TL;DR
iOS 26 expands the iPhone Fitness app with three notable updates: Apple Fitness+ Custom Plans and broader language support, manual workout logging in iOS 26.1, and Live Activities for workouts on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. These changes make Fitness features more useful for people who don’t use an Apple Watch and simplify tracking and routine building.
What happened
Apple’s Fitness app, long tied to the Apple Watch’s Activity rings, received three practical updates in iOS 26 and 26.1 aimed at making the service more useful on iPhone. Fitness+ now offers Custom Plans that are automatically generated from users’ favorite activities and presents options like Get Started, Stay Consistent, or Push Further, plus added language support to reach more users globally. iOS 26.1 introduced manual workout logging in the Fitness app’s Workout tab: tapping the pencil icon lets users add sessions by type and enter details such as duration, effort, and active calories, which affect Activity rings. Finally, Fitness now uses Live Activities to display workout duration, type, and pause/stop controls directly on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Live Activities for Fitness work for workouts started on either iPhone or Apple Watch and were launched alongside AirPods Pro 3’s heart-rate sensing announcement.
Why it matters
- Non-Apple Watch users can engage more fully with Fitness features through in-app plans and manual logging.
- Custom Plans help users form and maintain workout routines by offering prebuilt and customizable schedules.
- Manual logging prevents missed workouts from being omitted when a watch isn’t worn or a session isn’t recorded on-device.
- Live Activities provide quick, glanceable controls and status without unlocking the phone, simplifying in-session management.
Key facts
- Apple Fitness+ added a Custom Plans feature in iOS 26 that creates prebuilt plans based on favorite activities.
- Plans include options labeled Get Started, Stay Consistent, and Push Further, and users can build their own.
- Fitness+ expanded to additional languages in iOS 26 (the specific languages were not listed in the source).
- iOS 26.1 added manual workout logging to the Fitness app via the Workout tab’s pencil icon.
- When logging manually, users can enter workout type plus details such as duration, effort, and active calories.
- Manually logged workouts influence the Activity rings in the Fitness app.
- Fitness adopted Live Activities for workouts, which show duration, type, and pause/stop controls on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.
- Live Activities for Fitness were introduced alongside the AirPods Pro 3 pairing that added heart-rate sensing.
- Apple Fitness+ is available for $9.99 per month or as part of the Apple One bundle.
What to watch next
- Whether Apple will continue expanding Fitness+ language support to additional regions — not confirmed in the source
- If manual logging will gain deeper integrations with third-party fitness apps or services — not confirmed in the source
- Whether Live Activities will be extended with more in-session metrics or customization options on iPhone — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Apple Fitness+: A subscription workout service from Apple that provides guided video workouts and integrates with Apple devices.
- Live Activities: An iPhone feature that displays ongoing activity information on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island for quick glanceability and controls.
- Activity rings: A visual representation in Apple’s Fitness ecosystem showing progress toward daily movement, exercise, and standing goals.
- Apple One: A subscription bundle that combines multiple Apple services under a single plan.
Reader FAQ
Do I need an Apple Watch to use the Fitness app?
Not strictly — the source notes Fitness expanded to better support iPhone users without an Apple Watch, including manual workout logging.
How do I log a workout manually?
Open the Fitness app’s Workout tab, tap the pencil icon, choose a workout type, and enter details like duration, effort, and active calories.
Is Apple Fitness+ included in Apple One?
Yes. The source says Fitness+ is available for $9.99/month or as part of the Apple One bundle.
Do Live Activities require AirPods Pro 3 to work?
No. Live Activities launched alongside the AirPods Pro 3 announcement, but they work for workouts started from iPhone or Apple Watch regardless of headset use.
iOS 26 has three new iPhone features I’ve been really loving Ryan Christoffel Dec 29 2025 iOS 26’s Fitness app has three upgrades ready for new year’s goals Ryan Christoffel…
Sources
- iOS 26’s Fitness app has three upgrades ready for new year’s goals
- watchOS 26 delivers more personalized ways to stay active …
- iOS 26 Fitness app major update! But still not enough
- Introducing the All-New StepsApp for iOS 26
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