Apple has addressed a major usability complaint in watchOS 26.4 with a simple but effective fix for the Workout app. The update restores the ability to start workouts with a single tap on the workout icon, resolving frustration that users experienced with the redesigned interface.

Prior to this update, the Workout app required multiple interactions to begin tracking exercise. Users had to wait for the full workout layout to load, then tap a separate play button in the bottom center. This design departed from the decade-long muscle memory of simply tapping workout icons to get started.

The fix brings back intuitive functionality while maintaining the new visual design. Now tapping the workout icon or the play button both initiate the same tracking process. This change addresses the core complaint that the app felt slower and required more steps than before.