How to Use the Flashlight on Your Apple Watch

[MacRumors]

watchOS 4 brought several new features to the Apple Watch, including a new flashlight function that lights up the face of the Apple Watch so you can have an extra light when you're digging around in a bag, trying to open a door in the dark, or wherever else you might require a little bit of light.

It doesn't put off as much light as an iPhone screen, but it's handy in a pinch, especially since it's a hands-free light source.

Apple has also designed the flashlight to be a safety feature for runners and bicycle riders. At night, you can turn it on and have it flash, making other people out on the road aware of your presence.

Accessing the Flashlight

1. While wearing the Apple Watch, raise your wrist up to illuminate the screen.
2. Swipe up from the bottom to bring up the Control Center.
3. Tap on the icon that looks like a miniature flashlight.
4. Your Apple Watch display will now light up at maximum brightness.
5. Close the flashlight by swiping down to dismiss it or by pressing the Digital Crown.

Changing Flashlight Modes

There are three flashlight modes in total - pure white, flashing white, and red. Changing between them is simple:

1. With the flashlight active on the initial bright white display, swipe to the left.
2. This switches the flashlight to the second display mode, which is a flashing black and white.
3. Swipe to the left a second time to access the red light.
4. Swipe right again to cycle through modes.
5. Close the flashlight by swiping down to dismiss it or by pressing the Digital Crown.

Article Link: How to Use the Flashlight on Your Apple Watch

 

[snebes]

Why? Just why?

 

[Bystander]

Thanks! Kinda illuminating I guess.

 

[geoffm33]

Why? Just why?

Apple has also designed the flashlight to be a safety feature for runners and bicycle riders. At night, you can turn it on and have it flash, making other people out on the road aware of your presence.​

 

[Bigsk8r]

I could see the use for a red face when you are assisting in an emergency situation. I have been unlucky enough to have had to do that a few times. Having a quick red light to be able to wave around at night and get peoples attention would not be the worst thing...

 

[brandonnnnnnn]

Apple has also designed the flashlight to be a safety feature for runners and bicycle riders. At night, you can turn it on and have it flash, making other people out on the road aware of your presence.​

The sad thing is this will kill your battery even faster while gps and lte is on.

 

[techwhiz]

Yawn. Android Wear.... 2015.

 

[Avieshek]

Why? Just why?

Why not? What's your problem? 'm infact thankful to Apple.

 

[joueboy]

It’s funny how they don’t like the flashlight app the first time it came to iPhone. Now they want to put flashlight in everything. Next would be the Apple Pencil.

 

[Avieshek]

Yawn. Android Wear.... 2015.

Always remember, Android came inspired from Apple.

 

[decimortis]

Yawn. Android Wear.... 2015.

Really? Dammit!

*cancels Watch order and goes searching for Android Wear
*changes mind

This isn't an article claiming to have re-invented the wheel. It's a how-to article.
Honestly people, pull your heads out of your arses.

 

[Westside guy]

I usually end up checking our mail pretty late. This is actually useful to me - I can see inside our (oversized) mailbox now.

Since I’ve pretty much always got my watch on, i don’t have to think about bringing it along... unlike my phone or an actual flashlight.

 

[b0nd18t]

Using the flashlight showed me just how bad my watch face is burned into the screen. Shows up easily on the all white background. Makes me a little nervous about getting the OLED iPhone X

 

[44267547]

I usually end up checking our mail pretty late. This is actually useful to me - I can see inside our (oversized) mailbox now.

Since I’ve pretty much always got my watch on, i don’t have to think about bringing it along... unlike my phone or an actual flashlight.

That's when the flashlight for the Apple Watch is best use cases, is for when you need it for moments for the little things. It's there when you need it most or when you least expect it would matter to you.

 

[avtella]

White means all 3 sub pixels RGB are active, with Blue having the least life span which is only a fraction of Red and Green. As Blue wears out faster than the other two you’d get a color shift (uniform burn in). Granted people won’t use Flashlight all the time or for long periods it’s still good to know.

 

[Falhófnir]

White means all 3 sub pixels RGB are active, with Blue having the least life span which is only a fraction of Red and Green. As Blue wears out faster than the other two you’d get a color shift (uniform burn in). Granted people won’t use Flashlight all the time or for long periods it’s still good to know.

That is true but probably only an issue over a much longer timescale than most people would keep an Apple Watch...

 

[cult hero]

Tested this last night. I thought it was sorta silly on the previews but:

1. It’s way brighter than I thought.
2. The way it’s implemented is really smooth.
3. The flashing feature is a super nice touch.

This is not something I would use a lot but I know there are going to be times where, “Man, perfect tool for the job.”

 

[jeshanros]

Why? Just why?

It’s useful in a pinch. Get caught out out a little longer and it gets dark while cycling or have a light fail and you’ll be thankful for anything that makes you a bit more visible.

 

[5105973]

It's sure to be a great feature--I haven't updated my Watch yet. But the instructions remind me a little of The Hokey Pokey song and dance.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Yawn. Android Wear.... 2015.

Wait, you mean Android Wear added a native flashlight that copies the flashlight apps from 2010 in 2015? You must have really yawned on that day.

 

[backontwo]

Yawn. Android Wear.... 2015.

Sounds like someone needs a nap.

 

[MikeTodd]

watchOS 4 brings several new features to the Apple Watch, including a new flashlight function that lights up the face of the Apple Watch so you can have an extra light when you're digging around in a bag, trying to open a door in the dark, or wherever else you might require a little bit of light.

It doesn't put off as much light as an iPhone screen, but it's handy in a pinch, especially since it's a hands-free light source.

Apple has also designed the flashlight to be a safety feature for runners and bicycle riders. At night, you can turn it on and have it flash, making other people out on the road aware of your presence.

Accessing the Flashlight

1. While wearing the Apple Watch, raise your wrist up to illuminate the screen.
   
2. Swipe up from the bottom to bring up the Control Center.
   
3. Tap on the icon that looks like a miniature flashlight.
   
4. Your Apple Watch display will now light up at maximum brightness.
   
5. Close the flashlight by swiping down to dismiss it or by pressing the Digital Crown.

Changing Flashlight Modes

There are three flashlight modes in total - pure white, flashing white, and red. Changing between them is simple:

1. With the flashlight active on the initial bright white display, swipe to the left.
   
2. This switches the flashlight to the second display mode, which is a flashing black and white.
   
3. Swipe to the left a second time to access the red light.
   
4. Swipe right again to cycle through modes.
   
5. Close the flashlight by swiping down to dismiss it or by pressing the Digital Crown.

Article Link: How to Use the Flashlight in watchOS 4

[doublepost=1506013832][/doublepost]Just be warned, this function sucks battery life out of your watch like nothing else. Used it last night walking my dog. My battery went from 80% to 15% in less than an hour. Works great, bust a battery drainer.

 

[macs4nw]

I could see the use for a red face when you are assisting in an emergency situation. I have been unlucky enough to have had to do that a few times. Having a quick red light to be able to wave around at night and get peoples attention would not be the worst thing...

Couldn't help but thinking that red light feature could also be useful in a certain famous 'district' in Amsterdam.....

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Apple has also designed the flashlight to be a safety feature for runners and bicycle riders. At night, you can turn it on and have it flash, making other people out on the road aware of your presence.​

As a nighttime cyclist, I appreciate the effort, but what are the lumens on this? I mean, if it is 1-2 lu, it might be helpful, but not easily seen by cars, especially when they're going 30-45 mph.

This may be obvious, but if you're riding or running at night, wear ANSI Class 3 outerwear. Ikea has the vests, and have a real running/bike light. You can get cheap ones on Amazon for $15, and they will blind small rodents that may come near you.

 

[Pupi]

This is great. I've actually used the very faint light from the Apple Watch homescreen before to get my way to bed, should be much better with this.

I'd love for the iPhone to have a display flashlight option, much softer and more controllable light. Especially the new iPhone X.