watchOS 9: How To Create Custom Workouts on Apple Watch

While we await the supposed massive Apple Watch redesign with the Series 8, Apple gave us a look at what to expect from the software side of things. WWDC ’22 was the perfect time to drop some fun and exciting new software features, and that’s exactly what we’re getting with watchOS 9.

Related Reading

• What’s new in watchOS 9?
• How To Use Apple Watch Mirroring
• 5 Biggest announcements from WWDC 2022
• How to Delete a Workout on Your Apple Watch
• How To Use the Workout App on an Apple Watch

What’s New in watchOS 9?

There’s a lot of focus being placed on the Workout app with watchOS 9, in addition to the ability to track AFib and more. But the Workout app will now provide more information at a glance, while also providing in-depth measurements. You’ll even be able to use your Apple Watch to analyze and improve your running form, which is something we didn’t expect to see.

How To Create Custom Workouts on Apple Watch

Another new feature coming to watchOS 9 is the ability to create custom workouts on Apple Watch. Previously, the only way to add a “custom” workout was to go through the list and select one of the Apple-created workouts. But now, you can customize the workout in its entirety, including a Warm Up, Cooldown, and the actual workout itself. Here’s how to do so right from your Apple Watch.

1. Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
2. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the list of workouts.
3. Tap the Add Workout button.
4. Select the Workout that you want to customize.
5. Tap the three horizontal dots in the top right corner.
6. Scroll to the bottom of the list.
7. Tap Create Workout.
8. Select Custom.
9. Tap Warm Up.
10. Select one of the following Goal Types:
    • Time
      • At the bottom of the page, add the Duration and Alert notification.
    • Distance
      • Add the Distance and Alert notification.
    • Open
      • Add an Alert notification.
    • Skip
11. Once selected, tap the < Warm Up button in the top left corner to go back.
12. Tap the + Add button below Warm Up.
13. Select one of the following:
    • Add Work
      • Open
      • Distance
      • Time
    • Add Recovery
      • Open
      • Distance
      • Time
14. If applicable, tap the Add Repeat button to repeat a Work or Recovery session.
15. From the main screen, tap Cooldown.
16. Select one of the following:
    • Time
    • Distance
    • Open
    • Skip
17. Once configured, tap the < Cooldown button in the top left corner.
18. Under the Settings section, tap and enter a Custom Title if you choose to.
19. Tap the Create Workout button at the bottom.

We recommend adding a Custom Title to your workout to help you differentiate it from the rest of the workouts available. Considering that there are so many different workout sessions that you can choose from, you don’t want to end up selecting the wrong one.

How to Edit Your Custom Workouts

Chances are, you might end up wanting to edit those custom workouts. Whether it’s to add a bit more distance to your runs or to increase the amount of time allotted. Now that you can create custom workouts, you can also edit the ones that you’ve created.

1. Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
2. Locate the workout that you wish to edit.
3. Tap the three horizontal dots in the top right corner.
4. Tap the Edit button.
5. Make any of the adjustments you need to make.
6. Swipe back to save the changes.

How to Delete Custom Workouts

Over time, you may find yourself needing to delete custom workouts from the Workout app. The reason behind deleting these workouts is going to vary from person to person. But if you want to try and clean up the list of workouts, you can delete custom workouts right from your Apple Watch.

1. Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
2. Locate the workout that you wish to edit.
3. Tap the three horizontal dots in the top right corner.
4. Tap the Edit button.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap the Delete Workout button.
6. When prompted, tap the Delete button again to confirm.

The steps above are for those who prefer a bit more granularity when it comes to managing custom-created workouts. But you can also delete custom workouts by locating the workout and swiping to the left. Then, tap the big red X button and the workout will instantly be removed.

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.