Instructions to re-enable the workout buddy for the stairs workout in the Apple Watch iOS 26 workout app.

Bob_Hughes wrote:

Thanks for your feedback. Actually, the first time that I started the "Stairs" workout after updating to WatchOS 26.0, it DID ask me if I wanted to use Workout Buddy, and my first response was "yes", but then it asked me to choose a voice, and since I was nowhere near Wi-Fi, it was taking a very long time to download a "voice" using cellular data so I cancelled the download by switching off Workout Buddy, and now I can't re-enable it.

I think you broke it. However painful it seems, I would unpair and set up again without resort to backup

Bob_Hughes wrote:

Thanks for your feedback. Actually, the first time that I started the "Stairs" workout after updating to WatchOS 26.0, it DID ask me if I wanted to use Workout Buddy, and my first response was "yes", but then it asked me to choose a voice, and since I was nowhere near Wi-Fi, it was taking a very long time to download a "voice" using cellular data so I cancelled the download by switching off Workout Buddy, and now I can't re-enable it.

I think it was asking you if you wanted to enable Workout Buddy. It wasn't specifically as if you wanted to enable it in Stairs. It would have asked that the first time you opened the app after the update, regardless of what workout you selected.

The documentation is very clear. It works with StairStepper workouts. It is not advertised as working with Stairs.

Stairs are a workout you can add but they are not on the list of ones that support Workout Buddy.

As LD150 points out, Workout Buddy works with the StairStepper workout.

unpair and set up again without resort to backup

It should say stair-stepper not stairs. No idea why, mine says stair-stepper. May be a regional language difference

I cant help further as my phone does not have AI capability to work through it with you.

Bob_Hughes wrote:

I would appreciate knowing what is the URL for the official list of supported Workout Buddy workouts? When I first started the "Stairs" workout after updating my Apple Watch Ultra 2 to WatchOS 26.0, I was asked if I wanted to use "Workout Buddy"

They're in the link LD150 gave in the first response.

Have you tried setting it like this

Use Workout Buddy in Fitness on iPhone - Apple Support