Once you know how to set up Apple Fitness Plus, you can start sweating with this on-demand exercise program.
There are a few things you would like to know before you sign up for Apple’s training service, which costs $ 9.99 a month or $ 79.99 a year. First, a free trial of Apple Fitness Plus with the purchase of a new Apple Watch allows you to try the subscription-based service for three months before your App Store account is charged.
In fact, you will need own an Apple Watch before using the Apple Fitness Plus. If you are an old user or just purchased one while on vacation, you are in luck. If you’re looking forward to using Apple Fitness Plus, but don’t have compatible hardware, check out the best Apple Watch deals now for discounts on Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE and more.
And because Apple Fitness Plus is a video-based program, you’ll want a screen to watch classes. An iPhone is sufficient, but you can keep up better if you use an iPad or Apple TV.
Finally, additional equipment may be required. At the very least, one of the best yoga mats can be useful for ground exercises. If you have one of the best treadmills or stationary bikes, you can also enjoy more classes.
OK, ready to set up Apple Fitness Plus? See how.
How to download Apple Fitness Plus
There are some prerequisites for setting up Apple Fitness Plus. You will need to update your iPhone / iPad and Apple Watch to the latest iOS and watchOS, respectively. Your iPhone / iPad must be running iOS 14 (iOS 14.3, to be exact), while your Apple Watch must have the latest version of watchOS 7, or at least watchOS 7.2.
As long as you have an Apple Watch and meet the software requirements, Apple Fitness Plus should automatically appear in the Fitness app pre-installed on your iPhone. If you’re using an iPad, download the Fitness app from the App Store.
You can also download the Fitness app on your Apple TV if you plan to train on a larger screen. The new Apple TVs come with the Fitness app pre-installed, but if you’ve had yours for a while, you’ll probably need to download it from the Apple TV App Store.
How to set up Apple Fitness Plus
Now that you know how to download Apple Fitness Plus, here’s how to set up Apple Fitness Plus. We’ll show you the steps on an iPhone, although the same steps apply to the iPad.
1. Open your fitness app. As an Apple Watch user, the Fitness app should be launched in a tab titled “Summary”, where you can see the progress of your rings and your recent workouts. Select the “Fitness +” tab on the bottom menu of the screen.
2. Select “Continue” on the Welcome to Apple Fitness Plus page. This welcome provides a brief overview of the service, as well as a disclaimer on data usage. You can review how your data is managed, if you wish.
3. Start your free trial. If you purchased a new Apple Watch in the last three months, you get a three-month subscription to Apple Fitness Plus for free. If you have your Apple Watch for longer, you will receive a free month. Either way, you will be asked to confirm your Apple ID. You will also be notified of the trial’s expiration date or the date you will be charged for your monthly or annual subscription.
4. Welcome to Apple Fitness Plus. From here, you can start exploring classes, instructors and more. Watch the introduction video for help navigating the app and getting started with exercises.
5. Complete the ‘Exercises to start’ program. This step is optional, but recommended. Even if you train regularly, this 10-minute exercise series will give you a good sense of what to expect from Fitness Plus class styles. Since you are taking real classes, there are few introductions, so these lessons for beginners are useful.
Now you know how to download Apple Fitness Plus and configure Apple Fitness Plus. For more fitness content, check out our guides to the best home gym equipment and the best training apps now. Our best 10-minute sit-up and weightlifting guide is a great resource for beginners, too.