How to Use Auto-Workout detection on your Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is one of the best Apple products released in years, and this Fall it is about to get even better. With the release of watchOS 5, Apple plans to introduce “Auto-Workout Detection” for those who forget to manually start workouts.

Related Reading

• How to properly calibrate your Apple Watch for workouts
• Here are all the changes coming to the Siri Watch Face
• 10 Hidden Features in watchOS 5

It’s no secret that the Apple Watch has been geared towards those looking for a healthier lifestyle. The included heart-rate monitor helps you keep track of what’s going on under your hood. Meanwhile, watchOS and iOS work together to ensure that you are meeting daily, weekly, and monthly goals.

In addition to the new Auto-Workout Detection, Apple is also wanting users to challenge each other. Similar to the Fitbit Community, watchOS 5 will let you compete with your friends and family in various workouts.

How to enable Auto-Workout Detection on Watch

As we stated, this feature will be coming to users with the release of watchOS 5. However, you will likely want to know how to make sure that this is properly set up.

In order to enable Auto-Workout Detection, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch
2. Select General
3. Tap “Workout”
4. Scroll down to “Start Workout Reminder” and “End Workout Reminder”
5. Change the toggles

By default, Auto-Workout Detection will be enabled on your Apple Watch. So the above steps will only be necessary if you want to turn them off and turn them on at a later time.

How to enable Auto-Workout Detection on iPhone

If you don’t feel like fiddling with the smaller display, you can adjust these settings from your iPhone. You will just have to deal with the Watch app.

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone
2. Tap the My Watch tab
3. Select Workout from the menu
4. Scroll down to “Start Workout Reminder” and “End Workout Reminder”
5. Set the toggles accordingly

As with most settings from the Watch app, you won’t have to worry about changing anything on your Watch. Instead, the settings will automatically be applied, making life easier for you in the process.

Start Workout

The biggest benefit to Auto-Workout Detection is for those who chronically forget to manually start workouts. watchOS 5 will hopefully fix that issue as it will automatically detect when you start working out.

This is compatible with the following workouts:

• Running
• Walking
• Swimming
• Elliptical Workouts
• Rowing Workouts

If you Apple Watch detects that you have started a workout, a notification will arrive on your wrist. It will state “It looks like you’re working out.”, and will provide different options.

These options will vary depending on what your Apple Watch thinks you are doing. If you want to start tracking the workout, you can just tap the appropriate button and get back to work.

End Workout

For those who constantly forget to end their workouts on the Watch, Apple has your back. watchOS 5 will also automatically detect when your workout has ended, so that the tracking information is correct.

When the workout has been completed, your Watch will send an alert asking if you have stopped working out. From there, you will be taken to the workout app to end the workout and cool down.

It seems that this functionality works with all of the different workout types. However, the one limitation is for workouts that fall under the “Other” category.

Conclusion

Apple is really gearing up for the release of watchOS 5 this Fall. We are already expecting to see new Apple Watch’s introduced, and these will be a wonderful way to get everyone on board with the latest software.

If you have any questions, feel free to let us know in the comments below. If you run into any issues, don’t hesitate to ask, and we are more than happy to help you through the process.

Andrew Myrick

Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.

He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.