Pixel Watch Step-by-step Workouts: How Google's Feature Works

Once a workout starts, each segment gets its own view showing the current exercise, your target metrics and a preview of the next move. If a weight is too heavy or you want to change reps, you can edit both during the session from either the phone or the watch.

Google has also added automatic progression, with visual timers and audio cues signalling when a set or rest period ends. A swipe left during a workout switches audio cues or auto-progression on or off for those who prefer to set their own pace. Structured runs started on the phone will still launch on the watch automatically.

Three ways to build a workout

You can choose a routine from a Coach-created plan, ask the Google Health Coach to build a custom workout on the spot, or assemble your own multi-exercise routine from more than 1,000 predefined exercises in the Google Health app.

The paywall question

Any experience based on the Google Health Coach requires a Google Health Premium subscription, sold separately, plus the Google Health app and an internet connection. That puts the quickest option, having an AI coach assemble a session in seconds, behind a paywall.

Google's post does not attach the same requirement to building a routine from the exercise library, so people without a subscription should still be able to create and follow custom workouts by hand.