With iOS 26, Apple has implemented an important expansion in the fitness app (Fitness app) by adding a workout tab. This function makes it possible for the first time to start and follow workouts directly from your iPhone, without an Apple Watch being required.
The workout function works completely independently and requires no extra hardware, but can collaborate with, among others, the Apple Watch, AirPods Pro 3 and the PowerBeats Pro 2. We explain how you can use the workout in fitness for iPhone.
Workout in fitness
The new workout function in the fitness app on the iPhone makes it possible to keep track of your iPhone Workouts, even without Apple Watch. With iOS 26 or newer, the app can monitor your heart rate and activities in real time via built-in sensors and linked devices such as the AirPods Pro 3, where you can choose more than 50 workout types.
The app provides insight into burnt calories, distance traveled, and progress of your activity rings, while you can also have music playing automatically that fits your training. This way you can complete your training and exercise rings and earn medals without extra hardware.
In addition, condition also has integration with Apple’s Workout Buddy, an AI coach, offers personal guidance, motivation and a summary of your performance, with which you can make your workouts smarter and more effective. Unfortunately, this function will only work in English for the time being.
Standalone Workout Functionality
The new work-out option works as an independent fitness tracker who uses the sensors in your iPhone, including GPS for outdoor activities and motion sensors for keeping track of different types of training. You can select more than 50 different workout types, from running and walking to HIIT and strength training.
Start workout in fitness
- Open the fitness app
- Navigate to workout
- Choose a desired training
- Tap the Play button to start the workout
Adjust goals
By default, the workout is started with an open goal and the iPhone will measure data as long as the workout runs. You can optionally set goals in advance, think of a fixed duration, how many calories you want to burn, etc.
- Open the fitness app
- Navigate to workout
- Choose a desired training
- Tap the Timer symbol under the Play button
- Choose a desired goal or add a new one
- Start workout
With the ‘Custom’ option you can make an even more advanced workout with a warm-up, different goals and then a coolingdown. Perfect for a running schedule.
Automatic music
Would you like to automatically play music off during a certain workout? Then you can easily set this by tapping the music note at the workout. Switch the ‘Play media automatically’ option and make a choice.
Do you choose ‘Specially chosen for you’? Then the work-out application will automatically choose music based on the workout type and your personal taste in music. For this, Apple Music is required. Do you not want this? Then select ‘Choose Media’ and add your desired playlists, albums or podcasts yourself.
Integration with Apple Watch
Although the workout function works independently, it is considerably expanded when you link an Apple Watch with Watchos 26. As soon as you start a workout on your iPhone, it will also be started on your Apple Watch and Vice Versa.
The condition app also uses the heart rate data that the Apple Watch records. This allows you to see the workout data of the Apple Watch in real time for the first time on the large screen of your iPhone. This can be useful during sports activities indoors, for example on the treadmill, crossfittrainer, and so on.
Hide Apple Watch Work-Out Display
Do you not want the fitness app to be activated when you start a workout on your Apple Watch? Then you have to switch it off from the Apple Watch per workout. Wipe to the right on your Apple Watch during a workout and tap Stop (crossed iPhone). Choose ‘View’ to resume it.
Live activities
Workout in fitness also uses live activities. Immediately you can see the current status of your training on the access screen of your iPhone via an interactive report. Updates are shown in real time without having to open the app. These live activities for the iPhone are also shown when you start a workout on the Apple Watch.
Heart rate monitoring with AirPods Pro 3
Also works with the PowerBeats Pro 2
The AirPods Pro 3 have a special PPG sensor that issues an invisible infrared light pulse 256 times per second to measure light absorption in your bloodstream. In combination with feedback from the accelerator meters of the AirPods Pro, the gyroscope, GPS and a new AI model on the iPhone, you can start up to 50 different types of workouts, keep track of your heart rate and burned calories, complete your exercise ring and earn medals in the condition app.
During a workout you can tap the Hart symbol to check the connected devices. Do you wear an Apple Watch And do you use AirPods for monitoring your heart rate? Then iOS and Watchos will automatically merge it and use the most accurate measurement of that moment.