The basic steps to log a workout in Apple Fitness+
Open the Fitness app on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. Tap the "Workouts" tab at the bottom. Press the plus sign (+) in the top right corner. Choose "Add Workout" from the menu. Select the type of workout you did — running, cycling, strength training, yoga, or dozens of other options. Enter how long you exercised, and the app will estimate calories burned based on your age, weight, and heart rate if you wore an Apple Watch.
If you used an Apple Watch during your workout, the app may have already recorded it automatically. Check your "Workouts" tab first — you might just need to open the recorded session and confirm the details. If the watch captured it but you want to adjust the time or add notes, you can edit any workout after it is logged.
The data syncs across your devices through iCloud. A workout you log on your iPhone appears on your Apple Watch and iPad within seconds. This same data also feeds into the Health app, where Apple stores a complete record of your movement, heart rate, and exercise history.
Key Takeaways
- You can manually add a workout in the Fitness app by tapping the plus sign, selecting the workout type, and entering duration — no subscription to Fitness+ required.
- Apple Watch records workouts automatically during exercise, but you can also log workouts without a watch by entering the time and type manually.
- Every workout you log syncs to the Health app, where Apple stores detailed records including heart rate, calories, and exercise type tied to your Apple ID.
- You can edit or delete any logged workout after the fact, but the data remains in your Health app history unless you remove it there as well.
What happens to your workout data once you log it
When you add a workout, Apple stores that information in two places: the Fitness app and the Health app. The Health app is the master record. It keeps a permanent log of every workout, including the type, duration, calories burned, and heart rate data if your Apple Watch recorded it. This data is tied to your Apple ID and syncs across all your devices.
Apple says this data is encrypted in transit and at rest on Apple's servers. However, Apple can see the raw data — they have the technical ability to read what you logged, when you exercised, how hard you worked, and patterns in your activity over time. This information can reveal a lot: whether you are injured, pregnant, struggling with mental health, or managing a chronic condition. Apple does not sell this data to advertisers, but it is stored in your iCloud account and subject to Apple's privacy policy and any legal requests.
If you share your fitness data with another app — like Strava, MyFitnessPal, or a doctor's office — that app also receives the same information. Once you grant permission, you cannot control what that app does with the data beyond what their own privacy policy states.
Controlling what data you share and with whom
Go to Settings on your iPhone, then Health, then Data Access & Devices. This screen shows every app that has permission to read your workout data. You can revoke access to any app by tapping it and toggling off the permissions. Removing an app's access does not delete the data it already collected — it only stops future sharing.
You can also control which specific data types each app can see. Open Settings, Health, Apps, then select an app. You will see toggles for "Workouts," "Heart Rate," "Steps," and other categories. Turn off any category you do not want that app to access. For example, you might let a running app see your workouts but not your heart rate or weight.
If you do not want Apple to store workout data at all, you can disable iCloud sync for Health data. Go to Settings, [Your Name], iCloud, and toggle off Health. This keeps your workouts on your device only, but you lose the ability to see them on other devices, and you cannot share them with apps or doctors.
Deleting workouts and clearing your history
To delete a single workout, open the Fitness app, find the workout in your list, swipe left on it, and tap the trash icon. The workout disappears from the Fitness app when ready. However, it may still appear in the Health app. Open the Health app, tap the "Browse" tab, select "Workouts," find the entry, tap it, scroll to the bottom, and tap "Delete." You must delete it from both places if you want it completely gone.
Deleting a workout from your device does not remove it from Apple's servers if iCloud sync is on. The data remains in your iCloud backup. To fully remove it from Apple's systems, you would need to delete it from the device, then turn off iCloud sync for Health data, which erases the synced copy on Apple's servers. This is a nuclear option — it removes all your health data from iCloud, not just one workout.
There is no bulk-delete option in the Fitness or Health app. If you want to clear years of workout history, you must delete each one individually, or reset your entire Health app by going to Settings, Health, and scrolling to the bottom to find the reset option. Resetting erases all health data on that device, though iCloud still holds a copy if sync is enabled.
Why Apple collects this data and how it is used
Apple collects workout data to improve the Fitness app, train machine learning models, and understand health trends across its user base. The company says it uses aggregated, anonymized data — meaning they strip identifying information and combine millions of workouts to spot patterns. For example, Apple might learn that users who do strength training twice a week have better long-term health outcomes, but they do not tie that insight back to you individually.
Apple also uses your data to personalize your experience. The Fitness app learns your exercise habits and suggests workouts you might like. Siri can remind you to move if you have been still too long. These features rely on Apple reading your individual workout history, not just the anonymized aggregate.
Apple has also shared health data with researchers and public health organizations, but only with your explicit permission. If you receive a notification asking whether you want to participate in a health study, you can choose to share your data with that study. Declining does not affect your ability to use the Fitness app.
The difference between Fitness+ subscription and the free Fitness app
The Fitness app itself is free and works without a Fitness+ subscription. You can log workouts, track activity, and see your history without paying anything. Fitness+ is Apple's paid subscription service that gives you access to guided workout videos — classes in yoga, strength training, dance, cycling, and other activities. The subscription costs money and requires a separate purchase or Apple One bundle.
Whether you subscribe to Fitness+ or not, Apple collects the same workout data. Logging a manual workout or completing a Fitness+ class both create records in the Health app. The subscription only determines whether you can watch the guided videos — it does not change what data Apple gathers or how it is stored.
If you cancel your Fitness+ subscription, your past workouts remain in the Fitness and Health apps. You lose access to the video library, but your logged data is not deleted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I log a workout without an Apple Watch?
Yes. Open the Fitness app, tap the plus sign, select your workout type, and enter the duration manually. The app will estimate calories burned based on your profile information. Without a watch, you will not have heart rate data, but the workout still logs and syncs across your devices.
Does Apple sell my workout data to insurance companies or employers?
Apple says it does not sell individual health data to third parties. However, your employer or insurance company could ask you to share your data directly as a condition of a wellness program or discount. You control whether you grant that permission — Apple does not force the sharing.
What if I want to use a different fitness app instead of Apple Fitness?
You can use any fitness app and log workouts there instead. If you want that app to see your Apple Health data, you must grant permission in Settings, Health, Apps. The app will then have access to whatever data types you allow. You can revoke access at any time.
Does deleting a workout from my iPhone delete it from iCloud?
Deleting from the Fitness or Health app removes it from your device, but if iCloud sync is on, the data remains on Apple's servers. To remove it completely, you must delete it from the device and then disable iCloud sync for Health data, which erases all synced health information.
Can I see what Apple knows about my fitness habits?
You can see all your logged workouts in the Fitness and Health apps. You cannot see Apple's internal analytics or machine learning models trained on your data. You can request a copy of your health data through Apple's Data and Privacy portal at privacy.apple.com, which shows what Apple has stored about you.