Not planning on working out? watchOS 11 has you covered with custom activity goals

Apple Watch
(Image credit: DMstudio House / Shutterstock)

Although Apple's WWDC 2024 event was mostly focused on Apple Intelligence and the presentation breezed past watchOS 11, there are plenty of features barely touched on, or not mentioned at all, worth diving into. 

Spotted by MacRumors, the new OS update for the best Apple Watches (unfortunately, Apple Watches 5 and older will not be supported)will contain the ability to pause your Activity Ring progress, or customize your daily goals. You'll be able to more easily tailor your fitness goals to the rest of your life with a handy new adjustment.

For example, if you know you'll be having a busy work day, or were traveling on a 14-hour flight, until now your watch would register your activity levels as below your goals for that day. That sounds like a small inconvenience for some, but for others, the catharsis of hitting those high streak numbers can only be matched by the devastation of it coming crashing down for others.

Now, you can set custom goals per day of the week to adjust your output. As an example, if you exercise on alternate days, you can ensure your activity levels are tailored appropriately. 

Apple watchOS 11 on a screen at WWDC 2024

(Image credit: Future)

In order to do this, MacRumors spotted that you can head to the Fitness app in iOS 18, select a ring and choose Summary > Custom to adjust your calorie burn goals. You can also pause the streak entirely, which is ideal for an injury or having to skip that gym session because you need to do the school run. 

You can pause a Move, Exercise or Stand ring for up to 90 days, picking up immediately where you left off. This is ideal for people looking to relax and rest during a week's holiday, or an extended period of injury or rest.

You might also like

TOPICS
Lloyd Coombes
Freelancer & Podcaster

Lloyd Coombes is a freelance tech and fitness writer for TechRadar. He's an expert in all things Apple as well as Computer and Gaming tech, with previous works published on TopTenReviews, Space.com, and Live Science. You'll find him regularly testing the latest MacBook or iPhone, but he spends most of his time writing about video games at Dexerto.

Read more
Apple Watch Ultra 2 displaying steps and distance
Three Apple Watch features you're probably not using, but should be – according to Apple's VP of Fitness Tech
Apple Watch Ultra 2 timer
5 Apple Watch fitness hacks to take your workouts to the next level
Apple watch pair with iphone
I've been wearing an Apple Watch for 10 years – these are the 5 settings I change right out of the box
Apple Watch Series 10 42mm vs 46mm side by side
After 10 years of Apple Watch, the company reveals the one thing it got wrong about its users
Apple Fitness Plus on a TV, iPhone, iPad, and Apple watch
Apple Fitness Plus just announced new workout programs AND a major collaboration with another service, and I couldn't be more excited
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
5 things the Apple Watch Ultra 3 should steal from the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Latest in Fitness Trackers
The Amazfit Helio smart ring pictured on a concrete surface.
Amazfit Helio Ring review: a cheaper Oura alternative if sleep is your top priority
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar watch on red background with white text reading "TechRadar lowest price"
The Garmin Instinct 2X Solar can run indefinitely on a single charge, and it's never been cheaper
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Active being worn in a park.
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Active review: Too many corners cut
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro before a red candle
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro review: One big upgrade that comes at a price
Fitbit Inspire 3 in pink on yellow background with TechRadar price cut sign
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great last-minute bargain at this stunning low price
Garmin 965 on a grey background with the text cyber monday deal s
Every Cyber Monday Garmin deal still live from Black Friday
Latest in News
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644)
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough