How to Start & End a Swimming Workout on Apple Watch

Your Apple Watch is a wonderful exercise companion and it can not only keep tabs on your workout but provide insights into your health as well. Apple Watch Series 2 and later can also be used to track swimming, just like running or other activities. But the way Workouts handles a swim is slightly different. Don’t worry, we’re going to walk – bad pun intended! – you through it.

It doesn’t matter if you’re someone training for the Olympics or an amateur who likes to know whether their length times are on point, tracking activity using an Apple Watch can provide useful information. Here’s how to go about kicking off a swimming workout.

Starting a Swimming Workout with Apple Watch

Like all workouts, you’ll need to open the Workouts app to get started.

1. Use the Digital Crown or swipe the screen and tap “Pool Swim” or “Open Water Swim” depending on which activity you are doing.
   1. You can also tap the three dots to make changes to time, calorie, or distance goals.
   2. If you select “Pool Swim” you will be given the option to select the length of the pool. Use the digital crown to change the numbers on-screen. Tap “Start” when done.
2. Wait for the three-second countdown and begin swimming. Alternatively, tap the screen to skip the countdown completely.
3. Your Apple Watch’s screen will automatically be locked to prevent any accidental taps during your swim.

Ending a Swimming Workout with Apple Watch

Because your Apple Watch’s screen is locked you need to follow a slightly different process to pause or end the workout.

1. Press the Digital Crown and side button together to pause your workout.
2. Turn the Digital Crown to unlock your Apple Watch screen. You’ll also hear a sound to confirm any water has been expelled from the watch’s holes.
3. Swipe right on the screen and tap “End” to finish your workout. You’ll see a summary of your workout including the number of strokes and more.

The Apple Watch does a surprisingly good job of recognizing what kind of swimming stroke you’re performing during your workout, too.

Now that you’re using Workouts and burning calories, why not share your Activity progress with your friends? Remember to use your AirPods while you’re working out!

You might also want to make sure that you change the distance from kilometers to miles or vice-versa so all of your stats make sense as well!

Enjoy your workouts with Apple Watch, and let us know in the comments if you have any particular experience or thoughts worth sharing!