Detection can automatically contact Emergency SOS if a hard fall or car crash is detected and you don't respond.
Why it matters
Health and fitness tracking is the core reason many people choose Apple Watch over a traditional watch — accurate setup (correct age, weight, wrist position) directly affects the accuracy of calorie and heart rate data.
Best practices
- Wear the watch snugly, above the wrist bone, for the most accurate heart rate readings.
- Enable Fall Detection and Crash Detection if you're an older adult, live alone, or do solo outdoor activities.
Common problems and fixes
- Heart rate readings seem inaccurate or missing
- Tighten the band so the sensor sits flush against skin, clean the sensor, and avoid wearing over tattoos which can interfere with the optical sensor.
- Activity rings not updating
- Confirm Motion & Fitness tracking is enabled in Settings → Privacy & Security, and that the watch is worn — off-wrist detection pauses tracking.
Tips and tricks
- Ask Siri "how are my rings doing?" for a quick spoken summary without opening the Activity app.
Frequently asked questions
Does Apple Watch track workouts without GPS?
Yes — indoor workouts use the accelerometer and heart rate sensor, though distance estimates are less precise than with GPS.
Related settings
- Sleep TrackingThe Sleep app on Apple Watch tracks time asleep and, on supported models, sleep stages (REM, Core, Deep, Awake) using motion and heart rate data, working alongside Sleep Focus and wind-down schedules set in the Health app.
- Battery & Power SavingApple Watch typically lasts about 18 hours on a charge under normal use. Low Power Mode and Power Reserve give you ways to stretch battery life when you can't charge right away, and the Battery app shows usage history.
More Apps guides for Apple Watch
- Wallet & PaymentsThe Wallet app on Apple Watch lets you add credit/debit cards, transit cards, and passes so you can pay or board transit by double-clicking the side button and holding the watch near a reader, without needing your iPhone.
- Apps ManagementApple Watch apps can install automatically alongside their iPhone counterpart, or be downloaded independently from the App Store on the watch. The Home Screen can be arranged as a grid or list, and unused apps can be removed to save storage.