How to Export GPX from Apple Watch and iPhone Health

Apple Watch records GPS coordinates and health metrics for every outdoor workout — runs, rides, hikes, and more. The data lives in the iPhone Health app, but Apple doesn't offer a built-in GPX export. Getting your workout out as a GPX file requires a third-party app, and there are several good free options.

Once you have the GPX, you can drop it into Stamptivity to create a stats image or video overlay.

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Why Apple Doesn't Export GPX Directly

The Health app stores workout data in its own proprietary format. You can share workout summaries and export a full Health data archive (as XML), but there's no one-tap "Export as GPX" button built in. Third-party apps bridge this gap by reading from HealthKit and exporting standard GPS formats.

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Option 1: HealthFit (iOS, Free Tier)

HealthFit is one of the most popular Health export apps. It reads your workouts directly from Apple Health and exports them as GPX, FIT, or TCX.

1. Download HealthFit from the App Store
2. Open the app and grant access to your Health data
3. Tap the workout you want to export
4. Tap Export and choose GPX
5. Share the file to Files, AirDrop to your Mac, or open directly in another app

The free version exports recent workouts. Older workouts may require the paid version.

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Option 2: WorkOutDoors (iOS, Paid)

WorkOutDoors is a watch app that records workouts natively and supports direct GPX export. If you use it for recording, export is built in. It can also read existing Health workouts and export them.

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Option 3: Export via Apple Health XML (Free, Manual)

Apple lets you export your entire Health archive:

1. Open the Health app on iPhone
2. Tap your profile photo (top right)
3. Tap Export All Health Data
4. The export is a .zip file containing an export.xml with all your workout routes

The XML format is not standard GPX, but the route data is there. To convert it, use a tool like HealthExport or the open-source apple-health-to-gpx scripts on GitHub.

This approach is free but more technical.

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What Data Is Included in the Export?

Apple Watch records and exports:

• GPS coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) — for outdoor workouts
• Heart rate — from the optical sensor on the watch
• Distance — GPS-calculated
• Active calories
• Cadence — for runs (step cadence)

Power and cycling cadence are not recorded by Apple Watch natively (no power meter support).

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Using the GPX with Stamptivity

Once you have the .gpx file:

• Stats photo → Drop it into Stamptivity Stamp to create a shareable image with your distance, pace, HR, and route map
• Video overlay → Load it in Stamptivity Overlay alongside footage from your iPhone or action camera
• Compare with another activity → Drop it into Stamptivity Compare alongside a file from another device or workout

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Tips

• Outdoor workouts only — indoor treadmill runs and spin bike sessions have no GPS, so the map widget will be unavailable. Stats (distance, HR, time) still export.
• Apple Watch GPS accuracy is generally good for running, slightly less precise at speed (cycling). For cycling video overlays, a dedicated cycling computer gives a cleaner map trace.
• If you use Strava and sync Apple Watch workouts to it, you can alternatively export GPX from Strava — Strava processes the Apple Health data and exports it cleanly.