watchOS 7: How to Use the New Apple Watch Handwashing Feature

[MacRumors]

In watchOS 7 for Apple Watch, Apple introduced handwashing detection, which helps users wash their hands properly to keep viruses and bacteria at bay.

Washing your hands is one of the most important protections against getting sick and preventing the spread of germs. But only if you do it correctly – and most people don't. One study highlighted by Apple showed that as many as 95 percent of us either wash too fast, use water but no soap, or just don't wash at all.

To increase the chances of proper handwashing, your Apple Watch can display a countdown to help you wash your hands for 20 seconds, which is the recommended duration, according to The World Health Organization (WHO). The countdown will relay haptic feedback when it starts and ends, so you don't even need to interact with or look at your Apple Watch to use it.

What's more, the handwashing timer will appear automatically on your wrist whenever you start washing your hands. That's because watchOS 7 can recognize when you rub your hands and will listen out for the accompanying sound of running water and soap being used.

Here's how to enable the Handwashing feature on Apple Watch running watchOS 7 or later.

1. Launch the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
2. Scroll down and tap Handwashing.
3. Toggle the switch next to Handwashing Timer to the green ON position.
4. Do the same on the switch next to Handwashing Reminders, if desired. (When enabled, you'll receive a notification if you haven't washed your hands within a few minutes of returning home.)
   
   

How to View Your Handwashing Stats on iPhone

1. Launch the Health app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Browse tab.
3. Search for Handwashing using the Search field.
   Tap the Handwashing result.
   
   

Use the tabs above the chart to see your handwashing history over the day, week, month, or year.

Article Link: watchOS 7: How to Use the New Apple Watch Handwashing Feature

 

[badatusernames]

It should be noted that this feature seems to only work on series 4 and later watches.

 

[ErikGrim]

It should be noted that this feature seems to only work on series 4 and later watches.

Yup. No washing for dirty series 3 users.

 

[dogslobber]

I'm washing my hands of this feature.

 

[coumerelli]

I'm washing my hands of this feature.

You need to clean up your act.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I hope that when this app is officially released, it helps to make a difference in communities around the world. Ideally, people out in public should wash (or clean as best they can) their hands every 20 minutes, especially after handling their phone etc. as it is (on average) one of the filthiest items people carry with them during the day.

 

[Pirate!]

You need to clean up your act.

Moderators need to give some of these posts a good scrubbing.

 

[decypher44]

If you need an app to wash your hands, you failed at life.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you need an app to wash your hands, you failed at life.

What about children and adults with learning disabilities or traumatic brain injury? Are they failures at life because they need a tool like this to assist them in their day to day life?

Are young kids failures at life because they are using this app, along with their parents, to get in the habit of good hygiene?

In my opinion, you need to really stop and think before speaking. What you said is wrong on so many levels.

 

[chinito77]

It should be noted that this feature seems to only work on series 4 and later watches.

That's super lame for other watch users. I work in several schools so I'm always washing my hands however, sometimes I'm in a rush so I was hoping this keeps me in check.

 

[Apple_Robert]

That's super lame for other watch users. I work in several schools so I'm always washing my hands however, sometimes I'm in a rush so I was hoping this keeps me in check.

It is a hardware limitation. The series 3 is not capable of making use of the app as coded. You can download a handwashing app albeit it it won’t be the exact same thing. The other apps do have a count down with them.

 

[B4U]

If my hands are already contaminated, and I need to touch the watch to active this feature.
Wouldn't that also make the watch contaminated as well?

Okay, it detects when I rub my hands. Still feels a little off.
Can it be voice activated?

 

[Apple_Robert]

If my hands are already contaminated, and I need to touch the watch to active this feature.
Wouldn't that also make the watch contaminated as well?

Once you enable the feature after installing watchOS 7, said feature is automatic and won’t require you actively handling your watch to enable. It is a good idea to wipe down your watch on a regular basis, just like your phone.

 

[Boatboy24]

I don't get this. Can people not count to 20 anymore?

 

[The Don Onez]

“what about XYZ....”
Newsflash, children and people with disabilities have been washing their hands properly for ages. This app is pretty useless. But if one doesn’t like it, they aren’t forced to use it.

What about children and adults with learning disabilities or traumatic brain injury? Are they failures at life because they need a tool like this to assist them in their day to day life?

Are young kids failures at life because they are using this app, along with their parents, to get in the habit of good hygiene?

In my opinion, you need to really stop and think before speaking. What you said is wrong on so many levels.

 

[CarlJ]

If you need an app to wash your hands, you failed at life.

There’s a lot of apps that people don’t need (like for instance, every single game ever), and yet many of those apps are fun or helpful.

 

[groundedUX]

I don't get this. Can people not count to 20 anymore?

Right? The amount of energy spent on that which could have went to something more innovative. Next up on the innovation list: a “make sure to chew 30 times before you swallow” app that uses EarPods’ accelerometer and a “don’t make that face or it will stick like that” app using facial recognition.

 

[Apple_Robert]

“what about XYZ....”
Newsflash, children and people with disabilities have been washing their hands properly for ages. This app is pretty useless. But if one doesn’t like it, they aren’t forced to use it.

If you want to try and rationalize the post I responded to, go ahead.

You are right. People have been washing their hands for decades upon decades without having an app like this. Conversely, there are many people today, young and old, who don’t practice good hygiene. And in my opinion, an app like this could help motivate someone to be more cognizant about hygiene and possibly use this simple tool to be much better at handwashing, which could lead to keeping one’s phone, watch and other things cleaner, so as to help prevent or delay infection of some kind.
[automerge]1595899859[/automerge]

I don't get this. Can people not count to 20 anymore?

If everyone in the world was alike and all able to count to 20 without having any mental or physical limitations, your question would have an ounce of merit.

 

[Kylo83]

I’m sorry but I don’t need to be told to wash my hands and for how long, how anyone can want this I dunno
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It is a hardware limitation. The series 3 is not capable of making use of the app as coded. You can download a handwashing app albeit it it won’t be the exact same thing. The other apps do have a count down with them.

I’m sure you can not need an app lol

 

[Apple_Robert]

I’m sorry but I don’t need to be told to wash my hands and for how long, how anyone can want this I dunno
[automerge]1595899926[/automerge]

I’m sure you can not need an app lol

1. Apple isn’t forcing you to use the app.
2. If your watch supports the feature, it is turned off by default.
3. Not everyone in the world shares your myopic viewpoint; and one that doesn’t take into account people with different backgrounds and needs.
4. Regardless of what you may think, there are many people that can and will benefit from this simple app.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I don't get this. Can people not count to 20 anymore?

Sure, but you don’t always remember to count. I rarely timed myself before the pandemic and just soaped and rinsed. This is a nice addition since it triggers automatically when it detects water sounds and wrist movements for the times when you forget to do the full 20s.

 

[Apple2GS]

“what about XYZ....”
Newsflash, children and people with disabilities have been washing their hands properly for ages. This app is pretty useless. But if one doesn’t like it, they aren’t forced to use it.

This is all about feelings, Tim Cook feels good for making this App and others feel good that it exists. No one will use it, but that was never the point.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I’m sorry but I don’t need to be told to wash my hands and for how long, how anyone can want this I dunno
[automerge]1595899926[/automerge]

I’m sure you can not need an app lol

By that logic all modern conveniences are redundant. Besides, this is more like a location reminder you set for yourself when you wash your hands that triggers when you get home combined with an automatic timer. Nobody is forcing you to use it if you don’t need to and it makes life a little bit easier for many people. What’s there to complain about?

 

[Digital Dude]

I understand the pro version includes tips and timers' for applying deodorant and brushing teeth.

 

[roland.g]

I don't get this. Can people not count to 20 anymore?

Have you seen our education system. People can’t count or spell. Or a whole lot of other things. If you need this app to keep proper hygiene, cull.