To make the most of your Apple Watch, you need to tap into its full range of capabilities. With each software update, new features are introduced, and it’s easy to overlook some valuable tricks. That’s why we’ve compiled essential tips to enhance your experience with the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and Watch SE. Let’s dive right in. let’s start how to Unlock the Full Potential of Your Apple Watch: Tips, Features, and Hidden Hacks.
Discover: The Best Apple Watch Apps to Download
What Does the Apple Watch Do?
- Notifications on the Wrist and Read Messages
- Daily Activity Tracking (Calories, Exercise Minutes, Standing)
- Workout Tracking
- Heart Rate Monitoring
- Warn About Abnormal Heart Rates
- Fall Detection and Car Crash Detection (Series 8 only)
- ECG Readings (Series 4-8 and Ultra) and Blood Oxygen Tracking (Series 6 and later)
- GPS Tracking of Workouts
- Make Calls and Receive Messages (LTE versions with data plan enable this without iPhone)
- Turn-by-Turn Navigation
- Siri Commands – Alarms, Timers, Reminders
- Payments, Tickets, and Boarding Passes
- Tell the Time
Create a Portrait Watch Face
Apple offers an array of watch faces, including the popular Photos watch faces that can feature portrait photos. To create a Portrait watch face, follow these steps:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap ‘Face Gallery.’
- Scroll down to ‘Portraits’ and choose the photos you want to use.
- Select from ‘Classic,’ ‘Modern,’ or rounded face looks, and pick your complication layout.
- After customizing, tap ‘Add’ to create your Portrait watch face.
Use Low Power Mode for Longer Battery Life
Introduced in watchOS 9, Low Power Mode extends your Apple Watch’s battery life significantly. To enable it, open the Control Center by tapping the battery percentage icon and toggle on Low Power Mode. This conserves battery by turning off the always-on display, blood oxygen tracking, and heart rate monitoring, while fetching notifications once an hour.
Make Notifications Less Annoying
Customize your notification settings to reduce digital noise. In the iPhone’s Apple Watch app menu, go to ‘Notifications’ and disable notifications for specific apps that you find bothersome.
Optimize for Left-Handedness
If you wear your Apple Watch on your right arm as a left-handed person, you can adjust the Digital Crown’s position for better convenience. Go to Settings > General > Orientation on your Apple Watch to change the wrist and Digital Crown position.
Make the App Menu More Usable
The grid of apps on the Apple Watch can sometimes be challenging to navigate. You can organize it better in two ways:
- Use the companion app on your iPhone to rearrange app icons under ‘App Layout.’
- Opt for the List View on your watch by force touching the app selection screen.
Set Multiple Apple Watch Timers
Apple has made it possible to set up multiple timers on your Apple Watch. To do so, follow these steps:
- Push the Digital Crown to open the app screen.
- Select ‘Timers’ and choose from a set of popular timers or tap ‘Custom’ to create your own.
Siren for Help (Apple Watch Ultra)
The Apple Watch Ultra features a Siren App that can alert others when you need attention. To activate it:
- Press and hold the Action or Side button to access the menu of options.
- Choose ‘Siren’ and slide to start a countdown.
- Stop the siren by pressing the red stop icon in the middle of the screen.
Stay Focused
The ‘Focus’ mode helps filter distractions. To activate a Focus profile:
- On your Apple Watch, access the app screen and tap ‘Settings.’
- Scroll to find the ‘Focus’ app, where you can set up ‘Do Not Disturb’ and sleep profiles.
- Optionally, mirror the Focus profiles you’ve set up on your iPhone.
Navigate to a Waypoint
The Compass app, introduced initially on the Apple Watch Ultra, now lets you set GPS waypoints and navigate back to the start of hikes or routes.
Make the Side Button More Useful
The right-side button opens the App Dock, allowing you to switch between apps. Customize the dock by selecting your favorite apps in the companion Watch app under ‘Dock.’
Customize the Action Button (Apple Watch Ultra)
The Apple Watch Ultra’s additional button can be customized to perform different actions:
- Open the ‘Settings’ app, scroll to ‘Action Button,’ and tap ‘Action.’
- Choose which app the Action button should launch or tap ‘App’ to select from available options.
- Customize the actions for different numbers of button presses in the ‘App menu.’
Track Sleep with Apple Watch
You can use your Apple Watch to track sleep. Set up Bedtime mode to prepare your iPhone and Apple Watch for sleep by minimizing notifications.
Turn Off the Always-On Display
To disable the ‘Always On’ mode, open the ‘Settings’ app on your Apple Watch, tap ‘Display & Brightness,’ and toggle off ‘Always On.’
Check Your VO2 Max
The Fitness app tracks your VO2 Max estimate, which is a crucial fitness metric. Keep an eye on your Cardio Fitness Score, which is based on your heart rate and pace during outdoor runs.
Get Cardio Fitness Alerts
Cardio Fitness alerts estimate your fitness level based on daily activity. Enable this feature in the health profile settings of the companion app.
Use the Breathe App
The Breathe app can help manage stress. Customize settings such as breaths per minute, notifications, and haptic feedback through the Watch app on your iPhone.
Chain Together Your Workouts
Chaining workouts allows you to seamlessly switch between different types of exercises. Swipe right during a workout, tap the + button, and add a new workout to create a chain.
Share Activity Rings
You can share your activity progress with other Apple Watch users. Add friends in the Activity app on your iPhone, and then swipe right in the Activity app on your Apple Watch to view your friends’ activity data.
Change the Move Goal
Customize your daily Move goal by going to the Activity app, scrolling to the bottom, and selecting ‘Change Goals.’
Change AirPods Volume
When listening to music on your Apple Watch, you can adjust the volume using the Digital Crown, which is more convenient than using Siri or your iPhone.
Enable Fall Detection
Fall Detection, now enabled by default, can notify emergency contacts in case of a fall. Make sure your emergency contact information is set up in the companion app.
Cover to Dim
Turn on ‘Cover to Mute’ in Sound & Haptics settings to mute notifications by covering your Apple Watch with your hand.
Find Your iPhone
If you misplace your iPhone, use the ‘Ping iPhone’ button in the Control Center on your Apple Watch to locate it.
Reply from the Wrist
Respond to messages using voice dictation or by scribbling letters on the screen if you don’t have a keyboard. Siri can also assist with voice responses.
Force Restart
If your Apple Watch encounters issues, you can perform a force restart by holding the Digital Crown and side button simultaneously for 10 seconds.
Unlock Your iPhone While Wearing a Mask
You can unlock your iPhone using your Apple Watch when wearing a mask. Enable this feature in your iPhone’s settings under ‘Face ID and Passcode.’
Eject Water After a Swim
For Apple Watches that are waterproof, use the Water Lock feature to eject water after swimming. Access it by swiping up in the Control Center and tapping the water droplet icon.
Check Your Data Usage
Monitor your data usage on cellular-enabled Apple Watches by checking the cellular menu option in the companion app.
Check Storage
Find out how much storage your Apple Watch has left for apps, emails, and music in the Usage section of the General settings in the companion app.
Unlock the full potential of your Apple Watch with these tips, features, and hidden hacks, and enjoy a more personalized and efficient experience.
Utilize Third-Party Complications
Harness the power of third-party apps on your Apple Watch by incorporating their data into your watch faces. Depending on your watch face, you can customize anywhere from a few to eight complications. Here’s how:
- Press and hold your watch face to access the watch face customization screen.
- Tap “Customize” to enter edit mode. Swipe right to reveal customizable areas, displayed within boxes.
- Select the area you want to change, then use the Digital Crown to scroll through available options. This is where you can add third-party complications. You can also disable complications if you prefer a cleaner look.
If you’d rather configure complications on your iPhone, use the Face Gallery in the companion app for a more extensive selection.
Activate Theater Mode
Ever had your Apple Watch’s display light up during a movie in a dark cinema? Avoid such disturbances by enabling Theater Mode:
- Swipe up on the watch face to access the Control Center.
- Tap the Greek theater masks icon to activate Theater Mode. This mode keeps your watch’s display off while you enjoy your film.
Leverage GymKit for Cardio Workouts
Apple GymKit allows you to seamlessly sync your Apple Watch with NFC-equipped cardio equipment in gyms, ensuring accurate exercise data tracking. Simply tap your watch to the NFC terminal on the equipment to initiate the connection.
Listen to Podcasts
You can enjoy podcasts on your Apple Watch, and it syncs seamlessly with your iPhone and Mac. This means you can pause an episode on one device and continue on another.
Transfer Calls to Your iPhone
If you receive a call on your Apple Watch but want to switch to your iPhone, you can do it effortlessly. Accept the call on your watch, then swipe up and select your iPhone to continue the conversation.
Master Automatic Workout Tracking
Apple Watch’s automatic workout tracking is useful but requires your confirmation to begin tracking. It sends you a notification when it detects a workout but won’t start tracking until you approve. It will also provide retroactive credit for workouts you’ve already started and prompt you to end ongoing workouts.
Simplify Your Watch Face Collection
Not all watch faces are equally practical. Swipe up on any unwanted watch face to remove it. If you change your mind, press the “+” button at the end of the watch face list to bring it back.
Use the Handwashing Timer
The handwashing timer feature introduced during the pandemic ensures proper hand hygiene. When you start washing your hands, a 20-second timer begins, complete with a bubbly decal. You can turn off handwashing reminders in Settings > General > Handwashing.
Delete Unused Apple Apps
You can now delete unnecessary Apple apps from your iPhone, which will also remove them from your Apple Watch. Get rid of stock apps you don’t use to declutter your devices.
Set Up Apple Pay Cash
Apple Pay Cash acts as a prepaid debit card for making in-store purchases and paying friends. To set it up:
- Go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Apple Pay Cash.
- Agree to the terms, and you’re ready to use it for payments and requesting money from friends.
Make Mickey and Minnie Speak
Bring some joy to your day by tapping on Mickey or Minnie on your watch face to hear them tell you the time in their iconic voices. Make sure to enable “Tap to Speak” in the Sounds & Haptics settings in the companion app.
Send Your Location in Messages
Running late to meet friends? Send your live location directly from your Apple Watch. In a Messages conversation, Force Touch the display and select “Send Location.”
Flag Emails for Later
You can’t reply to emails directly from your Apple Watch, so flag important ones for later by using Force Touch on a message and tapping “Flag.”
Customize Mail Notifications
Tailor your email notifications to specific mailboxes on your iPhone. In the Watch app on your iPhone, go to My Watch > Mail > Include Mail and select the mailboxes you want to receive notifications from.
Understand Apple Watch Turn-by-Turn Directions
When using turn-by-turn walking directions on your Apple Watch, the Taptic Engine provides haptic feedback. A left turn is indicated by three sets of double taps, while a right turn is indicated by 12 taps. This tactile feedback allows you to navigate without constantly looking at your watch.
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