Apple has launched a new limited-edition “Global Close Your Rings Day” virtual award to celebrate 10 years of the Apple Watch activity rings.
It’s been ten years since the Apple Watch’s debut, and Apple is celebrating the activity rings with a new fitness challenge requiring folks to close their rings on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Completing this challenge will earn you a special limited-edition award dubbed “Global Close Your Rings Day” in the Activity app.
You’ll also earn an animated badge for the Messages app along with ten animated stickers to liven up your chats in the Messages app, use on your FaceTime calls, apply on images as stickers and more. You can view all your activity rings
10 years of the Apple Watch’s activity rings
Like with other virtual medals you get by completing Apple’s fitness challenges, the latest virtual award has no real purpose except for bragging rights. If you complete this challenge, you’ll be able to pick up a special physical pin inspired by the award at any Apple retail store worldwide. The pin is available while supplies last.
The first Apple Watch went on sale in the United States on April 24, 2015, and the activity rings feature was part of the initial set of features. The device was soon refocused around health and fitness, and the activity rings have been one of its key features from the beginning.
“Apple Watch has changed the way people think about, monitor and engage with their fitness and health,” Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, was quoted in today’s press release. “A decade ago, we introduced Activity rings—and since then, Apple Watch has grown to offer an extensive set of features designed to empower every user,” he continued.
“People write to us almost every day sharing how Apple Watch has made a difference in their life, from motivating them to move more throughout the day, to changing the trajectory of their health.”
Activity rings are a key Apple Watch feature
One thing hasn’t changed since the original Apple Watch: There are still three color-coded activity rings in the Activity app for your move, exercise and stand daily goals. You can customize the activity rings to match your fitness level, then close them by moving to burn active calories, performing brisk activity and standing up.
watchOS uses machine learning to keep you motivated to close your activity rings. You can also participate in fitnes challenges that Apple regularly issues to Apple Watch owners, or participate in Apple Watch competitions with friends. watchOS 11 brought two improvements for your activity rings. First, you can now customize your move, exercise and stand goals by the day of the week. And second, you can finally pause the activity rings without losing your award streak.