How to Change Measurement Units for Workouts on Apple Watch

The Workout application on Apple Watch tracks biometric telemetry, distance, speed, elevation, and energy expenditure across dozens of athletic disciplines. Depending on personal preference, regional standards, or specific athletic training guidelines, athletes often require different measurement systems for distinct sports. For example, a runner may prefer measuring track intervals in kilometres or metres, while an open-water swimmer monitors pool lengths in yards or metres, and cycling enthusiasts analyse elevation gains in feet versus metres. watchOS provides granular configuration settings to customise measurement units independently across different workout categories.

Supported Workout Measurement Units in watchOS

Apple Watch does not enforce a rigid, all-or-nothing metric or imperial toggle for physical activities. Instead, users can independently adjust measurement metrics across five core training dimensions:

• Energy Units: Switch between Calories (active kilocalories), Kilocalories (kcal), and Kilojoules (kJ).
• Pool Length Units: Toggle between Yards and Metres for lap swimming and pool stroke recognition.
• Cycling Workouts: Configure distance in Miles or Kilometres independently from running metrics.
• Walking and Running Workouts: Set distance and pace displays to Miles or Kilometres.
• Elevation and Descent: Customise vertical gain readouts between Feet and Metres across outdoor hiking, running, and cycling profiles.

Changing Units Directly on Apple Watch

You can adjust these measurement units directly from your wrist without opening your paired iPhone:

1. Press the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch to access the App Grid or List View.
2. Tap the Settings app icon (represented by the grey mechanical gear).
3. Scroll down and tap Workout.
4. Scroll to the lower section of the Workout menu and select Units of Measure.
5. Select the specific workout category you wish to alter:
   • Tap Energy Units and choose Calories, Kilocalories, or Kilojoules.
   • Tap Pool Length Units and choose Yards or Metres.
   • Tap Cycling Workouts or Walking and Running Workouts and select either Miles or Kilometres.
   • Tap Elevation Units and select Feet or Metres.

Changes apply immediately to your active workout screen, workout views, and future training summaries recorded in the Fitness app.

Configuring Workout Units via the iPhone Watch App

For users who prefer configuring settings on a larger display, all watchOS measurement preferences can be configured via the companion Watch app on iOS:

1. Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone.
2. Ensure the My Watch tab is selected in the bottom-left corner.
3. Scroll down through the system app list and tap Workout.
4. Tap Units of Measure.
5. Select the respective metric categories to adjust energy, pool lengths, distance, and elevation to your preferred standards.

How Unit Adjustments Impact Historical Workout Data

Changing your measurement units on Apple Watch does not alter or corrupt historical workout logs stored in Apple Health. HealthKit stores all physiological data in absolute scientific baseline units (such as metres and joules). When you modify your unit preferences, the Health app, Fitness app, and Workout interface retroactively recalculate and render the visual presentation of historical workouts according to the newly selected unit format without losing data fidelity.