The new Apple Watch Series 4.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The Apple Watch packs a surprising amount of tools into a tiny package.
From messaging to productivity to advanced fitness tracking, the Apple Watch has something for everyone.
But not every Apple Watch feature is obvious from the get-go. Apple has filled the watch — which is now on its fifth iteration, the Apple Watch Series 4 — with neat tricks and helpful tools to make using the watch a lot easier. And now that the latest version of Apple’s smartwatch operating system, WatchOS 5, has arrived, there are even more cool tricks (as long as you have an Apple Watch Series 1 or newer).
So whether you’re new to Apple Watch or a longtime user, here are 23 tips and tricks for getting the most out of your Apple Watch.
1. You can use your Apple Watch to find your iPhone if it gets lost.
The Apple Watch can send out a pinging noise to help you find your iPhone if you misplace it. To access that feature, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap the button that looks like a ringing phone.
If you need a little extra help finding your device, press and hold the button to make your phone’s flash go off.
2. You can customize your Apple Watch’s face.
Apple makes it easy to customize your watch face. Once you find a face you like, press and hold in the center of it — Apple calls this Force Touch. You should then see a button that says “Customize.”
You’ll then be able to change the color of the face, or add different widgets like weather, your calendar, music, or workouts.
3. You can set your watch to turn off Do Not Disturb when you leave a specific location.
If you have to head to an important meeting and don’t want to be annoyed by your wrist constantly buzzing, Apple’s “Do Not Disturb” feature is incredibly handy.
In WatchOS 5, Apple did you one better: You can now set your watch to turn off “Do Not Disturb” as soon as it sense you’ve left a specific location.
To do this, swipe up from the bottom to access the Control Center. Then, scroll down until you see the crescent moon that signifies the “Do Not Disturb” feature. Tap on that, and scroll down until you see the option for “On until I leave.”
4. You can silence your Apple Watch by covering it with your hand.
If you need an easy trick for silencing your watch in a pinch, try Apple’s Cover to Mute mode. Next time your alarm goes off, silence it in seconds by covering the entire watch with your other hand. After three seconds, you should feel a small vibrate, and then you’ll know your watch has been silenced.
To turn on this feature, go to your Watch app and look for Sound & Haptics > Cover to Mute.
6. You can check the time on your Apple Watch without illuminating the entire screen.
Next time you’re in a too-long meeting, try this subtle trick: slowly twist the crown upwards, and the screen will gradually brighten. That way, you can check the time without raising your wrist and illuminating the whole screen.
7. For left-handed people, you can flip your Apple Watch around so it’s easier to use.
Apple didn’t forget about the lefties. If you open your Watch app and click on General > Watch Orientation, you’ll see the option to wear the watch on your right wrist and flip it around so the crown is on the outside.
8. You can turn your flashlight red on the Apple Watch.
If you need the screen to light up but you don’t want it to be too bright, Apple has a setting for that. Head to your Control Center, turn on the flashlight, then swipe to the left until you find the red screen.
9. Clear all your Apple Watch notifications at once using Force Touch.
There’s a quick and easy way to clear every notification at once: pull down from the top of the screen to display all your notifications, then Force Touch on the center of the screen. You should see an X button and the option to “Clear All.”
10. You can organize your Apple Watch apps to make them easier to find.
When you load apps onto the Apple Watch, Apple will automatically categorize them into a honeycomb layout.
But if you want to change where they appear on the screen, just head into the Watch app and click on “App Layout.” Then, Force Touch on an app icon to move it to the desired spot.
11. You can also change the app layout entirely.
Before WatchOS 4 came out, you had no choice but to view all your apps in Apple’s honeycomb layout. But now, Apple gives you the option to view your apps in a list view.
To access it, press the crown once — that will bring up all the app icons. Then, Force Touch on the center of the screen, and you should see an option to choose “Grid View” or “List View.”
12. The Apple Watch has a “Nightstand Mode,” which lets you use your watch as a bedside clock.
If you don’t like to wear your Apple Watch at night, you have the option to use it for a different purpose: as a bedside clock.
All you have to do is place your watch on its charging dock, then turn it on its side. The screen will flip horizontally and display the time in large green digits, along with the day and date.
To enable, head to the Watch app, then hit General > Nightstand Mode.
13. You can use the Apple Watch to control the volume of your AirPods (or any Bluetooth headphones).
One of the biggest shortcomings of the current version of AirPods is that you have to ask Siri to adjust the volume of your music. But if you have an Apple Watch, it’s incredibly easy to change the volume.
When you see the “Now Playing” screen on your watch, just spin the crown up or down — you’ll be able to see the volume changing on your watch screen.
This isn’t just for AirPods; you can change the volume this way when using any pair of Bluetooth headphones.
14. You can set up your Apple Watch to automatically pause your runs when you stop moving.
If you’re someone who likes to run outside, there’s an Apple Watch feature for you: Running Auto Pause.
Once you flip this feature on, the watch will start detecting when you’ve stopped moving — say, at a traffic light or to grab a drink — and pause your workout. That way, any brief pauses in movement won’t screw up your stats.
To turn this feature on, open the Watch app and hit Workout > Running Auto Pause.
15. You can raise or lower your move goal after you’ve set it.
Apple asks you to set a move goal when you set up the watch, but you have the option to change it later on if it’s too high or too low.
To make a change, open up the Activity app on your Watch. Then, Force Touch on the center of the screen. You should see a “Weekly Summary” button, along with the option to “Change Move Goal.”
16. You can customize your Apple Watch to automatically detect when your heart rate gets too high or too low.
Apple added a feature to WatchOS 4 that can detect elevated heart rates, and it’s already been credited with saving peoples’ lives.
The feature will notify you if your heart rate remains over a certain threshold and you’ve been inactive for 10 minutes. And now, with WatchOS 5, there’s an extra safeguard in place for when your heart rate gets too low.
To turn it on, open the Watch app and tap My Watch > Heart Rate > High Heart Rate/Low Heart Rate. You can then choose a heart rate at which you’d like the watch to notify you.
17. You can use your watch as a remote for your Apple TV.
If you have an Apple TV, Apple Watch works great as a remote. You can use the watch to play or pause a program, or scroll through the Apple TV menu.
To set it up, open the Remote app on your Apple Watch — you should see the option to “Add Device.” Then, open up Settings on your Apple TV, hit General > Remotes and Devices, and select your Apple Watch. Once you enter the passcode on your watch, you should see a pairing icon.
18. You can use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac computer.
You can start using your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac. All you have to do is be wearing your watch, and your Mac will unlock once you wake it up.
To set it up, make sure both devices are signed into the same Apple ID. Then, open System Preferences on your Mac and click General > Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.
Your Mac needs to be from mid-2013 or later and running macOS Sierra or later for this feature to work.
19. You can use your Apple Watch as a camera remote.
While your Apple Watch can’t take photos on its own, it can act as a remote for your iPhone camera. All you have to do is set up your iPhone in the desired spot, then open the camera app on you watch. Opening the app will activate your phone’s camera, and you’ll get a preview of what your phone is seeing on your watch.
You can also set up a shutter timer, so you have enough time to lower your wrist before the photo is taken.
Apple says you must be within ~33 feet of your phone to take a photo with the watch.
20. If you have an incoming phone call on your Apple Watch, there’s an option to place the person on hold until you can find your phone.
If you receive a phone call on your Apple Watch but would prefer to take it on your iPhone, there’s an easy fix. When the call comes in, twist the crown down to find the option called “Answer on iPhone.” When you tap that button, it will place the call on hold to give you enough time to grab your phone.
21. You can quickly send your location to a friend using your Apple Watch.
There’s a quick way to send your friend your location using Apple Watch. Open your Messages conversation, then Force Touch on the display. You should then see the option to Send Location.
22. You can add custom replies onto the Apple Watch.
Apple doesn’t offer a keyboard on the Apple Watch, which is probably for the best. But if you’re in a situation where you need to send back a quick message, there’s a way to have your favorite sayings and responses preloaded onto the watch.
Open the Watch app, then go to Messages > Default Replies. Scroll to the bottom, and you should see the option to add custom replies.
23. You can send a quick heart or thumbs up on your Apple Watch, just like on iPhone.
With WatchOS 4, Apple also added the option to add your reactions to messages. Just like in iMessage on the iPhone, you can send a quick heart, thumbs up, or question mark to any message on the watch. Just Force Touch on the message, and you should see the menu pop up.
