To enable Motion & Fitness tracking on Apple Watch, open your iPhone’s Settings app, go to Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness, and turn on “Fitness Tracking” and “Health” for both your iPhone and Apple Watch. This quick setup ensures accurate tracking for steps, workouts, calories, and more health insights.
Understanding how to enable Motion & Fitness on Apple Watch is essential for getting the most out of your device’s health and activity features. With this setting turned on, your Apple Watch can accurately monitor your daily activity, workouts, and key health metrics—helping you stay active and healthy. Below, you’ll find the exact steps, common issues, and pro tips to get everything working seamlessly.
For the official Apple support policy, visit: Apple Motion & Fitness Privacy.
What is Motion & Fitness Tracking on Apple Watch?
Motion & Fitness tracking allows your Apple Watch to monitor physical activities such as steps, exercise minutes, calories burned, and more. It uses a combination of sensors—accelerometer, gyroscope, and heart rate monitor—for best accuracy. Enabling this feature unlocks the full potential of Apple Health, Activity Rings, and third-party fitness apps.
How to Enable Motion & Fitness on Apple Watch and iPhone
1. Enable Motion & Fitness on iPhone
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Motion & Fitness.
- Toggle Fitness Tracking to ON.
- Ensure the Health app is also turned ON under the list of apps.
2. Allow Access for Apple Watch
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap Privacy.
- Make sure Fitness Tracking and Heart Rate are both enabled.
3. Give Permission to Third-Party Apps (Optional)
- If you use apps like Strava or MyFitnessPal, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness and turn on access for each app.
- Alternatively, you may get a prompt in the app itself asking for permission.
Note: Some users may need to restart their iPhone or Apple Watch if changes don’t appear immediately.
Troubleshooting: Motion & Fitness Not Working?
If you’ve followed the steps but your Apple Watch isn’t tracking steps or activity, try these fixes:
- Restart both devices: Power off and restart your iPhone and Apple Watch.
- Update Software: Ensure you’re running the latest versions of iOS and watchOS (see Apple’s update guide).
- Check Privacy Settings: Double-check that Fitness Tracking and Health are enabled for both devices and all relevant apps.
- Reset Fitness Calibration Data:
- Open the Watch app > Privacy > Reset Fitness Calibration Data.
- Unpair and Re-pair: As a last resort, unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch (Apple’s official guide).
Why Should You Enable Motion & Fitness Tracking?
- Complete your Activity Rings: Accurately track Move, Exercise, and Stand goals.
- Better Health Insights: Monitor steps, distance, heart rate, and trends in the Health app.
- Use Third-Party Fitness Apps: Essential for apps like Strava, Nike Run Club, and others.
- Share Activity: Compete with friends or share your progress with healthcare providers.
Recent Apple privacy policies (as of July 2025) ensure all motion and fitness data is encrypted and stored securely on your device. Learn more on Apple’s privacy policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Apple Watch not tracking steps after enabling fitness tracking?
Check if “Fitness Tracking” and “Health” are both enabled on iPhone and in the Watch app. If still not working, restart both devices.
Can I enable fitness tracking for specific apps only?
Yes! Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness and toggle access for each app.
Does enabling Motion & Fitness affect my battery?
Minimal impact. Sensor optimization in watchOS means tracking uses little extra power.
Is my data private and secure?
Yes, Apple uses on-device processing and encrypts all health and fitness data.
Conclusion: Get the Most from Your Apple Watch
Enabling Motion & Fitness tracking on your Apple Watch is a simple but vital step to unlock all the health and activity features Apple offers. Don’t miss out on personalized insights, smarter workouts, and accurate activity tracking. Follow the steps above to ensure you’re set up for success.
Ready to take control of your health? Enable Motion & Fitness today, and start reaching your goals!
Need more help? Visit Apple’s official support page or join the Apple Watch Community.