So many of these issues in the swim workout have been around for years. For example: it still doesn't understand backstroke (hold over from last year). Sometimes it will leave 25 out, sometime it will add 25 at random times (also going on 2 years with this bug). If you're standing at the wall between sets, it will sometimes add a 25 kick for no reason. I've sent in bug reports, this year and last year. I've come the conclusion that they don't know how to fix these bugs. There's no way they don't know about them.
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Apple Watch Users Claim Workout App Is Now Worse in Every Way
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Did that change or has there never been a way to do this?
(that's absolutely table stakes for Treadmill activities, where actual distances can vary widely)
I get that, but what about of those who deeply care about the working tracking and fitness parts, and don't really care about the smartwatch stuff?
I guess we just don't matter to Apple... Why not make a model that is focused on that, and not just a bulkier version of the regular watch with different features, not just more? Say, more buttons that let you operate it, completely, without the touch screen.
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*OS 26 in general seems to be a large step backwards in terms of UI/UX and performance. I'm hard pressed to think of anything that I like better on that front with 26.
Totally fair!
This is why they should make more models of Watch, which I've been advocating for endlessly.
Having only one type of watch that tries to do everything will basically always be a sacrifice in areas that, for some, are key.
Rather than folks suggesting "go buy XYZ instead", I think we should all be advocating for Apple to branch out the Watch lineup a bit. This should be a great area of further growth!
This has to be false. Apple has assured us that this is the best, most powerful, most capable version of watchOS that Apple has ever released. Apple promised us that the workout app was taken to a whole new level with game-changing features. Finally, we’ve been assured that this is truly the purest version of watchOS that Apple has ever released.
How can it be that all these problems are present? Are y’all suggesting that Apple’s PR is just tutti-fruitti, phoney-baloney, plastic banana, good time, rock-n-roll, astroturf PR hype?
How can it be that all these problems are present? Are y’all suggesting that Apple’s PR is just tutti-fruitti, phoney-baloney, plastic banana, good time, rock-n-roll, astroturf PR hype?
Nothing to add to what's already been said. It is really terrible. I don't understand what the icons mean when starting a workout, and they don't even respond when you squarely tap on them.
All will be fixed next year with...
WatchOS 27, powered by Apple Intelligence
WatchOS 27, powered by Apple Intelligence
The redesigned is terrible. I've resorted to using the Nike Run app on my watch to quickly start a run.
I absolutely agree that the watchOS 26 workout app is problematic.
I found during a running workout (or any other), the functions of UI buttons are confusing and not clear at first sight compared to what it was before. It was pretty good before 26. And button touch-areas are indeed VERY problematic. Such a simple thing as tapping the 'back' button in the upper left corner often takes many tries to succeed, but this is true for everywhere in watchOS 26.
During lap swimming the pool, I now basically can't do anything at all at all anymore on my Apple Watch (of course after unlocking the water lock). Can't stop the workout (while in previous watchOS versions, it was still somewhat usable after wiping most of the water drops off the screen.
I found during a running workout (or any other), the functions of UI buttons are confusing and not clear at first sight compared to what it was before. It was pretty good before 26. And button touch-areas are indeed VERY problematic. Such a simple thing as tapping the 'back' button in the upper left corner often takes many tries to succeed, but this is true for everywhere in watchOS 26.
During lap swimming the pool, I now basically can't do anything at all at all anymore on my Apple Watch (of course after unlocking the water lock). Can't stop the workout (while in previous watchOS versions, it was still somewhat usable after wiping most of the water drops off the screen.
last version was fine, new one is too fiddly and the icons are too small. Think it's another case of fixing something that was not broken. Microsoft do this all the time and TBH, Apple are not nearly as bad as them, just look at Outlook and Teams.
I just use it to start and stop standard workouts, but I'm annoyed every day that the made the workout types more minimal by hiding the controls with animations. Minimal can be pretty but less functional. It's a watch, for gods sake. They don't have to get so tricky with a tiny screen. The previous version was much better.
I like the new layout better than the old, but a few notes:
- The corner icons are inscrutable. I often have to tap 2-3 before I find the menu I’m looking for, and I still can’t figure out what the icon is supposed to represent.
- A lot of these complaints are mooted because you can finally create and start workouts directly on the iPhone in the Fitness app.
- Don’t think it’s the app but HR tracking on the Series 10 has been garbage compared to my previous Series 7. It will often take 10 minutes for the S10 to get a fix on my HR after I start a run, while my S7 was nearly flawless.
What @vertsix said. And forget it with gloves on in the winter. This is why I used Garmin watches during my heavy marathon years. The current UI is literally the clunkiest watch interface I have ever seen which has supposedly been designed for competitive sports. The music integration with runs still does not work correctly. I love the watch, but not this interface. It's useless for competitive athletes and frustrating for the rest of us.
I stopped tracking my workouts and only use it, begrudgingly, when I go for a run or bike, which has its own set of problems.
Reading of metrics during a workout is buggy. Previously, whether it was a run, walk or bike, the music would be lowered and the metrics read out. Now, it will pause the song, which is fine, and read out metrics only on a bike, it stopped doing it on walks or runs. I've gone back and adjusted the settings, turned it off and on again, and neither fixed the issue.
Playlists stopped playing. This may or may not be connected to the workout app directly, and it may be an issue with the music app. My playlists stop at the end of each song and I have to manually hit play for the next track to play. The only solution is to reboot my watch. This lasts about 4-5 sessions before I need to reboot it again. This is absolutely frustrating especially during a run.
My work around is I added a 5 second intro to each of the playlists. I will start the music playlist before I begin my workout and if it plays to the next track, great, if not, I reboot my watch and that fixes it. Then I begin my workout. Incredibly annoying.
Reading of metrics during a workout is buggy. Previously, whether it was a run, walk or bike, the music would be lowered and the metrics read out. Now, it will pause the song, which is fine, and read out metrics only on a bike, it stopped doing it on walks or runs. I've gone back and adjusted the settings, turned it off and on again, and neither fixed the issue.
Playlists stopped playing. This may or may not be connected to the workout app directly, and it may be an issue with the music app. My playlists stop at the end of each song and I have to manually hit play for the next track to play. The only solution is to reboot my watch. This lasts about 4-5 sessions before I need to reboot it again. This is absolutely frustrating especially during a run.
My work around is I added a 5 second intro to each of the playlists. I will start the music playlist before I begin my workout and if it plays to the next track, great, if not, I reboot my watch and that fixes it. Then I begin my workout. Incredibly annoying.
Not an athlete here, but use the app for outdoor walks and regular workouts - the changes are awful and just seem to add more steps (touches). I’m wearing my Apple Watch less now.
For the playlists issue, which I've ran into, it is likely a RAM issue funny enough. Mitigation is to close some background apps before your workout starts.
Hey, I'm surprised to see this topic bubble up. Yep, it's awful to use, as reported here.
I would add another modern-day Apple standard issue: when you go back to the workout app after a while and it's still showing your summary from last time, there's an X button in the upper-left. You want to tap it so you can start a new one. So you do, and just as you touch it, the interface updates to clear the summary on its own, and now you've tapped the "workout views" button accidentally. This has happened to me a dozen times since the update to 26.
Apple does this a lot: uses a delayed animation to move pieces of the interface so your muscle memory causes you to accidentally hit something you don't mean to. I wish there was a name for it so it can start getting called out more clearly.
Anyway, this 7 is my last Apple Watch as I no longer enjoy using the device like I used to. The design is stagnant, it's annoying, it's not smart, et cetera.
I would add another modern-day Apple standard issue: when you go back to the workout app after a while and it's still showing your summary from last time, there's an X button in the upper-left. You want to tap it so you can start a new one. So you do, and just as you touch it, the interface updates to clear the summary on its own, and now you've tapped the "workout views" button accidentally. This has happened to me a dozen times since the update to 26.
Apple does this a lot: uses a delayed animation to move pieces of the interface so your muscle memory causes you to accidentally hit something you don't mean to. I wish there was a name for it so it can start getting called out more clearly.
Anyway, this 7 is my last Apple Watch as I no longer enjoy using the device like I used to. The design is stagnant, it's annoying, it's not smart, et cetera.
Recently, the Monthly Challenge total hasn't been taking into account the workouts I complete on different workout apps like Gentler Streak. Seems like a bug since iOS 26. Anyone else?
I feel the same. Waiting for the play button to appear and then press it is really an annoying downgrade.
As for the countdown, I discovered that when you immediately press on the countdown numbers, the workout starts immediately and skips the countdown. It makes you make a supplemental tap though.