Workouts not pausing like they should? Use this checklist.
The Apple Watch is a great tool for tracking your workouts, but it can be frustrating when it automatically pauses mid-activity or doesn’t stop when you want it to.
Your Apple Watch might accidentally pause your workout for several reasons, and there are a few checks to perform if the feature isn’t working correctly.
This guide explains how to disable the Apple Watch’s auto-pause feature and provides a checklist for troubleshooting issues. Let’s get started.
Top tip: Apple’s Auto-Pause feature is different from the reminders to resume or end your workout when the watch detects you’re idle. However, you can also enable or disable these options in the same settings menus discussed below.
Turn off Auto-Pause via the iPhone
The ‘Auto-Pause’ feature causes the Apple Watch to automatically pause during workouts. If you prefer manual control over your workouts, you can disable this feature by following these steps:
- Go to the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to ‘My Watch’ in the app and then scroll down to ‘Workouts’.
- Under ‘Auto-Pause’, toggle the switch to off.
Turn off Auto-Pause on the Apple Watch
You can also manage the Auto-Pause setting directly from the smartwatch. Follow these steps:
- Go to the ‘Settings’ app.
- Scroll right down to the bottom and select ‘Workout’.
- Find ‘Auto-Pause’ and tap through.
- Disable the ‘Auto-Pause’ switch—or, alternatively, toggle for individual workout types.
Eight ways to fix Auto-Pause on the Apple Watch
Auto-Pause generally works well, but it can sometimes have issues. For those experiencing problems and wanting to keep Auto-Pause enabled, see the list below for eight ways to ensure it functions properly.
1. Check the fit of your Apple Watch
This is the most common cause of accidentally pausing workouts—or workouts that don’t pause when they should.
If the Apple Watch is too loose, it may not track your heart rate accurately, which could cause it to pause your workout.
2. Check your wrist detection settings
If wrist detection is enabled, your Apple Watch will pause your workout if it notices you’ve taken it off your wrist. You can turn off wrist detection in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
3. Make sure the Apple Watch is up to date
Apple regularly releases software updates that can improve your Apple Watch’s performance. Check for updates in the Watch app on your iPhone—and learn how to update your Apple Watch with this guide.
4. Restart your Apple Watch
Sometimes restarting your Apple Watch can resolve issues.
To restart your Apple Watch, press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears, then drag the slider to turn off your Apple Watch. After a few seconds, press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo shows up.
You can also try resetting the Apple Watch if this doesn’t work.
5. Check connectivity issues between your watch and iPhone
If your watch isn’t properly connected to your iPhone or if there is interference with the Bluetooth signal, it may cause the workout to pause.
6. Your watch is low on battery
If your Apple Watch’s battery is low, it might cause the workout to pause. Make sure your watch is sufficiently charged before starting a workout.
Check these tips for extending the battery life of the Apple Watch, if you encounter this issue regularly.
7. Check clothing isn’t accidentally pausing workouts
It’s easy to overlook if you wear jackets or long sleeves when working out. Make sure nothing covers the Apple Watch display during exercise to prevent accidental pauses.
This can occur if your arms move in a way that accidentally presses the pause button. To prevent this, try adjusting the position of your watch or tightening the strap.
8. Contact Apple Support
If the sensors are not detecting movement properly, your Apple Watch might be defective. Reaching out to Apple Support can help you find out if the issue is with the Apple Watch.
Whether wrist raises work or not is a good way to check if the accelerometer is faulty. If not, auto-pause probably won’t work either.
