Strava Apple Watch App

Set up the Strava Apple Watch app

Please note that the Strava Apple Watch app supports watchOS 10.0 or later and iOS 17.0 or later.

To get started using the Strava Apple Watch app, ensure you have downloaded the Strava app on your iPhone. Typically, companion Apple Watch apps for iPhone apps are automatically installed and displayed on your Watch's home screen. However, if the Strava App isn't visible on your Watch, you can manually install it by following these steps

1. Open the "My Watch” section of the Apple Watch app on your phone.
2. To install the Strava app on your watch, find it in the Watch App and tap "Install."
3. Ensure you are logged in to your account on the Strava iPhone app.
4. Open the Strava app on your Watch and follow the prompts to authorize permissions for Health, Motion & Fitness data.
5. Open the Settings app on your phone and navigate to Apps > Health > Data Sources & Access > Strava. Toggle on Heart Rate and Workouts to allow Strava to record activities.

If you do not see the full number of permissions toggles, or are missing toggles listed here, please proceed here first:

1. Open your settings and tap on Manages Apps & Devices > Health, then tap on "Connect with Health" and connect.
2. Then go back to your settings, tap Apps > Health> Data Access and Devices, then select Strava. Toggle on all necessary permissions.

Recording an Activity With the Apple Watch app

You can record activities on your Apple Watch Series 4 or later without carrying your iPhone. Please note that the Strava Apple Watch app functions independently from the iPhone app, so the phone will not visibly respond when you record your activity, even if you have your phone with you.

1. To record an activity, open the Strava app on your Apple Watch. Choose your sport to begin recording. A 3-second countdown will start, allowing you to prepare; tap the screen to skip it.
2. During your recording, you'll be able to view your current time, heart rate, and sport-specific stats
   • Outdoor Run: Average pace of your current split, or average overall pace. You can tap the screen to toggle between the two.
   • Outdoor Ride: Current speed
3. To pause your recording, swipe right and tap the pause button.
4. To complete your recording, swipe left and tap "Finish." This will take you to the summary screen. From there, tap "Save" to upload your activity.
5. Your activity will automatically upload to Strava when your phone is within range or your watch has a network connection. You'll receive an in-app notification once the upload is complete.
6. Activities recorded with the Strava Apple Watch app may experience a short delay in syncing to an iPhone if the devices are not connected to Wi-Fi or are in low-power mode after prolonged use.

Available Activity Types

You can record all supported sport types on your Apple Watch Series 4 or later without carrying your phone.

Recording Heart Rate with the Apple Watch App

In order to use the Apple Watch's built-in Heart Rate monitor, you must give Strava permission to read heart rate data from within the Apple Health app. You do not need to enable Bluetooth or heart rate sensors in the Strava iPhone app in order to use the heart rate data from the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch will not show up as an option on the sensor page on the Strava iPhone app.

1. Open the Strava app on the Apple Watch as if you were about to record an activity. This will open a prompt on both your phone and the watch.
2. Follow the prompts on your phone, asking you to allow Strava to access and update your Health data. Tap "Open Strava".
3. This will open Apple Health on your phone. From here, you can scroll down to "Allow Strava to Read Data" and enable heart rate.
4. You will now see your heart rate on the Strava Apple Watch app in the lower right-hand corner of the record screen. Please note that your heart rate will not appear on the recording Screen of the Strava iPhone app.

Follow a Route on the Apple Watch App 

You’ll now be able to follow a Strava Route that you’ve either created or saved on the Apple Watch app, while recording. 

To access any of your saved routes (any sport type), press the Route icon while selecting the Sport Type that you’ll record. 

Once you’ve selected the route you want to follow, the activity will start recording. 

To access the map while recording, you can swipe up on your watch face. Once on the map screen, you will be able to follow your live location and, if added, your saved route. To zoom or pan the map, tap the watch face to unlock interactive mode.

To return to the Stat screen, tap the back icon or use the watch scroll button.

Off-Route Alerts

Strava can alert you when you go off-route during a recorded activity. Off-Route Alerts are available on the Strava Apple Watch app, Mobile Record (iOS and Android), and Live Activity (iOS).

How it works

When you record with a saved route loaded, Strava tracks your position relative to the route. If you move a meaningful distance away, an alert appears on your recording screen — on Apple Watch, the Mobile Record screen, or the iOS Live Activity widget (Lock Screen and Dynamic Island). The alert dismisses automatically once you return to the route. Minor GPS drift won't trigger it.

Enabling and disabling

Off-Route Alerts are on by default. To toggle them:

• Apple Watch: While recording, swipe left to the settings page and tap the Off-Route Alerts toggle.
• Mobile: Open navigation settings from the recording screen to enable or disable.

Turning alerts off won't affect your ability to follow a route — you just won't be notified when you deviate.

Requirements

• Apple Watch or iPhone/Android running the latest version of the Strava app
• A saved route loaded before or during recording
• Live Activity requires iOS 16.1 or later

Live Elevation

You can view your current elevation and total Elevation Gain/Loss on the record screen for the following sport types.

• Hiking, 
• Trail Running, 
• Cycling (MTB, e-MTB, Gravel, and Road)
• Winter Sports (Alpine Ski, Snowboard, Backcountry, and Snowshoe). 

Watch face complications

You can add complications to numerous watch faces from either the Apple Watch app on your phone or the watch itself. Choose from circular small (bottom left,) utilitarian small (middle,) or modular small (bottom right.) 

From the Apple Watch app on your phone, select Modular, choose a location, and look for Strava in the list of apps that appear.

On your watch, force touch the watch's face to bring up a 'Customize' view. Swipe right to show which complications are customizable. 

FAQs

I've enabled permissions, but my Apple Watch app isn't recording my heart rate.

First, verify that you've allowed Strava to access your heart rate data:

1. From the Health app, select Browse > Heart > Heart Rate > Data Sources & Access
2. Ensure that the Heart Rate and Workout options are toggled ON.

If these settings have been enabled:

1. Force close the Strava app on your Apple Watch and iPhone.
2. Restart your Apple Watch and iPhone.
3. After your devices have restarted, check whether you can still record your heart rate. We suggest trying a few different activity types to see if anything changes.
4. Try disabling Low Power Mode. From the Watch app, navigate to Apps > Workout > Low Power Mode and toggle OFF.

My activity isn't syncing from my Apple Watch app.

There may be a brief delay in syncing activities from the Strava Apple Watch app to the iPhone when the devices aren’t connected to Wi-Fi or when they are conserving battery after extended use.

If the recording hasn’t transferred after some time, try these troubleshooting tips.

Check Connectivity:

1. Ensure the Apple Watch is within range of the iPhone or has a reliable internet connection.
2. Poor reception during saving can cause syncing issues.

Force Quit and Restart Apps:

1. On the Apple Watch, double-tap the digital crown, then swipe the Strava App left and press the red button with the X on it. 
2. Restart the Strava app on both the Apple Watch and the paired iPhone.

Manual Sync Trigger:

1. On the Strava Watch App, navigate to Settings > Unsynced to view any activities that have not yet synced.
2. Manually trigger a sync if possible.

I don't see the Motion and Fitness option listed in Strava permissions.

Confirm that the system setting for Motion and Fitness is enabled. On your iPhone, go to the general settings: Settings > Privacy > Motion & Fitness > Fitness Tracking. If the setting is already enabled, please toggle Motion & Fitness off and back on.

Does the Apple Watch app support Strava Live Segments?

Yes, this feature is available on the Strava Apple Watch app. Click here to read more.

Can I pair my Bluetooth LE chest strap with my Apple Watch?

Yes, you can pair compatible Bluetooth LE heart rate sensors.

Can I use Strava with other fitness trackers simultaneously?

We do not advise doing this. Other workout apps that use the Apple Watch’s GPS may interfere with your Strava recording.

How is live elevation on Apple Watch calculated?

Your live elevation will be derived from your device's motion sensor. This requires you to accept activity motion permission on Strava. To do this, you can go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness. If you haven’t granted Strava access to your motion sensor, live elevation will be calculated based on your GPS, which is less accurate.