Apple’s iOS 26 and watchOS 26 introduced a new fitness companion called Workout Buddy. This feature uses Apple Intelligence to provide voice feedback during workouts and motivate you based on your activity history. Workout Buddy analyzes your pace, heart rate, distance and other metrics to provide encouragement and real-time performance feedback directly through connected Bluetooth headphones. It works in conjunction with the Workout app on Apple Watch and is partially controlled via the Fitness app on iPhone. This guide walks you through everything needed to set up and use Workout Buddy effectively during workouts.
What Workout Buddy does
It’s important to note that Workout Buddy is not a comprehensive coaching program. Instead, it adds voice cues to your workout that reflect how your session is going. Workout Buddy can remind you of your weekly activity totals, alert you to your personal bests or performance milestones, and provide you with an overview when you’re done. It’s designed to feel like a supportive training partner rather than a strict coach.
The feature works in English by default and uses a text-to-speech model trained on the voices of Apple Fitness+ trainers. It’s available for a subset of workout types, including running, walking, cycling, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and strength training. It requires Apple Intelligence on the device, which means you’ll need to keep one of the latest iPhones running updated software nearby during workouts.
Supported models include iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and any iPhone 16 model. You’ll also need an Apple Watch running watchOS 26.
Requirements before you start
Before Workout Buddy appears in your Fitness app or Workout app, you need to make sure you have a few things in place. First, your Apple Watch must be running watchOS 26 or later and be paired with an iPhone that has iOS 26 installed. Second, your iPhone must be capable of Apple Intelligence on the device, which means you must have one of the supported iPhone models we mentioned above and have Apple Intelligence enabled in the phone’s settings.
You’ll also need Bluetooth headphones paired with your iPhone or Apple Watch. Audio feedback from Workout Buddy cannot be played through the watch’s speaker, so headphones are essential. Finally, your device language should be set to English, at least initially. If any of these items are missing, the option to enable Workout Buddy may not appear.
How to activate Workout Buddy from iPhone
Although much of the interaction with Workout Buddy happens on Apple Watch during workouts, you can enable it and choose voice options in the Fitness app on iPhone.
Open the Fitness app on your iPhone and tap the button Training tab at the bottom. Scroll through the list of workout types until you find one you plan to use with Workout Buddy. Tap the waveform bubble icon associated with this workout. This will bring up the settings where you can enable Workout Buddy. Toggle the toggle to enable it and choose a voice from the available options. Once you have selected a voice, close this screen and your choice is saved. When you start this type of workout on Apple Watch, Workout Buddy activates.
Enabling Workout Buddy for one type of workout on iPhone means you don’t need to enable it separately on Apple Watch each time for that specific workout. However, you can still adjust it from the watch interface for more granular control.
How to enable Workout Buddy on Apple Watch
To use Workout Buddy during a workout, open the Workout app on your Apple Watch. Turn the digital crown to scroll and select the workout you want to do, such as outdoor running, outdoor walking, outdoor cycling, HIIT, or strength training. If you want to see all available workouts, press the button Add button at the bottom.
Once the workout type is selected, look for the Alerts button on the screen. Faucet Alerts then scroll down until you see Workout Buddy. Faucet Workout Buddy and turn on the switch. You will then be asked to choose a voice if it is not already selected on your iPhone. After selecting the voice, return to the previous screen and tap Start. Workout Buddy will start working as soon as the workout is over.
Using Workout Buddy during a workout
Once you start an exercise on your watch or iPhone, Workout Buddy will speak to you through your connected headphones. Feedback is designed to be encouraging and relevant to your pace, performance, or milestones. It may mention your current progress toward activity goals, pace, splits, personal bests, or other highlights of your fitness data. At the end of your session, Workout Buddy will provide a summary of key metrics such as distance traveled and calories burned.
While a workout is active, you can temporarily mute the sound if you need some quiet. On Apple Watch while in session, swipe right to view controls, then tap Mute. This pauses Workout Buddy’s voice commentary without completely disabling the feature.
Customizing and managing Workout Buddy settings
Workout Buddy is enabled for every workout type. If you prefer voice feedback for running but silence for strength training, you can turn it on for one and leave it off for the other. The Fitness app on iPhone lets you set a default voice preference for each workout type. On Apple Watch, you can quickly turn the feature on or off before starting a session.
If Workout Buddy doesn’t appear as an option for a particular workout type, you may need to check compatibility. Apple’s documentation states that only certain types* are initially supported and the option will not appear for unsupported workouts.
*Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra 3
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If Workout Buddy fails to activate, make sure your devices meet the requirements described above. Confirm that your iPhone with Apple Intelligence is nearby and Bluetooth headphones are connected. If audio feedback is missing, make sure the headphones are properly paired and the language is set to English. Some users have reported that if the earbuds are only paired to the watch rather than the iPhone, it can interfere with feedback. Switching to the iPhone often solves this problem.
For workout types where Workout Buddy previously worked but suddenly no longer appears, you can try toggling the feature on and off in the Fitness app or restarting both devices. In rare cases, removing and re-adding the workout type on Apple Watch may refresh the settings.
