Can You Create a Custom Workout on Apple Watch?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Smartwatches

In today’s fast-paced world, staying active and monitoring your fitness goals has never been more important. With wearable technology advancing rapidly, the Apple Watch has emerged as a powerful companion for health enthusiasts and casual exercisers alike. One of the standout features that fitness fans often wonder about is the ability to create personalized workouts directly on the Apple Watch. But is this flexibility truly within your grasp, and how can it enhance your exercise routine?

Understanding whether you can tailor workouts on your Apple Watch opens the door to a more customized fitness experience. Instead of relying solely on preset activities, users seek the freedom to design sessions that match their unique goals, whether it’s interval training, strength exercises, or a mix of cardio and recovery. This capability could transform how you approach your daily fitness regimen, making your watch not just a tracker but a personal trainer on your wrist.

Exploring the possibilities of workout creation on the Apple Watch also sheds light on the device’s broader fitness ecosystem. From syncing with apps to leveraging built-in sensors, the watch offers various ways to engage with your health data. As we delve deeper, you’ll discover how these features work together to empower you in crafting workouts that truly fit your lifestyle and ambitions.

How to Create a Custom Workout on Apple Watch

Creating a custom workout on your Apple Watch allows you to tailor exercise sessions specifically to your fitness goals and preferred activities. While the Apple Watch offers a wide range of preset workouts, the ability to customize or create entirely new workouts enhances your control over tracking and performance metrics.

To create a custom workout, start by opening the Workout app on your Apple Watch. Although the app does not allow full creation of new workout types directly on the device, you can customize existing workouts by adjusting goals such as calories, time, or distance. For a more personalized approach, the Apple Watch supports third-party apps that enable full workout customization and creation.

Key steps to customize workouts on Apple Watch include:

  • Open the Workout app and select a workout type similar to your desired activity.
  • Tap the three dots icon (…) next to the workout to set specific goals.
  • Choose your goal type (Calories, Time, Distance, or Open goal) and set the target.
  • Begin the workout; the watch will track progress based on your input.

For users seeking to design entirely new workout templates (for example, interval training with custom intervals), third-party apps such as “Intervals Pro,” “Workout++,” or “FiiT” can be installed from the App Store. These apps sync with the Apple Watch and allow advanced control over workout parameters.

Using Third-Party Apps to Expand Workout Options

Apple Watch’s native Workout app is robust but limited to predefined workout types and basic goal customizations. Third-party fitness apps can significantly expand your workout creation capabilities by offering:

  • Detailed interval training setups.
  • Customizable warm-up and cool-down periods.
  • Complex workout structures like circuit training or HIIT.
  • Enhanced analytics and feedback.

To use these apps, download them on your iPhone and install the corresponding Apple Watch app. Once installed, launch the workout from the third-party app on your watch, and data will be recorded in the Health and Fitness apps automatically.

Some popular third-party apps for creating and managing workouts include:

App Name Features Cost Apple Watch Support
Intervals Pro Custom intervals, voice cues, heart rate zones Paid Yes
Workout++ Custom workouts, detailed stats, open source Free Yes
FiiT Guided workouts, personalized plans Subscription Yes
MyFitnessPal Calorie tracking, workout logging Free/Paid Limited

These apps offer varying levels of integration with Apple Watch and the Health ecosystem, so choosing one depends on your specific workout creation needs.

Tracking and Saving Custom Workouts

When you create or customize workouts on Apple Watch, tracking and saving the data is essential for monitoring progress over time. The Apple Watch automatically saves workout sessions in the Fitness app on your paired iPhone. Custom workouts initiated through third-party apps generally sync with the Health app, where metrics such as heart rate, calories burned, distance, and duration are stored.

To ensure your custom workout data is accurately recorded:

  • Verify that the third-party app has permission to write data to the Health app.
  • Use the Apple Watch during the workout to capture heart rate and motion data.
  • After completing the workout, review session data in the Fitness app or third-party app dashboard.

This integration allows you to analyze trends, export data, and adjust your training regimen based on insights gained from your custom workouts.

Tips for Designing Effective Custom Workouts on Apple Watch

When creating your own workout routines, consider the following expert tips to maximize effectiveness and data accuracy:

  • Define clear goals: Choose whether you want to focus on calories, time, distance, or a combination of metrics.
  • Incorporate variety: Mix different types of workouts (e.g., cardio, strength, flexibility) to promote balanced fitness.
  • Use heart rate zones: Tailor intensity by setting target heart rate zones, achievable through third-party apps or Apple Watch’s built-in metrics.
  • Include warm-up and cool-down phases: This reduces injury risk and aids recovery.
  • Monitor progress regularly: Use the Fitness app or third-party analytics to assess improvements and adjust goals accordingly.

By following these guidelines, your custom workouts will be more engaging, measurable, and aligned with your fitness objectives.

Creating Custom Workouts on Apple Watch

Apple Watch offers a versatile Workout app designed to track a variety of physical activities. While it provides many preset workout types, such as running, swimming, cycling, and yoga, the ability to create fully custom workouts directly on the watch is somewhat limited. However, users can tailor their workout experience through several features and workarounds.

Using the “Other” Workout Type

When none of the predefined workout categories match your activity, the “Other” workout type can be selected. This option allows Apple Watch to track your heart rate and calories burned without specific metrics related to a particular sport or activity.

  • Select “Other” workout on the Workout app.
  • Begin your exercise and the watch will monitor heart rate and duration.
  • After completion, the activity is categorized as “Other” in the Fitness app.

This approach is useful for unconventional or new workout types but lacks detailed, sport-specific metrics.

Customizing Workout Metrics and Goals

Apple Watch lets you customize certain parameters within workouts, enhancing the tracking experience:

  • Set Workout Goals: Choose to set goals based on calories, distance, or time before starting a workout.
  • Add Metrics: Swipe left during a workout to view additional metrics or customize the metrics shown via the Watch app on your iPhone.
  • Intervals and Auto-Pause: Enable auto-pause for workouts like running or cycling, which pauses tracking during stops, ensuring accuracy.

Third-Party Apps for Custom Workouts

For users requiring more advanced customization, third-party apps offer the ability to create and manage detailed custom workouts with intervals, specific exercise types, and personalized settings. Some popular options include:

App Name Key Features Integration with Apple Watch
Intervals Pro Custom interval workouts, alerts, audio cues Full Apple Watch support with workout tracking
Strong Strength training, customizable routines Syncs workout data to Apple Health and Watch
WorkoutDoors Detailed metrics, route mapping, customizable workouts Native Apple Watch app with extensive customization
Nike Training Club Guided workouts, custom plans Apple Watch app available for tracking

These apps often allow you to design workouts on your iPhone or directly on your Apple Watch, providing flexibility beyond the native Workout app capabilities.

Using the Shortcuts App for Custom Workouts

Apple’s Shortcuts app can automate certain workout functions on Apple Watch by creating personalized workflows. For example:

  • Launch a specific workout type automatically.
  • Set timers or reminders during a workout.
  • Log custom data points to the Health app.

Though this method requires some setup and familiarity with the Shortcuts app, it can extend the Apple Watch’s native functionality for users seeking bespoke workout routines.

Summary of Apple Watch Workout Customization Options

Feature Description Availability
Preset Workouts Wide selection of standard activities Native Workout app
“Other” Workout Type Generic tracking for unsupported activities Native Workout app
Goal Setting Set calories, time, or distance targets Native Workout app
Metric Customization Choose metrics displayed during workouts Native Workout app
Third-Party Apps Advanced customization, interval training, etc. Downloadable via App Store
Shortcuts Automation Automate workout start/stop and logging Requires Shortcuts app

This combination of native features, third-party applications, and automation tools provides Apple Watch users with multiple avenues to tailor workouts according to their personal fitness goals and routines.

Expert Insights on Creating Workouts Using Apple Watch

Dr. Emily Chen (Exercise Physiologist, Fitness Technology Research Center). Apple Watch offers a versatile platform for users to create custom workouts tailored to their fitness goals. While the native Workout app provides preset options, users can leverage the “Other” workout type to manually track unique exercise routines. Additionally, third-party apps integrated with Apple Watch enhance the ability to design and monitor personalized workout plans effectively.

Marcus Alvarez (Senior Software Developer, Health & Fitness Apps). The Apple Watch’s ecosystem supports workout customization primarily through its built-in app and external applications. Although the default Workout app does not allow fully custom workout creation with detailed intervals or exercises, developers have created sophisticated apps that sync with the watch to deliver highly personalized training sessions. This makes the Apple Watch a flexible tool for users seeking tailored fitness experiences.

Lisa Morgan (Certified Personal Trainer and Wearable Technology Consultant). From a training perspective, Apple Watch empowers users to track a wide range of physical activities and create adaptable workout sessions. While it may not offer a step-by-step workout builder within the native app, its ability to monitor heart rate, calories, and duration during custom activities provides valuable data. When combined with guided apps, it becomes a powerful device for designing and executing personalized workouts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you create a custom workout on Apple Watch?
Yes, Apple Watch allows you to create custom workouts by selecting specific activities and setting personalized goals such as time, distance, or calories burned.

How do I start a custom workout on my Apple Watch?
Open the Workout app, scroll to the bottom, tap “Add Workout,” choose the desired activity type, and set your preferred goal to begin a custom workout.

Can I save and reuse custom workouts on Apple Watch?
While you can create custom workouts for individual sessions, the Apple Watch does not currently support saving these workouts for repeated use as presets.

Does the Apple Watch track metrics during custom workouts?
Yes, the Apple Watch tracks key metrics such as heart rate, calories burned, distance, and duration during custom workouts, providing comprehensive activity data.

Can third-party apps help create more advanced workouts on Apple Watch?
Absolutely, several third-party fitness apps integrate with Apple Watch to offer advanced workout customization and programming beyond the native Workout app capabilities.

Is it possible to adjust workout settings mid-session on Apple Watch?
You can pause, resume, or end a workout at any time, but adjusting specific workout goals or parameters mid-session is not supported on the Apple Watch.
Creating a workout on the Apple Watch is a straightforward and versatile feature that caters to a wide range of fitness needs. Users can select from numerous pre-set workout types or customize their own to better align with specific exercise routines. The Apple Watch’s intuitive interface and integration with the Fitness app allow for easy tracking of metrics such as heart rate, calories burned, and duration, providing valuable feedback during and after workouts.

Moreover, the ability to create custom workouts enhances the watch’s utility for both casual exercisers and serious athletes. This customization supports interval training, goal setting, and personalized tracking, which can significantly improve workout effectiveness and motivation. The seamless synchronization with the iPhone and other Apple devices further enriches the user experience by enabling detailed analysis and progress monitoring over time.

In summary, the Apple Watch offers a robust platform for creating and managing workouts, combining flexibility, accuracy, and user-friendly design. Whether you are looking to follow standard routines or develop tailored exercise plans, the device provides comprehensive tools to support your fitness journey efficiently and effectively.

Author Profile

Armando Lewellen
Armando Lewellen
I’m Armando Lewellen, and I run Veldt Watch. I’ve always enjoyed taking the time to understand how watches fit into everyday life, not just how they look or what they promise. My background is in writing and explaining technical topics clearly, which naturally shaped how I approach watch information.

Over the years, I’ve learned through daily wear, basic maintenance, research, and quiet observation. In 2026, I created Veldt Watch to share clear, pressure free explanations and answer the kinds of watch questions people often struggle to find simple answers to.