Everything You Can Do With the Double Tap Gesture on Apple Watch

[theaudiobully87]

It's lame that you have to raise your wrist in order for it to work. I'd love to just pause a song whilst walking with my hands in my pocket for example. Oh well.

 

[creepyTowel]

Anybody know if you can use the gesture to advance to the next slide in a Keynote presentation? I'd find that really useful.

 

[Ghost31]

Why do people keep acting like this is new? This has been an accessibility feature for a long while.

Is…is this a real comment? In the midst of the YouTube videos and comments and threads dedicated JUST to calling out the fact that this existed in accessibility settings for years, people still comment this? Really?

 

[jonnysods]

This seems a little more advanced than the accessibility feature for older devices. This feature and the offline siri are pretty compelling to me, but I want to squeeze more out of my AW6 and see what the Ultra 3 brings.

 

[firewire9000]

It’s surprisingly useful! Today I was cleaning the house wearing gloves that were wet and I was easily changing songs and answering notifications. This is one of those features that isn’t a life changing but for the everyday day use, it makes the Watch more practical.

 

[indychris]

Anybody know if you can use the gesture to advance to the next slide in a Keynote presentation? I'd find that really useful.

Okay, as a teacher, that is an idea that would actually get me doing something other than laughing at the release of the AW9. If there were a way to tap twice to forward and three times to go backward, I would actually be thrilled. I don't like that it would require a raised hand to do it, though. It is too obvious when you're speaking in front of others.

 

[usmaak]

Would be nice if we could use Double Tap to turn the watch screen on.

I agree with this. I was hoping it would be the case, but alas, it's not.

 

[ac360]

My experience is that when it comes to music playback, double tap currently only works with Apple Music. When I tried with YouTube Music, nothing happened.

Also, while working out, the default screen is Workout. Will have to swipe left to playing now in order to double tap and play/pause music (or skip).

 

[00JK]

I have my notifications set to "Tap To Show Full Notification". Is double tap supposed to work to view messages?? Doesn't seem to work for me on AWU2

 

[onenorth]

My experience is that when it comes to music playback, double tap currently only works with Apple Music. When I tried with YouTube Music, nothing happened.

Also, while working out, the default screen is Workout. Will have to swipe left to playing now in order to double tap and play/pause music (or skip).

It seems to work with YouTube (video) and SiriusXM and other apps that cause Now Playing to show on the watch.

I have my notifications set to "Tap To Show Full Notification". Is double tap supposed to work to view messages?? Doesn't seem to work for me on AWU2

Double tap does not seem to open the messages but once you tap to open the message then double tap works within the full message display.

 

[SamVilde]

Except that if your sleep alarm goes off while in sleep focus, it automatically turns off sleep focus. Making this possible. 😜

Not true at my house. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Rossmon]

Can anyone verify if the Watch detects the gesture if you use your middle finger to tap against your thumb instead of the index finger? To me that is more natural and less prone to repetitive stress.

Try it yourself. The base of the middle finger is farther from the thumb, thus feels more natural and less awkward, and the middle finger is stronger.

I am guessing the vibration should feel the same to the Watch, but I wish someone could verify.

Edit: Some users below have verified that it works with the middle finger. Thanks.

Worked for me! However, I find its easier with the pointer.

 

[Shoju]

Not true at my house. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I struggled the first morning as well but
it finally worked for me today. May need a little training in order to be able to do this while semi-conscious.. and remember to raise your wrist to activate the display in order for it to work.