How to unlock Apple’s new dynamic Readiness Score on your Apple Watch

The Apple Watch finally has a dynamic Readiness Score. Based on a scale from zero to ten, the score takes into account your recent sleep quality, physical activity, and vital trends.

Unlocking your dynamic Readiness Score on Apple Watch is fairly straightforward, though you will need to wear the device for seven nights to see your first one.

Apple's Readiness Score is just one of the cool, new features found in the best Apple Watch models in 2026. Others include support for a vastly improved AI-powered Siri, real-time dynamic step count data, an impressively comprehensive at-home wellness assessment, and Live Rewind, an AI tool that transcribes live audio around you.

Of course, I've already covered all of the above at length; here's how to unlock Apple's new dynamic Readiness Score on your Apple Watch in four easy steps.

How to unlock the Readiness Score on your Apple Watch

Make sure you have a compatible Apple Watch model
Enter your height, weight, and age in the Apple Fitness app
Wear your Apple Watch to bed for seven consecutive nights; ensure you get at least four hours of sleep per night
After seven nights logged, open the Readiness app on your Apple Watch to see your dynamic score

Read on to see full illustrated instructions for each step.

1. Make sure you have a compatible Apple Watch model

Close-up of the Apple Watch 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 on a user's wrist

Before we dive into the Readiness Score setup process, first make sure you have a compatible Apple Watch model. Unfortunately, only those with Apple's latest S11 chip have access to the feature for now. That list includes only the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, though other models may be added down the road.

2. Enter your height, weight, and age in the Apple Fitness app

Screenshot from the health details section of the Apple Fitness app

Next, open the Fitness app on your companion iPhone, tap "Summary," and then tap the icon in the top-right corner of the screen; it should either be a small photo of you or your initials. Next, scroll down and tap "Health Details," and enter your age, weight, and height.

You'll also want to ensure that you have daily activity, vitals, and sleep tracking turned on (they should be on by default). Double-check by opening each app on your Apple Watch; if tracking is on, you'll see recent data. If it's not, you'll be prompted to turn it on.

3. Wear your Apple Watch to bed for seven consecutive nights

Close-up of the Apple Watch 12 on a user's wrist with a recent sleep report shown on the screen

With all your health details entered, the only thing you'll need to do to generate your first Readiness Score is wear your Apple Watch for seven consecutive nights, ensuring you get at least four hours of sleep per night. You'll also want to wear it during the day to ensure accurate activity data.

4. Open the Readiness app on your Apple Watch to see your dynamic score

Close-up of the Apple Watch Series 12 on a user's wrist at the Cupertino launch event on September 10, 2026

After seven nights, your first Readiness Score should be, well, ready! To view it, open the new Readiness app on your Apple Watch. It's a blue circle with a pink and green scale in it (shown in the bottom left of the image above).

Close-up of the Apple Watch 12 home screen; the daily Readiness Score as one of several widgets shown — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Readiness Scores break down into four categories: "Recover" (0-1), "Pace Yourself" (2-4), "Ready" (5-7), and "Go for it" (8-10).

Keep in mind, after your initial Readiness Score is generated, it will dynamically update throughout the day as you go about your business. Workouts, movement, naps, and heart rate can all have an impact on your real-time score.

And for easy viewing, there's even a Readiness Score widget you can add to your watch's home screen, right alongside the new Siri AI and dynamic step count widgets.