Table 2.

Workout types for Apple Watch within the Workout app.

Activity type	Subtype	Notes
Walking	Indoor or outdoor	Apple Watch Series 1 requires iPhone to calibrate pace and distance calculated from GPS (Apple Watch Series 2 onward) Elevation from altimeter (Apple Watch Series 3 onward)
Running	Indoor or outdoor	Option to use Bluetooth chest strap instead of integrated PPGa heart sensor to reduce motion artifacts
Cycling	Indoor or outdoor; e-bike or manual (watchOS 8)	Speed and distance (Apple Watch Series 2 onward) and map elevation (Apple Watch Series 3 onward) Automatic detection for start and stop (from watchOS 8)
Elliptical	Elliptical machine	N/Ab
Rower	Rower machine	N/A
Stair stepper	Stepping machine	N/A
HIITc	Intense exercise followed by short periods of rest (30-45 seconds)	May affect HRd sensors Calories tracked with accelerometer
Hiking	Tracks pace, distance, elevation gain, and calories burned	Requires altimeter (Apple Watch Series 3 onward) or paired the phone with an altimeter
Yoga	All types of yoga	N/A
Functional strength training	Dynamic strength training with dumbbells, resistance bands, and medicine balls	N/A
Dance	All types of dance	N/A
Cooldown	Easy moves and stretches	N/A
Core training	Strength-building of abdominals and back	N/A
Swimming	Pool or open swim	Set pool length; GPS is not used to conserve battery Open swim requires GPS; may affect HR sensors
Wheelchair	Outdoor wheel-walk pace and outdoor wheel-run pace	Apple Watch Series 2 onward uses GPS or paired iPhone with GPS for Apple Watch Series 1 Measures time, pace, distance, calories, HR, and pushes
Other	Add a workout type	HR and motion sensors work together to provide an accurate reading Will display popular workouts from users

^aPPG: photoplethysmography.

^bN/A: not applicable.

^cHIIT: high-intensity interval training.

^dHR: heart rate.