Apple Watch Hacks That All Newbies Need to Know

Even if you already know how to use the Apple Watch for the basics (ie, fitness tracking, making calls, and checking notifications), there are some hidden tips and tricks that will improve your experience. While we wouldn’t call all of these features “Apple Watch hacks,” they are the lesser-known ways to improve your smartwatch experience.

Whether you’ve had an Apple Watch for a while or just got one, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Some of the most useful Apple Watch features are ones you might not notice during setup or daily use. Many of these features are hidden deep within the settings menu or within specific apps or tools.

All of our favorite Apple Watch hidden features are available on every Apple Watch model, from the Series 8 to the Series 4. You should be able to use all of the Apple Watch’s latest and greatest features as long as the watch is running the watchOS 9 software version (here’s how to check for an update).

But where should you start? Below are the best Apple Watch hacks, tips and tricks we discovered this year. 

1. Favorite frequently used timers

Setting a timer, one of the most well-known Apple Watch features, has a hidden tool you may not have noticed before. On your Apple Watch, you can create a list of favorite timers that appears at the top of the timer app. This way, the timers you use frequently are easily accessible in the app.

To favorite a timer, simply swipe left on a timer in ‘recents’ and tap the orange star button. Yes, it really is that easy. When you favorite a timer, it will appear in a new menu called ‘favorites’ above ‘recents.’ You can even save multiple timers as favorites for quick access.

2. Optimize charging for battery health

The Apple Watch supports optimized battery charging, which is perhaps better known for preserving the battery health of the iPhone. However, since watchOS 7, the Apple Watch has also provided optimized battery charging. The battery health of the Apple Watch is prone to deterioration over time due to a variety of factors. Improved charging can help the battery last longer. this is one of my favorite Apple Watch Hacks

The feature is enabled by default, but it is a good idea to double-check that it is. Select battery health from the battery settings menu. Toggle Optimized Battery Charging on and off. When you enable optimized charging on your Apple Watch, you may notice that it pauses charging between 75% and 80% capacity. This should only occur if your watch anticipates that you will leave it charging for an extended period of time. Based on your previous charging schedule and location, it will predict when to complete the charge.

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3. Enable Low Power Mode

The new Apple Watch low power mode is another way to extend the battery life of your Apple Watch. Low power mode, which is only available for smartwatches running watchOS 9, disables battery-draining features such as the always-on display and background health sensor readings. When you track a workout while in low power mode, GPS and heart rate readings are also limited.

Swipe up to open the Control Center on your Apple Watch to enable low power mode. Toggle on low power mode by tapping the bubble that shows your battery percentage. You’ll be prompted to consider the impact of low-power mode, with the option to enable it permanently or temporarily. You can use low-power mode for one day, two days, or three days.

4. Step count on your watch face

If you haven’t seen a step-count complication when changing the face of your Apple Watch before, it’s because there isn’t one — at least not natively. While complications for the weather, timers, your Apple Watch rings, and other useful information are available, there is no built-in way to see your step count on your Apple Watch face. You can, however, hack it using a third-party Apple Watch app.

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5. The digital crown orientation

Did you know you can rotate your Apple Watch so that the digital crown points in a different direction? While most people wear their Apple Watch with the digital crown on the upper right side next to the display, there is a way to flip the button. If you wear your Apple Watch on your right wrist, the digital crown is probably facing your forearm already. However, if you wear it on your left wrist, the digital crown will most likely point toward your hand.

Select orientation from the general settings menu on your Apple Watch. Choose whether you want your Apple Watch digital crown to face left or right. The display will flip upside down when you switch from right to left or vice versa. Experiment with these settings to determine which orientation is most comfortable for you.

6. Watch with hand gestures

Apple Watch Hacks where you can how use hand gestures to control your Apple Watch will allow you to use certain features of your smartwatch without touching the display or pressing either of the buttons. You won’t even have to use your opposite hand. Pinching your fingers or clenching your fists will allow you to control your Apple Watch. Hand gestures are one of the AssistiveTouch features on the Apple Watch, which are designed to make the Apple Watch experience more inclusive.

Open the Watch app on your iPhone and select Accessibility from the My Watch tab’s menu. From the Motor menu, select AssistiveTouch and turn it on. Toggle on Hand Gestures after selecting it from the Inputs menu. You can review the navigation functions associated with each gesture in the same menu where you toggled on hand gestures. There are four gestures: pinch, double pinch, clench, and double clench — you can assign different actions to each motion.

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