Even if you know how to use your Apple Watch to get the basics (like tracking fitness, making calls, and checking notifications), there are hidden tips and tricks that make it even better. While we wouldn’t go so far as to call them all “Apple Watch hacks,” these features are lesser-known ways to upgrade your smartwatch experience.
Whether you’ve owned an Apple Watch for a while or bought one recently, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Some of the useful Apple Watch features are ones you might not see during setup or everyday use. Many of these features are buried deep in the Settings menu or hidden within certain apps or tools.
All of our favorite hidden Apple Watch features work on every Apple Watch model, from Apple Watch Series 8 to Apple Watch Series 4. As long as the watch is running watchOS 9 (here’s how to check for an update) it should be able to use the latest And the best features the Apple Watch has to offer.
But where should you start? Here are the best Apple Watch tips, tricks, and hacks we discovered this year.
1. Frequently used favorite timers
One of the Apple Watch’s most iconic features — setting a timer — has a hidden tool you may not have seen before. You can create a list of favorite timers on your Apple Watch that appear at the top of the Timer app. This way, the timers you use on a regular basis are conveniently located in the app.
All you need to do to favor a timer is swipe left on the timer in “recents” and hit the orange star button. Yes, it is really that simple. When you put a timer in your favourites, it will appear in a new list above your “recent” called “favorites”. You can even favorite multiple timers for quick access.
2. See the number of steps on your watch face
If you haven’t seen the complexity of counting steps when changing your Apple Watch face before, that’s because there isn’t one — not locally, at least. While there are complications for the weather, and timers, for your own Apple Watch rings And other handy tidbits of info, there’s no built-in way to see how many steps you’ve taken on your Apple Watch face. But with the help of a third party Apple Watch app, you can hack it.
Our guide on how to install and delete Apple Watch apps can help you get the pedometer app of your choice on your Apple Watch. I found the easiest way was to download the app to your iPhone, then sync your Apple Watch. You can check if the app has been downloaded to your smartwatch if you scroll down inside the “My Watch” tab in the Watch app. Then, you just need to modify the Apple Watch face to add third-party complications.
3. Optimize charging to maintain battery health
The Apple Watch supports Optimized Battery Charging, a setting perhaps best known for keeping your iPhone battery healthy. But since then watchOS 7Apple Watch introduced improved battery charging as well. Over time, the Apple Watch battery health becomes susceptible to deterioration due to a combination of factors. Optimized charging can help keep your battery healthy for longer.
The feature is enabled by default, but it’s a good idea to check if it’s enabled. Open Battery settings and select Battery health. Switch to optimized battery charging. When you enable Optimized Charging on your Apple Watch, you may notice that your watch pauses charging between 75% and 80% capacity. This should only happen when your watch thinks you are going to leave it charging for an extended period of time. It will predict when shipment will be completed based on your previous shipment schedule and location.
4. Enable Low Power Mode
Another way you can increase the battery life of your Apple Watch is the new Low Power mode on the Apple Watch. Low Power Mode is available exclusively for smartwatches running watchOS 9, and it disables some battery-draining features like the always-on display and background health sensor readings. When tracking a workout while Low Power Mode is enabled, GPS and heart rate readings are also limited.
To turn on Low Power Mode, swipe up to open the Control Center on your Apple Watch. Tap on the bubble that displays the battery percentage and toggle on Low Power Mode. You’ll be prompted to review the impact of Low Power Mode, with the option to turn the feature on or on for a certain duration. You can run low power mode for 1 day, 2 days, or even 3 days.
5. Control your watch with hand gestures
Learning how to control your Apple Watch with hand gestures allows you to use certain features on your smartwatch without touching the screen or pressing any of the buttons. In fact, you won’t even need to use your opposite hand. You’ll be able to control your Apple Watch by pinching your fingers or making fists. Hand gestures are part of the AssistiveTouch features on the Apple Watch, which are primarily there to make the Apple Watch experience more immersive.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap Accessibility from the menu on the My Watch tab. Click AssistiveTouch from the Motor menu and switch to AssistiveTouch. Click Hand Gestures from the Inputs menu, and finally switch to Hand Gestures. In the same menu that you used to switch between hand gestures, you can review the navigation functions associated with each gesture. There are four gestures: Pinch, Double Pinch, Clench and Double Clench – you can select the actions you want to assign to each movement.
6. Change the direction of the Digital Crown
Did you know that you can switch the orientation of your Apple Watch so that the Digital Crown faces a different direction? While most people with an Apple Watch wear it with the Digital Crown located in the upper right side next to the screen, there is a way to flip the button. If you wear your Apple Watch on your right wrist, the Digital Crown is likely already facing your forearm. But if you wear it on your left wrist, the Digital Crown will likely point toward your hand.
In the General settings on your Apple Watch, select Orientation. Select Left or Right depending on which way you want the Apple Watch Digital Crown to face. When switching from right to left, or vice versa, the screen turns upside down. Play with these settings to see which direction is most comfortable for you.
7. Keep apps open longer
By default, your Apple Watch will revert to your watch or watch face from an app after two minutes when you lower your wrist or it’s idle. So if you’re reading a message or have an app open, your Apple Watch may revert to your current watch face shortly after it enters always-on mode, closing any app you have open. Some people may find this annoying, but fortunately there is a way to change it.
Open General Settings and select Back to Clock. Change from Always or After 2 minutes to After 1 hour. Alternatively, you can scroll down and customize the back to watch setting for each individual app downloaded to your Apple Watch.
8. Use Siri as a translator
Whether you’re traveling to a foreign country or trying to learn a new language, Siri can provide some translation assistance. With real-time translation support for 11 different languages, the voice assistant built into the Apple Watch can tell you how to say almost anything instantly.
Just say “Siri, how do I pronounce {word or phrase}” in {language}” to use Siri’s instant translation tool. Not only does Siri show the written translation, but it will also speak the translated word or phrase out loud. This way you can theoretically use it To give instructions to the cab driver, or simply to act on your statements.
9. Find out what song is playing
You may have heard of Shazam, an app that can identify songs that are being played out loud. Let’s say you’re at a restaurant or bar and hear a tune that you want to save for later, but don’t want to glitch around the server or waiter for playlist information. Most people are familiar with the smartphone version of the app, but Shazam actually works on the Apple Watch as well.
To use this feature, you need to download the Shazam app on your Apple Watch. From there, you can open the Shazam app on your wrist when you want to see what song is playing. You can ask Siri to identify the song, too: Tap the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown and ask, “What song is playing?” Siri will listen for the song it selects and name it.
These are just some of the Apple Watch tips and tricks we covered in Tom’s Guide. If you are Follow Tom’s guide on TikTok (Opens in a new tab)In this article, you will see more useful hacks for getting the most out of your tech devices.
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