Apple Watch: 15 Tips Every Owner Needs to Know

[MacRumors]

Apple Watch is now eleven generations in, and packed with useful features that are easy to miss at first glance. To help you get more out of your new device, we've rounded up 15 practical tips you might not have discovered yet, including a few that long-time users often overlook.

Bounce Between Two Apps

On your Apple Watch, double-press the Digital Crown to see a deck of all currently open apps, and turn it to scroll through them. From this view, you can jump back to the last app you were using. Simply tap on an app screen to switch to it, or swipe left on its card and tap the red X button to quit it.

Switch App Views

If the app grid feels messy, switch to List View. Open the Watch app on iPhone, tap App View, and choose List View. From then on, pressing the Digital Crown will show your apps in a simple, scrollable list.

Rearrange Apps

You can rearrange your apps so that the ones you use most are closer to hand. Simply press and hold on any app in the grid view, then drag it where you want. Alternatively, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to App View ➝ Arrangement, and move things around there instead.

Ping Your iPhone

If you've misplaced your iPhone but you're sure it's nearby, open Control Center with a press of the Side button, then tap the phone icon to make it ping. Press and hold that icon and the iPhone's camera flash will blink too, which can help if it's hidden under something.

Skip the Countdown

If you're eager to start a workout, the three-second countdown before it starts can be skipped. Just tap the screen when the countdown begins and your workout will start immediately. If you find yourself doing this regularly, consider turning on Precision Start in Settings ➝ Workout.

Customize Vibration Strength

If you keep missing notifications, go to Settings ➝ Sounds & Haptics ➝ and change from Default to Prominent. This adds an extra tap pattern before alerts so they're harder to ignore.

Perform Precision Timing

The Chronograph Pro watch face transforms into an actual chronograph. Tap the outer edge surrounding the main 12-hour dial on this watch face to record time on scales of 60, 30, 6, or 3 seconds. Alternatively, select the tachymeter timescale to measure speed based on time travel over a fixed distance.

Jump to the Top

If you've scrolled way down in an app and want to jump back to the top, just tap the time in the top corner of the screen. It works in most apps and saves a lot of scrolling.

Remove Apps

Clearing out apps you don't use on your Apple Watch is easy. In the List or Grid View, press and hold on the screen until the apps jiggle, then tap the small x in the corner of the app icon to delete it. This works for most system apps and all third-party apps.

Customize Control Center

By default, Control Center (accessed via the Side button) gives you quick access to things like Wi-Fi, battery, and Do Not Disturb. But it's worth seeing what else you can add to it that you'd like quick access to. Tap the Edit button at the bottom, then tap the + icon in the top-left corner of the screen. System options such as New Note and Lights are particularly handy, and you might see some third-party options listed too, depending on your installed apps.

Speak the Time Out Loud

If you're using the Mickey or Minnie watch face, tap on the character and they'll speak the time out loud. Just make sure your sound is turned on. In fact, you can also have Siri read the time on any watch face by tapping and holding with two fingers on the display. Again though, sound needs to be enabled.

Customize Smart Replies

Smart Replies are handy when you want to reply with just a few words. In the Watch app on iPhone, go to Messages and tap Default Replies to customise what shows up. Then when a message comes in, simply swipe down to pick one of your preset replies.

Pause Activity Rings

Feeling unwell but hoping to keep your streak intact? In the Activity app, select your rings to access the option to suspend them for the day, or set a pause that lasts until a chosen date up to 90 days ahead.

Create a Note

In the new Notes app in watchOS 26, you can't modify existing notes on Apple Watch, but you can create a new one by tapping the compose control in the bottom-right corner and speaking your text. Because Notes sy... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: Apple Watch: 15 Tips Every Owner Needs to Know

 

[Justin Cymbal]

“Hey Siri” “open workouts app” is the best one tho…..

Use that shortcut / trick all the time - especially when I’m carrying something with my other hand

 

[JosephAW]

Wished that the custom ringtones and texts tones configured on the iPhone would carryover to the watch, all the sounds are generic so it’s completely useless. Or allow me to play notification sounds on both the watch and the iPhone, nope. 🙄

 

[WilliApple]

If you're using the Mickey or Minnie watch face, tap on the character and they'll speak the time out loud.

I never knew that they could do this, its even the characters voice not just Siri!
However I think the reason I never knew this was because I have my watch always in silent mode so for this to work, you got to not have it on silent mode.

 

[HouseLannister]

Well that was actually helpful. I've been using an Apple Watch since the Zero and never thought to delete apps. Goodbye, Cycle Tracking!

 

[Nekronos]

Skip the Countdown

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If you're eager to start a workout, the three-second countdown before it starts can be skipped. Just tap the screen when the countdown begins and your workout will start immediately. If you find yourself doing this regularly, consider turning on Precision Start in Settings ➝ Workout.

this needs to be updated to note that precision start is limited to ultra models only

 

[DunningKruller]

You point out that wrist flick isn't available on all models, but neglect to point out that that's also true for Workouts Precision Starts. I have a Series 8 and it's not an option.

 

[datsdatcharlie]

wish they added the notes app on iOS 18 rip

 

[CarAnalogy]

Just bring back the Dock. Every version of watchOS since 9 has been a downgrade.

 

[ghostface147]

Maybe because I waked and baked, but I read this as Apple Watch 15.

 

[dbc34]

When they use the Ultra as the model screen for all these things it makes me really want to buy an Ultra. But then when I put it on my wrist, I don’t. I like the look of it and when other people wear it, but I don’t want it for myself.

 

[mikeack]

“Hey Siri” “open workouts app” is the best one tho…..

Use that shortcut / trick all the time - especially when I’m carrying something with my other hand

I tend to go as far as saying things like, "Hey Siri, start an outdoor hike." Workouts app opens and the countdown begins.

 

[B4U]

Wish we have a tip on how to fix the bug of longest move streak breaking with no reason!

 

[pdaholic]

When they use the Ultra as the model screen for all these things it makes me really want to buy an Ultra. But then when I put it on my wrist, I don’t. I like the look of it and when other people wear it, but I don’t want it for myself.

I felt the same, but once I finally bought one, I can’t go back to a regular Apple Watch. The 3-4 days of battery is worth it!

 

[BeerDrinkerDan]

this needs to be updated to note that precision start is limited to ultra models only

I spent a few minutes searching for this (S8) before scrolling the comments. Thank you!

-bdd

 

[AppleWes]

I felt the same, but once I finally bought one, I can’t go back to a regular Apple Watch. The 3-4 days of battery is worth it!

Does the weight bother you at all long term wearing? Hard to tell from few seconds of quick try on inside Apple Store.

Back on topic these are helpful tips! I feel like so many little things I forget the Watch can do and always end up pulling phone out.

 

[satchmo]

When they use the Ultra as the model screen for all these things it makes me really want to buy an Ultra. But then when I put it on my wrist, I don’t. I like the look of it and when other people wear it, but I don’t want it for myself.

For me it's the size relative to my wrist.

Not sure why Apple won't make a 45mm model for possibly 50% of the population with smaller wrists.

 

[JeziLondon]

This is great. Please do more watch stuff particularly rumours on upcoming devices 🤗

 

[pdaholic]

Does the weight bother you at all long term wearing? Hard to tell from few seconds of quick try on inside Apple Store.

Back on topic these are helpful tips! I feel like so many little things I forget the Watch can do and always end up pulling phone out.

I don’t even think about the weight anymore. If I take it off for a day, I realize the weight for a few seconds when I put it back on, then I forget about it. I bought one and returned it because it jiggled while I was running. Bought a second and added a magnetic band which I can tighten perfectly with no jiggle. I’d recommend you get the natural titanium, my first was the black titanium which very quickly started showing minor scratches. Natural titanium hides scratches well. Go for it!

 

[I7guy]

Nice set of tips. ✅ Some I knew some I didn’t.

 

[CheesePuff]

You can speak the time out loud on any watch face, just two finger press and hold on the display when its awake.

 

[skitidetdu]

"Alternatively, select the tachymeter timescale to measure speed based on time travel over a fixed distance."

You can do time traveling with the watch? I better get me one soon.

 

[axantas]

...sometimes these "xx Things you need to know about..." are kind of "...oh no, not again".

Read them (at least here) anyway or just skim it - it is free. It will make you discover that one function you did not understand or discover yet that just became the main app/function for you, because now, you know about and understand it.

Tank you MacRumors

 

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

When they use the Ultra as the model screen for all these things it makes me really want to buy an Ultra. But then when I put it on my wrist, I don’t. I like the look of it and when other people wear it, but I don’t want it for myself.

I love the look of it, even on my own wrist. I just don't love that price. 🙁

 

[Speed38]

Mute and Dismiss Alerts​

Article says it works on Ultra 2 and above. It works on my original model Ultra running the current version of WatchOS to which I updated earlier this week.