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What are you using your Action Button for?
- Thread starter SweetPeaRevenge
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you need iOS 16.1 / watchOS 9.1 minimum (currently in beta) and to replace my focus modes by yours
I am extremely disappointed right now. I bought the Ultra at launch because I am a diabetic and needed the Action Button customized to my glucose monitor to give me instant readings when pressed. It would work except the shortcut must first work in order the Action Button to work. It’s a case of a third party company‘s shortcut not working. I had no idea that the third party company (Dexcom) had a reputation of slowly upgrading its apps when new versions of WatchOS and/or iOS are released. This was my number reason amoung many reasons for buying the Ultra: a quick press of the Action Button for glucose reading. No more pressing a button, then scrolling to app, then tapping on the app or no more using Siri to get the reading and having the whole world hear me. This is so disappointing right now.
I hope they get it updated soon. In the meantime, have you tried setting your dock to only show favorites and then making your glucose app the only favorite? Then you can call it up with the side button.
I think the action button is probably a little redundant and a bit disappointing at the moment, it has very little function that can't be done from the watch face, if I am honest, it gets in the way and I press it as well as the button on the other side. I have it set to open the workout app atm, but I am sure that more things will be added by Apple. It could start the walk exercise with one click, running exercise with 2 clicks and rowing exercise on the 3rd click or something like that.
Using it as water lock would be more useful than most of the things it can do now.
Using it as water lock would be more useful than most of the things it can do now.
Ok thanks for the tip! I just did what you suggested and that does help! However I still want the Action Button to work.
I can’t figure out how to set mine to show my heart rate - if anyone knows how I would appreciate it
you have to download a Tesla 3rd party app that supports shortcuts as the Tesla app doesn't use short cuts. In this case watch for Tesla. Then create a shortcut to enable remote start. Then from there, use Apple Watch ultra to program the action button with the shortcut.
I just use it to run a Shortcut that toggles the Always On display setting. I wish we can use the side button as another action button since I don't really switch apps that way.
Right now I just have it launching the workout app. I need time for some ideas to percolate.
What I would really like is for focus modes to be able to fire shortcuts on the watch. At work I want to turn off cellular and wifi on my watch. I have the work focus mode set to enable automatically based on location on my phone, but it would be really nice if I could have it do things on the watch too. Or at least have the phone change more settings on the watch than are currently available in Shortcuts.
It should be possible. There is the Get Current Watch Face action in Shortcuts. Use that with an if and you're off to the races.
Why does it require 9.1? Is it because they finally added a get current focus action?
What I would really like is for focus modes to be able to fire shortcuts on the watch. At work I want to turn off cellular and wifi on my watch. I have the work focus mode set to enable automatically based on location on my phone, but it would be really nice if I could have it do things on the watch too. Or at least have the phone change more settings on the watch than are currently available in Shortcuts.
Sorry to be the "well actually" guy, but you can create a shortcut that enables water lock.
Thank you, I'm an old man and can't work out shortcuts. But that's not the fault of the watch. lol.
Thanks for saying toggles. Being new to Shortcuts, I missed the turn/toggle drop-down last week when I set up my first shortcuts. Now I only need one.
Dumb question...I have a similar shortcut, but it doesn't show up as an option in the action button settings. How do I make it so I can select this lock/unlock shortcut?
EDIT: The instructions on the Apple website do not work because I do not have a little "i" near any of my shortcuts when I select the three-dot menu.
2nd edit: I figured it out. Gotta long press on the shortcut, not tap on the three-dots, in order to add it to the AW.
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I uninspiringly have mine set to Workout but wish I could set it up so that a second press pauses the workout rather than marks a segment. If I knew much about shortcuts I would love to trigger one that switched back and forth from units of measurement being km/h with voice prompts on, to mph with voice prompts off. The former I set up manually when running and prefer the metric system for 5km and 10km, complemented with my ongoing progress provided vocally through my Airpods. Aside from that, for my walking workouts I prefer miles and mph with no voice prompts.
Edit: What am I missing? For workout, I see “first press” and it suggests my typical outdoor walk, but I don’t see where I can set a routine of different activiies.
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To pause a workout you can press the action button and the side button (the one below the crown) at the same time. Do it again to resume.
You folks with your shortcuts and everything. Smart bunch! I am just using it as a flashlight, but I am sure that will evolve as I go. I can’t believe how will it lights the way at night, crazy!