How To Stop A Swim Workout

[Buadhai]

I have an Ultra 1 and use WorkOutDoors. My wife has a Watch 6 and uses Apple's Workout app.

We both have difficulty stopping swim workouts.

Here's how I plan to stop a swim workout:

• Stop swimming
• Simultaneously press the two side buttons to initiate a manual pause
• Press and hold the Digital Crown to disable Water Lock
• Press and hold the screen to get the big Stop button screen
• Press Stop
• Confirm the end of the workout

This is what actually happens in real life

• Stop swimming
• Press the two side buttons simultaneously. Nothing happens. Try again. Nothing happens. Try a third time and the Control Panel screen appears.
• Get back to the WorkOutDoors app and try the side buttons again. Nothing happens
• Give up on the side buttons and hold the Digital Crown to disable Water Lock
• Press and hold the screen. Nothing happens.
• Blow vigorously on the watch in a futile attempt to dry it off while scraping my finger on the poolside concrete in an attempt to dry it off.
• Stop screen finally appears, but pressing the Stop button does nothing
• Make a second attempt to dry screen and finger
• Stop button works now.
• Confirm workout end
• Note that the total workout time displayed is now over two minutes longer than the actual workout.
• Delete workout because the total time saved is longer than the actual workout time.

My wife doesn't even attempt to press the two side buttons any more. She goes directly to the Digital Crown to disable water lock. But, with a wet watch and wet fingers she still has trouble getting the watch to respond.

There must be an easier way.

 

[CharlesShaw]

"hey Siri, end workout"

 

[Buadhai]

"hey Siri, end workout"

Well, that didn't quite work for a WorkOutDoors workout. It does work for an Apple Workout workout. It even disables water lock. Nice.

 

[babalougots]

After I initiate a manual pause, I press the digital crown to disable the water lock. Then, when I'm ready to start another set I swipe right to get the control panel to resume or stop/end the workout. For me, the water lock works on my first set in my workout and subsequent sets in the same workout do not have the water lock enabled (probably by design). I swim 4-5 days weekly and have a Series 7 Ti Watch Edition. I also tested the swim workout on an Ultra 3 at Costco as I'm considering an Ultra down the road.

 

[thelorax76]

Can I ask why you were using WorkOutDoors? I love it for hiking, but I found I was able to set the built-in Apple Workout to have the screen that I wanted, with nice big numbers that I can glance at (even with bad vision) while actively swimming.

I have an Ultra 1 as well. With the built-in Apple swim workout, I pause using the Action button. This is also useful if I actually want to just pause instead of stopping altogether. While paused, I use the crown to disable water lock. Then it's easy to end the workout.

 

[Buadhai]

Can I ask why you were using WorkOutDoors? I love it for hiking, but I found I was able to set the built-in Apple Workout to have the screen that I wanted, with nice big numbers that I can glance at (even with bad vision) while actively swimming.

I suppose because I use WOD daily for running and cycling workouts. I only have access to a pool four or five days a month so my swim workouts are few and far between. I've never taken the time to figure out how to use Apple's Workout app because WOD meets my needs well. (It only fails me when I try to manually pause a swim workout.)

To be honest, the only metric I'm interested in with swim workouts is the total time which is only accurate if you're able to stop the workout soon after you stop swimming; something I've not figure out how to do. Hence, this thread.

 

[doogm]

To be honest, the only metric I'm interested in with swim workouts is the total time which is only accurate if you're able to stop the workout soon after you stop swimming; something I've not figure out how to do. Hence, this thread.

So I would suggest, from what you learned in this thread, that using the stock Workout app and using Siri to stop the workout would be the best way forward.

 

[jz0309]

I suppose because I use WOD daily for running and cycling workouts. I only have access to a pool four or five days a month so my swim workouts are few and far between. I've never taken the time to figure out how to use Apple's Workout app because WOD meets my needs well. (It only fails me when I try to manually pause a swim workout.)

To be honest, the only metric I'm interested in with swim workouts is the total time which is only accurate if you're able to stop the workout soon after you stop swimming; something I've not figure out how to do. Hence, this thread.

you know there is a workoutdoors thread here and the developer seems quite active in that thread - why don't you post your question there? might get a better answer
I don't use WOD nor am I currently swimming so don't have any suggestions

 

[Buadhai]

So I would suggest, from what you learned in this thread, that using the stock Workout app and using Siri to stop the workout would be the best way forward.

Except that my wife tried that yesterday and it didn't work at all. Siri didn't respond in any way.

I guess I'll go back to a method that I used several years ago:

Put a dry towel at the end of the pool. Grab the towel at the end of the workout and quickly dry off the watch and my fingers. Proceed as normal. Seems crazy but it used to work.

 

[Buadhai]

you know there is a workoutdoors thread here and the developer seems quite active in that thread - why don't you post your question there? might get a better answer
I don't use WOD nor am I currently swimming so don't have any suggestions

Yes and I've contributed often. I put this thread here because it seems to be more about how the Apple Watch behaves when wet and not much to do with either WOD or Apple's Workout app.

And, yeah, the developer of WOD is extremely helpful and probably one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to how the watch interacts with apps.

 

[doogm]

Except that my wife tried that yesterday and it didn't work at all. Siri didn't respond in any way.

I guess I'll go back to a method that I used several years ago:

Put a dry towel at the end of the pool. Grab the towel at the end of the workout and quickly dry off the watch and my fingers. Proceed as normal. Seems crazy but it used to work.

It may be that you will have better luck with the Ultra than with the Series 6.

Of course you also need to make sure that Siri settings are set up right in the Watch app. I have mine set to listen for "Hey Siri", and I also have "Raise to Speak" and "Press Digital Crown" set up.

One issue for both Series 6 and Ultra is that Siri does need a network connection on those devices, so perhaps that's the issue if she doesn't have a cellular Series 6 (or a cell plan active), her iPhone isn't close enough for a Bluetooth connection (I could definitely see this being an issue for swimming workouts), or the watch isn't connected to WiFi.

One more tip that may be helpful: pressing two buttons at the same time by default in Apple Workouts will pause a workout. This works even with waterlock enabled. With the workout paused, you can then take your time to get out of the pool, and then eventually long-press the crown to end waterlock and then swipe to end the workout.

 

[Buadhai]

Thanks for taking the time to compose such a comprehensive reply.

You're probably right about Siri and the Watch 6, although my wife's phone sits only about three meters from the end of the pool where the workouts end. That should be close enough for bluetooth, but maybe not for a wet watch that has recently been submerged and is still wet.

Things would be much easier and more relaxed if only two button manual pause worked consistently. As I mentioned, my wife gave up on it a long time ago. I keep trying, but it almost never works for pausing a swimming workout. It only worked once this week. On the other hand, I did a 75K bike ride on Thursday and the two button manual pause worked every time: coffee, water, photos, etc.

We'll keep at it, but we won't again have access to a pool until early next year.

 

[doogm]

Thanks for taking the time to compose such a comprehensive reply.

You're probably right about Siri and the Watch 6, although my wife's phone sits only about three meters from the end of the pool where the workouts end. That should be close enough for bluetooth, but maybe not for a wet watch that has recently been submerged and is still wet.

Things would be much easier and more relaxed if only two button manual pause worked consistently. As I mentioned, my wife gave up on it a long time ago. I keep trying, but it almost never works for pausing a swimming workout. It only worked once this week. On the other hand, I did a 75K bike ride on Thursday and the two button manual pause worked every time: coffee, water, photos, etc.

We'll keep at it, but we won't again have access to a pool until early next year.

The good news about the Ultra is the extra button, and, in fact, since buying the first Ultra three years ago, I almost always use a squeeze of the action button and the side button, because they are across from each other, rather than pressing the side button and the Digital Crown, which, especially on a non-Ultra watch, I agree can be unreliable.

Yes, come to think of it, I imagine a submerged watch could take a little while to re-establish a Bluetooth connection to an iPhone, even one that is close, as water will stop all wireless connections.

 

[Buadhai]

I have WOD set so that all three manual pause options are enabled. None work reliably when the watch and my fingers are wet.

 

[G4RHL]

I have an Ultra 1 and use WorkOutDoors. My wife has a Watch 6 and uses Apple's Workout app.

We both have difficulty stopping swim workouts.

Here's how I plan to stop a swim workout:

• Stop swimming
• Simultaneously press the two side buttons to initiate a manual pause
• Press and hold the Digital Crown to disable Water Lock
• Press and hold the screen to get the big Stop button screen
• Press Stop
• Confirm the end of the workout

This is what actually happens in real life

• Stop swimming
• Press the two side buttons simultaneously. Nothing happens. Try again. Nothing happens. Try a third time and the Control Panel screen appears.
• Get back to the WorkOutDoors app and try the side buttons again. Nothing happens
• Give up on the side buttons and hold the Digital Crown to disable Water Lock
• Press and hold the screen. Nothing happens.
• Blow vigorously on the watch in a futile attempt to dry it off while scraping my finger on the poolside concrete in an attempt to dry it off.
• Stop screen finally appears, but pressing the Stop button does nothing
• Make a second attempt to dry screen and finger
• Stop button works now.
• Confirm workout end
• Note that the total workout time displayed is now over two minutes longer than the actual workout.
• Delete workout because the total time saved is longer than the actual workout time.

My wife doesn't even attempt to press the two side buttons any more. She goes directly to the Digital Crown to disable water lock. But, with a wet watch and wet fingers she still has trouble getting the watch to respond.

There must be an easier way.

Your experience is not unusual since IOS 26.1 and hopefully it will be sorted in 26.2 in a week or so’s time. I find the Action Button now does not start my Pool Swim workout, which it is set to do, pausing by pressing the two buttons can not be relied on, holding the crown to switch off the “water” button does not always work. This morning I use£ Sir to start and stop the workout.

I am not sure why we now need the “water” button as it does not ensure water does not goes in and I think is more to do with setting up a vibration to clear any water that might be in the vents. Perhaps its use should be limited to those who dive deep.

We need IOS 26.2 to rectify all this

 

[G4RHL]

It may be that you will have better luck with the Ultra than with the Series 6.

Of course you also need to make sure that Siri settings are set up right in the Watch app. I have mine set to listen for "Hey Siri", and I also have "Raise to Speak" and "Press Digital Crown" set up.

One issue for both Series 6 and Ultra is that Siri does need a network connection on those devices, so perhaps that's the issue if she doesn't have a cellular Series 6 (or a cell plan active), her iPhone isn't close enough for a Bluetooth connection (I could definitely see this being an issue for swimming workouts), or the watch isn't connected to WiFi.

One more tip that may be helpful: pressing two buttons at the same time by default in Apple Workouts will pause a workout. This works even with waterlock enabled. With the workout paused, you can then take your time to get out of the pool, and then eventually long-press the crown to end waterlock and then swipe to end the workout.

I have an Ultra 3. Siri works to start and end a Pool Swim without a WiFi or “sim” connection. My iPhone when I am swimming is far too far away to provide a connection over Bluetooth.

 

[doogm]

I am not sure why we now need the “water” button as it does not ensure water does not goes in and I think is more to do with setting up a vibration to clear any water that might be in the vents. Perhaps its use should be limited to those who dive deep.

Water lock is (and has always been) to prevent the screen from accidental touches when it is wet. Water (unless it it distilled) has conductivity and the touch screen can be fooled into thinking that you have touched the screen.

I have an Ultra 3. Siri works to start and end a Pool Swim without a WiFi or “sim” connection. My iPhone when I am swimming is far too far away to provide a connection over Bluetooth.

The Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and the new SE 3 can process Siri voice commands without a network connection, so that's why it's working for you. The OP's Ultra and his wife's Series 6 need a network connection to process Siri commands. That's why they either need a Bluetooth connection to their phone, which will pass along the Siri command, or a WiFi connection (for example, if the pool is at a health club, a WiFi connection to their guest network.) That said - when a watch is under water, its Bluetooth and WiFi connections will be interrupted, and reconnection isn't immediate.

I've had Series 2, Series 5, Ultra, and now Ultra 3, and until I got the Ultra 3, I found it difficult to end workouts using Siri when I did outdoor running or walking workouts, as the end of my driveway, which is where I always end them, is in a very poor signal location. Since getting the Ultra 3, now when I do those workouts in the rain with water lock on I can reliably end workouts with Siri - it's worked every time I've tried it.

 

[Buadhai]

Maybe it's just my watch. It has some other anomalies. For example, sometimes during a run or cycling workout the watch will do pause/resume for no reason at all. Sometimes just once or twice; sometime eight or nine times in a row. When this happens headphones stop playing music so I've given up on headphones when working out. Sometimes the pause/resume starts at the beginning of a workout and never stops. On several occasions I've simply stopped the workout and started again to get rid of the continuous pause/resume nonsense.

I guess I just learn to live with it.