Tally Counter Apple Watch tally counter: tap the screen or turn the Digital Crown
The Digital Crown works as well for push-ups as it does for any other rep count. Open Tally Counter on the watch, pick a counter and either tap the screen or turn the Digital Crown: each click forward adds one, each click back takes one off. Minus and reset sit in the bottom bar. You still build the counters on the iPhone — the watch app itself is free.
How counting on the wrist works
- Increment: tap anywhere on the big number, or turn the Digital Crown forward. The crown counts in whole clicks, so a small wobble adds nothing. Each count gives a short haptic click.
- Decrement: tap the minus button in the bottom bar, or turn the crown back. A standard counter stops at 0.
- Reset: the round-arrow button in the bottom bar asks Reset this counter? before it sets the count to 0.
- Switch counters: go back to the Counters list and tap another one. Each row shows its current value.
- What a count adds: one step of that counter. With a step size of 12 set on the iPhone, one tap on the watch adds 12.
The number changes on the watch right away. With the iPhone in range the count reaches it live; out of range, the watch holds the counts and the iPhone catches up once it's back, folding them into the same history. A tasbeeh counter wraps inside its cycle on the watch too, and shows the finished rounds under the number.
Three demos: reps, stock and laps
| Demo | Set on the iPhone | On the watch | Watch shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reps | Counter Push-ups, step size 1, goal 50 | Tap once per rep, 20 reps | 20, a bar 40% full and 20 / 50 |
| Manual inventory | Counter Cases, step size 12 | Tap once per case, 7 cases | 84 |
| Rows or laps | Counter Laps, step size 1, goal 40 | 38 turns of the crown, then 1 click back for a miscount | 37 and 37 / 40 |
The watch has no Goal reached! message: on a counter with a goal it shows the bar and the current / goal line.
Phone, volume buttons or watch: which one when
| Situation | Phone screen | Volume buttons | Apple Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone in a pocket or bag | No | Yes, as long as the counter screen stays open | Yes |
| Counting without looking | Only in tasbeeh mode, where the whole screen is the button | Yes | Yes, with the crown |
| Fixing a miscount | Decrease button | No: either button adds one | Minus button or one click back |
| Jump by +5, +10 or type an exact count | Yes, long-press the big button | No | No |
| Create counters, set step size or a goal | Yes | No | No |
Free vs Pro, and what the watch cannot do
- Free: the Apple Watch app, with no Pro check on the watch. The free version allows 3 counters on the iPhone (Watch Ad for +1 Counter adds one more until you close the app), and those are the counters you see on the wrist.
- Pro (weekly, monthly, yearly or a one-time Lifetime purchase): unlimited counters, the Home Screen widget, 8 more colours, and no ads on the iPhone. Ads are never shown on a counting screen.
- The watch cannot create, rename or edit counters, or change step size or goal.
- No complication and no watch face widget: open the app to count.
- No automatic counting: the watch does not detect reps, laps or steps. Every count is a tap or a crown click.
- No iCloud sync: the counters live on one iPhone and its paired Apple Watch.
The crown is the main advantage here. It is the closest thing to a mechanical clicker you already wear on your wrist, it keeps counting when the phone is in a bag across the room, and every count still lands in the iPhone's history by day.
Set it up
- Requirements: an iPhone with iOS 17.4 or later and a paired Apple Watch with watchOS 10 or later. The watch app installs with the iPhone app.
- On the iPhone, tap + on Counters > New Counter, name it, and in Details set the step size and, if you want a target, Set a goal. Tap Save.
- Open Tally Counter on the iPhone once so it sends your counters to the watch.
- Open Tally Counter on the watch. If it says Open Tally Counter on your iPhone to sync your counters., open the iPhone app and wait a moment.
- Tap a counter, then tap the screen or turn the crown to count.
Common mistakes
- Looking for a way to add a counter on the watch. Make it on the iPhone first.
- Turning the crown hard for one count: every whole click counts, so turn one click at a time.
- Creating a counter on the iPhone and not opening the iPhone app afterwards: the watch only gets the list when the iPhone app sends it.
Questions and answers
Can I use my Apple Watch as a clicker counter?
Yes. In Tally Counter on the watch, each tap on the screen or each click of the Digital Crown forward adds one count, and a click back takes one off.
Is there a tally counter complication for the watch face?
No. Tally Counter has no complication or watch face widget; you open the app on the watch to count.
Do I need Pro for the Apple Watch app?
No. The watch app is free and shows every counter on your iPhone. Pro only raises the iPhone's limit of 3 counters, adds the Home Screen widget and colours, and removes ads.
Does it work if my iPhone is not nearby?
Yes, for counters already on the watch. The counts show at once and the iPhone applies them when it is back in range. You cannot create new counters on the watch.
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