Apple Watch competition points explained

Apple Watch competition points come from your ring progress, not steps or distance. You can earn up to 600 points per day by closing Move, Exercise, and Stand rings, and you get extra points for going beyond your goals. The weekly winner is the person with the highest total.

• Max points per day: 600
• Source: Move calories, Exercise minutes, Stand hours
• Bonus: going beyond ring goals

Practical tip: if you are trailing, focus on closing all three rings first. One missed ring can cost more than a long workout gains back.

Points summary: Daily points are the sum of your Move%, Exercise%, and Stand% progress, capped at 600 points/day.

• Points come from ring % progress (not steps).
• Each ring contributes points.
• Extra progress beyond goals can add points until the cap.
• Weekly winner = highest total after 7 days.

Points formula (short): Close all three rings to reach the daily cap. Extra progress beyond your goals can add points until you hit 600 for the day.

Quick daily points examples

Move%	Exercise%	Stand%	Total points	Notes
100	100	100	300	All rings closed
120	80	100	300	Higher Move does not offset a low ring
180	80	100	360	Extra Move helps once all rings contribute
200	200	120	600	Daily cap applies

Worked example (daily points)

Day	Your progress %	Points earned	Notes
Mon	Move 120%, Exercise 100%, Stand 100%	320	Solid day, all rings closed
Tue	Move 180%, Exercise 80%, Stand 100%	360	More Move calories but lost points by missing Exercise
Wed	Move 200%, Exercise 200%, Stand 120%	600	Hit the daily cap; extra effort does not add more points

This shows why someone with higher Move calories can lose on points: missing one ring reduces the total more than extra Move helps.

How does it work?

Points are awarded daily from ring completion. Closing each ring increases points, and going beyond goals adds extra points until the daily cap.

Why are points capped?

The cap keeps the competition fair across different fitness levels. It rewards consistency without letting one huge day overwhelm the week.

Why points feel weird

• A huge Move day cannot make up for a missed ring.
• Stand hours can be the deciding factor if everything else is close.
• Goal changes midweek can swing daily point potential.

Do this if you want to win

• Close all three rings first.
• Do not neglect Stand hours.
• Avoid changing goals midweek unless you understand the effect.
• Spread effort across days; the cap makes huge days less valuable.
• Use workouts to close rings, not as the scoring unit.

Common confusion

People think competitions reward the longest workout. In reality, balanced ring closures score higher than a single spike.

How many points can you get in a week?

The max is 600 points per day. Over 7 days, that is 4200 points.

Do steps count for competition points?

Not directly. Steps can help Move calories, but points are based on ring percentage progress.

Do manually added workouts count?

Manual entries can affect points if they update your ring progress. For details, see how to add a workout to Apple Fitness.

FAQ

Do points reset at midnight?

Yes. Each day is scored separately, then totals add up for the week.

Does changing my goals change points?

Yes. Adjusting ring goals changes how many points you can earn for the rest of the week.

Are workouts worth more points than daily activity?

Workouts help because they close rings faster, but points still come from the rings themselves.

Why this matters

Understanding points helps people build a routine that lasts beyond a single week. Consistent ring closures are easier to repeat, which makes competition weeks feel motivating instead of draining. When the scoring feels predictable, it is easier to keep the habit going with a group.

Related guides

• Apple Watch competition basics
• Rules that define Apple Watch competitions
• Activity rings explained
• How to add a workout in Apple Fitness
• Apple Fitness vs Fitness+ explained

Not affiliated with Apple.