How to Add a Workout to the Apple Watch Before or After Your Workout

This article will show you how to track a workout on your Apple watch. And if you forgot to hit the start button on your Apple Watch, or if you left your watch behind during a workout, don't worry! You can still add a workout to your Apple Watch. We've already shown how to start a workout in the Workout app, and how to view your Apple Watch activity and trends. Here we'll cover how to add activity to an Apple Watch in the Health app on your iPhone. 

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Jump to:

• How to Start a Workout on the Apple Watch
• How to Add a Workout to Your Apple Watch Manually

How to Start a Workout on the Apple Watch

If you're about to start a workout and want it to count toward your Apple Watch Activity, you'll need to track it in the Apple Watch Workout app. But first, if you've been having trouble wiht your Apple Watch not counting exercise minutes properly or another issue, you may want to troubleshoot that issue prior to continuing.

Here's how to start a workout in the Apple Workout app:

1. Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
   
   
    
2. Scroll through the workout types to find the one you want. Once you see the workout you want to start, you have two options.
3. To track the workout without setting time or other settings, simply tap the workout and it will start automatically.
   
   
    
4. To set time, distance, or calories before you begin your workout, tap on the three dots.
5. Select time, distance, or calories.
   
   
    
6. Use the plus and minus icons to make changes to that setting.
7. Tap Start when you're ready to begin your workout.
   
   

Now your workout will begin after a brief countdown. If you have any issues logging your exercise minutes, check out how to troubleshoot your Apple Watch. 

Related: How to Add a Custom Workout on the Apple Watch

How to Add a Workout to an Apple Watch Manually

To add a workout to your Apple Watch after the workout has already concluded, you'll need to enter it in the Health app. Here's how:

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone.
2. Select the Browse tab.
   
   
    
3. Tap the Search bar and enter the word Workouts.
4. Select Workouts from the list of results.
5. On the top right, tap Add Data.
   
   
    
6. Choose your activity type, then enter the number of calories and the start and stop times.
7. When you’re finished, tap Add.
   
   

Now the data from the workout you forgot to track from your Apple Watch will be counted toward your fitness and activity goal on your Apple Watch!