If you’re a running nerd, then there’s nothing worse than having to make do with the wrong metrics on your wrist. So when I first reviewed the Galaxy Watch Active, I was irked to find that Samsung seemed to limit metrics to average pace, time and heart rate. I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me, mid-run, heart-rate is about as useful a metric as how much I’m blinking.
But it turns out that I was mistaken. You can modify these data fields, it’s just hidden away in a place where I – and presumably you, if you’re reading this – never thought of looking. The S Health app – the one on the tiny watch screen, not on your phone. So here’s how to customise the Galaxy Watch Active’s workout screen.
How to customise the Galaxy Watch Active’s workout screens
1. Scroll through your screens until you come to your apps widget. Tap the one with the silhouette of the figure working out – that’s Samsung Health.
2. Scroll down until you get to “Record your workout”.
3. Press “Work out”.
4. You’re now presented with all the exercises the watch has, and each one of these can be customised with up to three metrics to track per screen for a total of nine. We’re going to modify running here, so press the three dots to the right of the exercise.
5. Scroll down to “Workout screen.”
6. Scroll down again and you’ll see submenus for Screen 1, Screen 2 and Screen 3. Tap one to change it.
7. Screens can have up to three fields on them, and each one of these can be changed by tapping it and then pressing the left/right arrows to pick a new one.
Press the ‘back’ button when you’re done fiddling and that’s it – the settings are changed. The good news is that you don’t have to go through this ludicrous song and dance every time you want to go for a run – once the settings are saved, they seem to be stored permanently, even if you use the quick start option like a normal person.
No, I don’t know why Samsung has hidden this fairly basic setting away in such a stupid place. Despite this, though, the Galaxy Watch Active and Active 2 are both excellent smartwatches, striking the right balance between dressy and sporty. Now that you know how to change these settings, there’s no reason not to have one on your wrist – silicone allergies notwithstanding.
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