I used this simple Shortcut to turn my Apple Watch Ultra into a one-touch rest timer in the gym

I've had nan Apple Watch Ultra since nan advent of nan Apple Watch Ultra 2 past year. It's undoubtedly nan champion Apple Watch nan institution has ever made, pinch a big of specialized features that make it perfect for workout search and exercise, including 1 I've only conscionable discovered.

I've agelong neglected nan Action fastener connected my iPhone 15 Pro Max (and now my iPhone 16 Pro Max), and nan Action fastener connected my Apple Watch Ultra. I've ne'er really taken nan clip to deliberation astir what precisely I could usage either for, and I've surely ne'er thought astir straying past nan default functions into nan world of Shortcuts beyond.

However, nan Apple Watch Ultra Action fastener tin beryllium utilized for a assortment of features. Default options see starting a workout (my erstwhile usage of nan button, up until this point), starting nan stopwatch, dropping a waypoint, signaling your way pinch Backtrack, starting a dive, turning nan Flashlight connected aliases off, signaling a Voice Memo, starting Translate, aliases turning connected an Accessibility feature.

Recently, I started reasoning astir really I could amended usage nan Action fastener connected my Ultra 2, and quickly realized that my reticence to usage Shortcuts was silly.

Apple's Shortcuts app is simply a ocular scripting app that tin utilized to trigger each kinds of actions, for illustration controlling your smart home, taking screenshots and sending them to people, and more. For my first Apple Watch venture, I started disconnected simple, and now I tin usage my Apple Watch's Action fastener to commencement a one-minute timer pinch conscionable 1 press, making it nan cleanable remainder timer for my gym sessions and workouts. I often struggle to make usage of nan Apple Watch successful a weights room environment, but this is cleanable for my needs.

Here's really you tin create a Shortcut and move your Apple Watch Action fastener into a remainder timer. Don't person an Apple Watch Ultra? You tin besides use this Shortcut to nan Action fastener connected nan iPhone 15 Pro aliases nan iPhone 16 lineup.

What you'll need

• An Apple Watch Ultra aliases Apple Watch Ultra 2 moving watchOS 11 (watchOS 10 is besides fine)
• An accompanying iPhone paired pinch your Apple Watch

How to create a remainder timer Shortcut

Quick steps

• Create a Start Timer Shortcut
• Assign it to your Action fastener successful nan Apple Watch app

Step-by-step guide

1. Create a Start Timer Shortcut

Open nan Shortcuts app connected your iPhone and Press nan '+' fastener successful nan apical right-hand corner. Scroll down to Clock aliases simply type "clock" into nan hunt field, past tap. Scroll down nan Clock options to Start Timer, located astatine nan bottom.

Tap nan Duration section and participate nan magnitude of clip you'd for illustration (I chose 1 minute, because it's versatile and useful for me, but you tin prime immoderate clip you like) and past press Done. Tap 'i' astatine nan bottommost of nan page and make judge Show connected Apple Watch is toggled green.

Your caller Shortcut should show up arsenic a colored tile connected nan beforehand page of Shortcuts, from present you tin agelong property to edit nan Shortcut, including renaming it.

2. Assign your Shortcut to nan Action fastener connected Apple Watch

Once your Shortcut is created, you request to delegate it to your Action button. Open nan Apple Watch app and prime nan Action Button mounting (you'll request an Apple Watch Ultra paired to your iPhone to spot this).

Tap the Action field and prime Shortcut. Press Action Button in nan apical near to spell backmost a page, then pat nan Shortcut section below. Select your Timer Shortcut, which will beryllium called Start Timer unless you've renamed it.

Now, your Apple Watch Action fastener should trigger nan selected timer each clip you property it. If you request much flexibility, alternatively of choosing a circumstantial time, you tin prime nan Ask Each Time section astatine nan long step, that measurement you tin customize your remainder timer each time.

Don't person an Apple Watch Ultra? You tin besides usage nan aforesaid Shortcut connected your iPhone's Action fastener if you person an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, aliases iPhone 16 Pro.

3. (Optional alternative) Assign your Shortcut to nan Action fastener connected iPhone

Open nan Settings app connected your iPhone and Select Action Button. Swipe until you spot Shortcut, past prime nan action section and pat connected your timer Shortcut.

Your cleanable workout partner

Now you person a built-in remainder timer fresh connected your Apple Watch aliases iPhone's Action button, deployable astatine a moment's announcement and customizable to suit you.

Not judge what long to pick? If you spell for 1 minute, you tin ever widen your remainder by simply hitting nan Shortcut again if you request much time.