How to use the Apple Watch Action Button for a specific workout?

I have upgraded my iwatch, the action button seems cool so I set it to start a workout. It defaults to the "outdoor walk" option and starts that where I want to have it default to one I choose like "traditional strength training" in the gym or to pop the workout menu and I choose. Ive browsed a little, had a look at shortcuts, had a look for a default workout setting and cant see how to achieve this. Appreciate any ideas, I suspect Ive missed something simple ??



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Original Title: How to use the action button for a specific workout

Posted on Aug 4, 2025 03:55 PM

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Posted on Aug 5, 2025 02:41 AM

I have set the Action Button on my Ultra 2 to start my Cycling Workout in the Watch App on the iPhone.

Action: Workout

App: Workout

First Press: Outdoor Cycle


With these settings, pressing Action button once, will start my cycling workout.

But, you can only assign one workout type this way.


However, if you use the normal workout app and the Workout complication shortcut in your watch face, you can open the workout app directly, and the recent used workout type will be the first one in the list to choose.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 5, 2025 02:41 AM in response to DougMag

I have set the Action Button on my Ultra 2 to start my Cycling Workout in the Watch App on the iPhone.

Action: Workout

App: Workout

First Press: Outdoor Cycle


With these settings, pressing Action button once, will start my cycling workout.

But, you can only assign one workout type this way.


However, if you use the normal workout app and the Workout complication shortcut in your watch face, you can open the workout app directly, and the recent used workout type will be the first one in the list to choose.

Aug 5, 2025 02:59 AM in response to Ingo2711

Ingo2711 wrote:

I have set the Action Button on my Ultra 2 to start my Cycling Workout in the Watch App on the iPhone.
Action: Workout
App: Workout
First Press: Outdoor Cycle

With these settings, pressing Action button once, will start my cycling workout.
But, you can only assign one workout type this way.

However, if you use the normal workout app and the Workout complication shortcut in your watch face, you can open the workout app directly, and the recent used workout type will be the first one in the list to choose.


How to use the Apple Watch Action Button for a specific workout?

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