Apple Watch users have long asked for the ability to pause their activity rings without losing their hard-won streak, and Apple finally delivered.

The company announced Monday at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) that Watch users who need rest or recovery because of illness or injury will be able to pause their activity rings for a day, week, month, or more.

SEE ALSO:Everything announced at WWDC 2024, from iOS 18 to Apple Intelligence

Prior to this feature, there was no simple way for users to opt-out of activity goal without manually decreasing it, or losing their streak if they stopped activity altogether. Apple rewards activity streaks with digital notifications and badges.

Mashable Top StoriesStay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletterBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Thanks for signing up!

The new feature is part of watchOS 11, which is expected to launch later this year.

---

Related Stories

---

• Apple announces AI-powered iPhone call recordings at WWDC 2024
• iPadOS 18 announced at WWDC 2024: 7 new features, including Apple Intelligence
• You will finally be able to schedule texts on iOS 18
• Apple's Cycle Tracking app to add gestational age
• Apple officially bringing ChatGPT to Siri, iOS 18, iPad OS, and macOS Sequoia

The update also includes the new Vitals app, which will notify users when two or more key health metrics, including heart and respiratory rate, indicate they're unwell or under physiological stress. Presumably, that insight will help users decide on whether to pause their rings.

TopicsApple WatchWWDC