If you own an Apple Watch, we bet you’re unaware of how many cool things it can do. And with each Apple Watch Series that the company unveils, there seem to be more watch tips to keep up with.
Luckily, we’re here to give you a rundown of the best Apple Watch tips and tricks to help you make the most of watchOS 8 on any of their wearable models.
Apple Watch Tips & Tricks
Using the Apple Watch Assistance & Safety Features
Out of all the apple Watch tips we list, these could be some of the most important of which to take note! Apple watches and their other devices have awesome ways of keeping you and your family members safe while out and enjoying the use of your watches.
Medical ID & Emergency Contacts
Your Medical ID will hold important information that can be helpful in emergency situations like any allergies to medications, and medications you’re taking, or any existing health conditions you could have. You can choose to make this information available from the lock screen for easy and quick access.
Your emergency contacts are the ones who will receive SOS notifications or fall detections and are stored in your Medical ID.
This sends an automatic call to emergency services in your area and shares your location with them. It is especially helpful while travelling where the emergency number may not be 911. SOS also notifies your emergency contacts of your location and that you called for SOS.
Your watch will detect sudden and hard impacts, or immobility during workouts. You can choose to respond to the alert by getting your watch to call 911, or you can dismiss the alert if it was a false alarm.
Using the Apple Watch 7 Hand Gestures feature
Apple Watch customers can make use of AssistiveTouch’s Hand Gestures as long as:
- your Apple Watch is a Series 4 or SE and later,
- and is operating on the latest watchOS.
How to turn AssistiveTouch on your watch:
Settings > Accessibility > AssistiveTouch > OK to confirm, or Try It Out to see a visual introduction
You can now use the default hand gesture commands, or you can create your own. Default hand gestures which come on the latest watch OS are:
- Move to the next item > Pinch
- Move back one item > Double pinch
- Tap an item > Clench your hand into a fist
- Bring up the action menu: Quickly double clench your hand.
Read our comprehensive review on the Apple Watch Series 7 here or watch our unboxing video below!
How to customize your gestures in Assistive Touch
Within the same Accessibility > Assistive Touch menus, select the Hand Gestures; you just need to pick the action which you want to perform for certain watch tasks and scrolling movements.
Best Apple Watch Complications to Use
While your full menu can show you all of your Apple Apps, your home screen displays certain complications. These are simply pieces of information from your different apps which you want displayed. Apple is great at being innovative and creative in their watch face displays and complication availabilities, catering to music-lovers, runners and joggers, sports fans, or busier individuals who need schedules and calendars.
These are some of the coolest and more useful complications you can use on Apple Watches:
- CARROT Weather
- Sports Alert App notifications
- Things 3
- iTranslate
- Find Near Me
- Just Press Record
Superwatches has a full guide on Apple Watch complications; read it here.
Making the Most of Popular watchOS Apps
Just Press Record
Open Planet Software developed this nifty note-taking app which transcribes audio recordings into notes pages. You can use it across Apple devices, and keep everything organized in the iCloud. It is specifically nifty for Apple Watch users because it means all you need is your watch on your wrist, and you can dictate notes in an instant.
You can then listen to the recordings or view the transciprtions, use the digital crown to adjust volume levels, edit your notes, and translate them to up to 30 different languages. You can even add the record button to your complications for faster and more efficient note-taking.
Keyboard Apps
There are multiple ways to enhance your Apple Watch experience, including keyboard customization. This means there are a number of keyboard apps that you can use or switch between. FlickType is a popular one which allows for fast messaging, but not very personalized messaging. FlickType only uses letters, as opposed to an app like Modality Type; this keyboard app allows for larger buttons, numbers, and punctuations through multiple keyboard screens. They are all only a few dollars and a small price to pay for swifter communication.
AutoSleep
You can get incredible insights from this app which can lead to healthier and smarter habits. You’ll essentially be starting a sleep and wake diary with your watch tracking your metrics as you snooze, ready for review the next day. From the data collected, you can create sleep goals which the app will help you reach with alarms and reminders. Exploring the data and trends show numerous stats, and give you a great look into how well you do or don’t rest.
Unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask
(watchOS 7.4)
As of watchOS 7.4, (currently on watchOS 8), the Apple Watch can unlock your iPhone while you have a mask on your face. Face ID and the password on your iPhone can be bypassed as long as your Apple Watch is unlocked on your wrist (but only when wearing a face mask). It will not be triggered instantly; instead, take the following steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- From the menu, choose Face ID and Passcode.
- Turn on the Unlock With Apple Watch option.
- Recognise the warning.
Use your watch at night
If you’re not wearing your Apple Watch, you can use it as a nightstand clock, making it handy even while charging.
Of course, the Apple Watch can now track sleep, but if you want to charge it instead of wearing it on your wrist at night, you may utilize Bedside Mode by simply resting it on its side.
Discreetly check the time
If you want to see the time without appearing rude, turn the digital crown upward, and the screen will gradually lighten up, allowing you a subtle peek.
Launch apps with the digital crown
Apps in the main menu can be opened by clicking the icon. However, some users have discovered that tapping isn’t perfect. You could miss and open another app by mistake. Instead of tapping it once it’s been centered, use the Digital Crown to click and open it. This is a lot easier if you use List View rather than Grid.
Cover the display to mute
If your Watch is set to notify you with chimes, but you’re in the middle of a meeting or conversation, you can enable ‘Cover to Mute’ under the Sound & Haptics settings. Cover your watch for 3 seconds to activate it and mute the unnecessary noises.
Transfer a call to your iPhone
An advantage of the Apple Watch is the ability to take a call from your wrist. Though if you want to continue the discussion on your iPhone, it’s not a problem.
- Answer the call by tapping the green phone button on your watch face.
- On your iPhone, tap the green phone button in the upper-left corner.
- The call will now automatically transfer from your Apple Watch to the iPhone.
Keep the watch safe using Water Lock
(Apple Watch Series 2 and later)
Water Lock was a new feature in watchOS 3. This locks the screen to prevent it from being activated or flooded by water. It was included to make use of the Apple Watch Series 2’s increased water resistance. It is especially handy (and engaged automatically) when you start a swimming activity in the Workout app.
To turn it on,swipe up from the bottom of the watch face to enter the Control Centre, which includes a number of frequently used controls. Choose the water droplet icon.
Turn off Water Lock by rotating the Digital Crown dial. The Water Lock will be disabled. You’ll hear a sort of beeping noise when the speaker vibrates to purge any remaining water.
Unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch
Ensure your devices are both linked to the same iCloud account. Set up a passcode on your watch if you haven’t already. On your Mac, go through the following settings: Under System Preferences, go to Security & Privacy > General. Allowing your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac should be checked.
Make your iPhone flash when you ping it
You might already know that you’re able to ‘ping’ a lost iPhone with an Apple Watch. But how?
Simply go to the Settings Glance on your Apple Watch and press the iPhone with a sound icon. This sends a signal to the linked iPhone, prompting it to make a loud noise, making it simple to find. Isn’t that handy?
If pinging your iPhone fails, push and hold the iPhone symbol on your Apple Watch to trigger the phone’s LED flash. This should help you find your misplaced iPhone if it’s dark enough to see the flashes!
Organise your home screen
With a small screen and a large number of apps, it can be difficult to find the ones you want to utilize.
The simplest way to organize your Apple Watch home screen, as with the iPhone, is to tap and hold the app icon until it does the famous wiggle. After everything begins to jiggle, drag the icon to its new position. And, this is also how you can remove any third-party apps.
You may also use the Apple Watch app on your iPhone to organize your Apple Watch home screen if you want.
Share your location via your Apple Watch
Nothing is more irritating than going to meet friends only to have them text you to see where you are every 5 minutes. You have two choices. One, set your Watch to Do Not Disturb and ignore them. Two, notify them of your whereabouts.
Open Messages on your Apple Watch, select a thread to reply to, and then force press the screen to select ‘Send Location’ rather than dictating a response. This will send your exact location from your iPhone to everybody in that thread.
Reply to messages without typing
You don’t have to type anything on your Apple Watch but you can set up a few precomposed answers on your iPhone when tapping a conversation that is automatically sent. Scroll down and select the Messages app option, then select the default response menu. Tap one of the items in the list to customize it, and when you get to messages, swipe down on your response options.
You can change the default responses to My Watch messages at any time, add or remove predefined responses. If you prefer to have your messages sent via audio clips rather than by diction, then you can do this by going to Apple Watch app on your iPhone and going to My Watch > Messages > Audio Messages.
Display Apple Watch apps in a different view
You can customize Honeycomb View – The app that Apple uses on the Apple Watch by default shows Watches apps in a list view, not a grid view. To set or change the Apps Grid, tap the digital crown next to the Grid and press Display to switch to a nice, readable list view. Don’t worry, you can switch the view back to the list view when your watch is in the app list.
Find your favourite apps quickly
To access your favorite apps, press the side button on the watch, which will open your current apps by default. However, if you open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap the Dock you can change it to display a selection of the favorite apps. To open shortcuts on your iPhone, tap the three dots next to one of your existing shortcuts and the slider icon will appear on your Apple Watch but the option won’t appear and it will not launch on the smartwatch.
Take a photo on your iPhone
Open the Camera app on your Apple Watch to see what your front-facing iPhone camera is aiming at. A timed shot can be taken by tapping the timed button or the big round button. The picture will be taken by your iPhone – this is particularly helpful for taking portrait photos.
Take a power nap
In order for you to wake up from a nap, you can ask Siri to “Wake me in 10, 20, 30 minutes,” and your Watch will set a timer and then gently (but insistently) tap your wrist to wake you up.
Control the volume on your AirPods
The Apple Watch is great for controlling other Apple products, including your HomePod or Apple TV. For example, you can use it to control music on your HomePod or as a remote control for your Apple TV. Even when listening to music, you can use it to adjust the volume of your AirPods by looking at your Watch. The Digital Crown is used to adjust the volume when your AirPods are connected and you’re streaming via the Watch.
Check the battery life of your AirPods
Apple Watch users probably listen to music through AirPods. It’s probably already common knowledge that AirPod’s battery life can be checked using the widget on your iPhone, but did you know it’s possible to check it from your Apple Watch as well?
To view your watch’s battery percentage, go to Control Center > Battery. As well as displaying the percentage of the battery in your Apple Watch, this will also display the battery level in your AirPods.
One of the best things about it is that it still works if the AirPods are linked to either your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Force it to restart
The Apple Watch will sometimes get stuck without apparent reason. Maybe a third-party software has a bug or maybe it’s simply one of those times when you can’t push buttons on your Apple Watch. As the buttons aren’t working, it’s impossible to restart your watch. It is possible to restart the Apple Watch manually though.
Press and hold the side button along with the Digital Crown until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Hear the time
Remember the talking clock? You can access the Speak Time setting by going to the Settings app, selecting Clock, and then selecting Speak Time. You can hear the time by placing two fingers on the watch face.
Hide sensitive data
Hiding sensitive complications from the Always On display is possible on Series 6.
While the always-on display is on, data like your calendar appointments, messages, and heart rate can be hidden when the wrist is down.
Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone Navigate to Display & Brightness > Display & Brightness > Display & Brightness > Always On Hide Sensitive Complications may be turned on or off.
Use Siri to translate something
Siri can translate in ten languages straight from your Watch. Raise your wrist and say, “How do you say “How are you in Spanish?”
How to use the Apple Watch if you’re left-handed
You may alter the Apple Watch’s orientation by choosing whether you want to wear it on your left or right wrist.
Tap the Apple Watch icon on your iPhone Go to the My Watch menu, then to General, then to Watch Orientation. Alter your direction from left to right or vice versa. You may also choose which side of the Digital Crown you want to use.
Make vibrations stronger
You may not notice some notifications simply because the haptic (buzz) is not loud enough. This is especially true if you wear your Apple Watch band loosely.
To counteract this, you can enable ‘Prominent Haptic,’ which will pre-announce certain frequent warnings via a prominent haptic when enabled. To enable this, head to the Apple Watch’s Settings app > Sounds & Haptics > Scroll down to the Haptics section > Select Prominent from the drop-down menu.
Make your watch more accessible
On the Apple Watch, you can customize a variety of accessibility aspects, including how it responds to your input. Tap on the My Watch tab > Accessibility in the Apple Watch app for iPhone. In these settings, for example, you’ll be able to run on Bold Text and Zoom.
Want some privacy? Turn on your 6-digit passcode
The Apple Watch includes the option of a four-digit passcode by default. But you can upgrade to a six-digit passcode if you want more protection.
To do so, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and go to Passcode > De-toggle Simple Passcode > Fill in the blanks with your new six-digit code.
Turn off bothersome ‘Stand’ reminders
Annoyed when you’re told to stand by your watch Turn Stand Reminders off in the Apple Watch app for iPhone by going to Activity > Toggle Stand Reminders off. To reactivate Stand Reminders, follow the same steps as before.
Turn off all Activity reminders
You may adjust when the Apple Watch informs you about how active you are if you don’t care about receiving those updates throughout the day.
Go to Activity > Daily Coaching in the Apple Watch app for iPhone.
Automatically start a playlist when you start working out
When you start a workout on Apple Watch, you can select a playlist to play automatically. Note, though, it will not play if you are currently listening to music or other sounds.
To enable this function, go to the Apple Watch app for iPhone > Workout > Enable this feature. Select Workout Playlist from the drop-down menu. You’ll need to have the playlist downloaded from Apple Music.
Turn on charge reminders
One of the most prominent complaints about the Apple Watch is the less-than-24-hour battery life.
Setting a reminder before bedtime will ensure that your Apple Watch has sufficient battery power to monitor your sleep.
For iPhone, open the Apple Watch app > Toggle on Charging Reminders by scrolling down to Sleep.
Are you looking for more Apple Watch tips? Ask us in the comments!
Follow us on social media to stay up to date with our latest articles
      |
Last Updated on February 8, 2022
Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader, and experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.
We appreciate her work, contribution to our blog, marketing skills, editing, and expert writing abilities which are second to none.
Truly adept in content strategy and content creation which has immense contribution to our blog.