Strava Launches Apple Watch App With GPS Support For Series 2 Owners - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Strava Launches Apple Watch App With GPS Support For Series 2 Owners

by

Popular running app Strava has been updated with support for the Apple Watch Series 2, enabling runners to use Strava on their wrist and leave their iPhone at home.

The new support in version 5.13.0 makes full use of the built-in GPS found in the second-generation Apple Watch, meaning users of the app no longer have to be tethered to iOS to track their workouts. Strava Head of Integration Mateo Ortega said the company saw this as just a "first step" in its plans for supporting the Apple Watch 2.

apple watch 980x420

Research and athlete feedback often drives new Strava features and integrations. We're excited to add to our growing list of compatible devices, and see this as the first step in providing our athletes an excellent Strava experience on the Apple Watch Series 2. Our athletes can look forward to continued updates as we strive to provide the best Watch experience possible.

Users can expect Strava to keep track of a series of metrics which are displayed on their wrist, including heart rate, time, distance, pace, and running speed.

Strava joins a small number of apps that support GPS functionality on the Apple Watch Series 2, which includes the likes of Runkeeper and Nike+ Run Club. Strava users simply need to update their iOS app for the changes to take effect.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Tag: Strava
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium

New Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 Features Revealed

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:54 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today further outlined what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 set to be unveiled on September 9. While it was initially rumored that Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch this year, Gurman reiterated that he does not expect the Series 12 or Ultra 4 to have any major design changes compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 models. ...
Read Full Article • 155 comments
apple watch series 12

Apple Watch Series 12: Everything to Expect Next Month

Monday August 24, 2026 8:55 am PDT by
The Apple Watch Series 12 is almost certain to be introduced at Apple's annual iPhone event next month, and the rumors point to another quieter upgrade year for the device. Apple has not altered the Apple Watch's design since the Series 10 arrived in 2024, and it is not expected to change this year either, making 2026 the third year of the current case. This isn't unusual since every Apple...
Read Full Article • 40 comments
apple watch heart health ad

'I Wouldn't Be Talking to You': Apple Shares Apple Watch Survival Story

Wednesday September 2, 2026 10:25 am PDT by
Apple today shared a short video featuring an Apple Watch user named Amanda who says her device saved her life. In 2024, Amanda began receiving alerts about an abnormal heart rate. Her watch alerted her about changes to her resting heart rate and her overnight vitals, prompting her to visit her doctor. She ended up being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive cancer. After...
Read Full Article • 97 comments

Top Rated Comments

D
devfarce
124 months ago
Yes! Now I can 'consider' the Apple Watch. I still find my Garmin watch far more useful for physical activities.
I ran with the app yesterday and I'd say don't ditch your Garmin yet. First of all, the data provided by strava is very basic. Pace information is all over the place. People love to blame this on "GPS" in the watch but it's 100% algorithm in the app. The Apple Watch has the power to provide amazingly accurate pace based on combined stride and GPS but nobody has done the work or research to properly implement including Apple, strava, runkeeper, etc. Distance is only shown as x.x and not down to 100ths x.xx as in many other watches. No mileage alerts, no customizable workouts or display info. I have a TomTom runner and new strava has nothing on it, so I've been running with two watches for a while now and while I feel like a nerd, I consider myself to be testing the system for my own confidence.

I love strava and the social network they've created but as for now, the Apple watch cannot replace a Garmin for a serious runner. In time I believe it will be the best option but that is many months out. It's sad to see that it has taken so long for any real progress on GPS apps in these devices.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
DhobiWanKenobi
124 months ago
For me, this is the app I've been waiting for to make the watch purchase worthwhile. I better get deciding which model I want...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fall Under Cerulean Kites Avatar
Fall Under Cerulean Kites
124 months ago
I’ve been looking forward to trying this app for some time now. The Nike App has disapointed me several times by losing my runs / gps tracks about 30% of the time. The Nike app has definitely gotten better in this respect, however Nike Run Club still locks up your data and does not allow for any exporting to other apps and services. I’ve used RunGap for exporting from Nike Run Club, but RunGap has discontinued support for this due to Nike’s continued blocking of data access methods. This makes Nike a complete non-starter for me.

I have hopes that the Apple Watch 2 platform is actually reliable and accurate, and that any defficiencies in the new Strava AW2 app can be addressed. It would be nice to have a true replacement for my Garmin for easy training days.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
beanbaguk Avatar
beanbaguk
124 months ago
For me, this is the app I've been waiting for to make the watch purchase worthwhile. I better get deciding which model I want...
Many of you know I think the Apple Watch is a waste of time but if this app is as good as they say it is, it could be a turning point.

Mind. They still have to sort out the ugliness, battery, and price.

Still....getting there albeit very slowly...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
6
66gonzo
124 months ago
I ran with the app yesterday and I'd say don't ditch your Garmin yet. First of all, the data provided by strava is very basic. Pace information is all over the place. People love to blame this on "GPS" in the watch but it's 100% algorithm in the app. The Apple Watch has the power to provide amazingly accurate pace based on combined stride and GPS but nobody has done the work or research to properly implement including Apple, strava, runkeeper, etc. Distance is only shown as x.x and not down to 100ths x.xx as in many other watches. No mileage alerts, no customizable workouts or display info. I have a TomTom runner and new strava has nothing on it, so I've been running with two watches for a while now and while I feel like a nerd, I consider myself to be testing the system for my own confidence.

I love strava and the social network they've created but as for now, the Apple watch cannot replace a Garmin for a serious runner. In time I believe it will be the best option but that is many months out. It's sad to see that it has taken so long for any real progress on GPS apps in these devices.
Spot on! The watch app was actually worse than the NRC Nike app.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannymcg Avatar
dannymcg
124 months ago
I'd like them to fix the bug that keeps duplicating all activities in the activity app. It's utterly ridiculous.
[doublepost=1487762040][/doublepost]
Have they solved the duplicate entry issues with the health app yet? I use Strava on iPhone but switched off the health app integration for that reason.
Almost certainly not. It's infuriating.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments