Open Water Swim workouts vanish from both iPhone and Apple Watch

Question

Open Water Swim workouts vanish from both iPhone and Apple Watch

Hi all,

Hoping someone has run into this or knows a fix, because nothing standard has worked so far.

Setup: Apple Watch Series 9 + iPhone 16 Pro, both fully updated.

The bug:

I create a custom workout for Open Water Swim in the Fitness/Workout app on my iPhone.
It never appears on the Watch — not in the custom workouts list, nothing.
I go back to the iPhone, close the app, reopen it — the workout I just created is now gone from the iPhone too.

I then tried the reverse:

Created a custom workout directly on the Watch instead.
It does not show up on the iPhone at all.
Shortly after, when I open the Workout app on the Watch and try to start it from the custom list, it has disappeared from the Watch as well.

So either direction, the custom workout is created, briefly exists, and then vanishes from both devices without me deleting anything.

What I've already tried:

Restarted both iPhone and Watch (multiple times)
Confirmed both devices are on the latest available software version
Confirmed Bluetooth is on and the Watch shows as connected in the Watch app

None of this made any difference — the behavior is 100% consistent and repeatable.

What I'm trying to find out:

Is this a known bug with this iOS/watchOS combo?
Is it possibly server-side (iCloud/Health sync), not local?
Anyone found a fix beyond "unpair and re-pair the Watch"?

Any input appreciated — especially if you've hit the exact same thing with custom swim workouts specifically. Thanks!

iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Aug 13, 2026 1:26 AM

Reply

Answer 1

WheelieNick

Level 9

52,849 points

Aug 13, 2026 3:24 AM in response to giacomofromiseo

Try this

Check Supported Types: Test creating a custom workout for a standard profile like Pool Swim, Running, or Outdoor Walk. If those sync and persist normally, your software is working as designed and rejecting Open Water Swim by rule.

Use Standard Open Water Mode: Run a standard, non-custom Open Water Swim session on your Apple Watch Series 9.

iCloud Health Toggle Refresh: If even standard workouts or other custom types fail to sync, reset the cloud bridge via Apple Support iCloud Guide by toggling Health sync off in your iCloud settings, rebooting both devices, and turning it back on.

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Answer 2

Aug 15, 2026 9:33 AM in response to WheelieNick

I tried creating custom workouts for running, pool swimming, and hiking, and they stayed saved. After several attempts for open water swimming, I noticed that the custom workouts disappeared and were transferred to pool swimming mode.

For workouts without customization for open water swimming, they worked and synced everything as soon as I finished the workout (the only problem is that they missed the distance measurement by several hundred meters, which isn't ideal).

I don't know what else to do, and I don't think I have any options other than switching to a different smartwatch to track my open-water workouts. Others who swim with me have other smartwatch brands, and they're very accurate and allow for many customization options. I don't know what to do...

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