Can I use my Apple Watch without my iPhone, or with the app closed?

Yes. You can do a full StrongLifts workout on your Apple Watch without your iPhone near, and with the phone app closed. Your iPhone gets the workout when it is near again.

Before you start

Open StrongLifts on your iPhone one time. The iPhone sends your next workout to the Watch. The Watch keeps it, so you can start it later with the iPhone away.

After each workout, the Watch needs your iPhone near one time to get the next workout. You do not need to open the app on the iPhone for this.

With the iPhone away

You can start, log sets, rest and finish on the Watch. The Watch keeps each set. When your iPhone is near again, the Watch sends the sets in the correct order. Your iPhone then saves the workout to your history and to Apple Health. The Watch keeps the finished workout until your iPhone saves it, so you do not lose it.

With the phone app closed

The Watch works the same. Your iPhone can save the sets from the Watch with the app closed. When you open StrongLifts on your iPhone, your sets are there.

With the phone app open

When you start a workout on the Watch, your iPhone opens the same workout. After each set you log on the Watch, your iPhone shows the page of that exercise, Workout or Warmup.

When you start a workout on your iPhone, the StrongLifts workout opens on your Apple Watch. For this, StrongLifts must be on your Watch, and your Watch must be near your iPhone.

When you lower your wrist

The StrongLifts workout stays on your Watch screen during the workout, also when you lower your wrist. For this, you must allow StrongLifts access to Health workouts on your Watch. The Watch asks one time, when you start your first workout.

If StrongLifts closes on the Watch

StrongLifts saves each set on the Watch at once. If the app closes, or if you force quit it, open it again. Your sets are still there.