Table of Contents
The Digital Crown (the dial on the side)
Manipulating the Digital Crown on the side of the Apple Watch acts as the key to navigating the device. This small, rotatable dial enables you to effortlessly browse and control the device.
Spin the Digital Crown
Rotating the Digital Crown makes scrolling through options, messages, menus, and more a breeze. Simply spin the crown to zoom, scroll, or adjust what's shown on the screen.
Click the Digital Crown
A single press on the Digital Crown allows for easy access to the watch face or Home screen which consists of your collection of apps. Tapping it again takes you back to the watch face.
Double-click the Digital Crown
Rotating through recently used apps is as simple as a double-click on the Digital Crown. This action quickly returns you to the last application, saving time and effort from manually scrolling through your apps.
Hold down the Digital Crown
Pressing and holding the Digital Crown button activates Siri, Apple's voice-activated assistant. This feature is incredibly helpful for tasks like setting reminders, sending texts, or making calls, all hands-free.
The Side Button
Apart from the Digital Crown, the side button on the Apple Watch performs vital functions that enhance the overall usability of your watch.
Click the side button
Just one click of the side button reveals or conceals the Dock, which houses your favorite and recently used apps for quick access.
Double-click the side button
For seamless transactions, double-clicking the side button prompts Apple Pay. This action makes it easy to pay with a simple and secure process, without needing your iPhone.
Hold down the side button
Holding down the side button presents several options. You can turn off your watch, display your Medical ID, track your location, or use Emergency SOS. This button gives you access to critical features when you most need them.
Interaction with the Watch Face
The watch face of the Apple Watch is not just a time display but a portal to various features and functions. The use of simple swipe gestures can provide quick access to essential information.
Swipe up for widgets
Swiping up from the watch face reveals widgets or Glances. These provide quick bytes of information from numerous apps all at once, including running timers, maps directions, and currently playing music or podcasts. You can customize the widgets for quick access to other features like weather or messages. Simply swipe left or right to cycle through them all and tap one to open the full app for more information. It's like having a mini dock of your favorite apps.
Swipe down for notifications
Swiping down on the watch face unveils your list of notifications in a similar manner to your iPhone. This includes missed calls, messages, and app notifications. Tapping on a message opens it. If you want to remove them all, simply swipe them away. It's a comprehensive way to see all your alerts at a glance.
The Action Button (Only in Apple Watch Ultra)
The Apple Watch Ultra uniquely sports an Action Button, providing additional functionality. This button serves multiple purposes, allowing you to personalize it according to your preferences or immediate needs.
Click the Action Button
Clicking the Action Button is synonymous with activating one of several features that you can set. The actions range from turning on the flashlight, launching a workout, to setting a hiking waypoint, triggering a stopwatch, and executing a Shortcut. You can customize these settings from your Apple Watch under Settings > Action Button > Action.
Hold down the Action Button
Holding down the Action Button emits a loud siren noise. This function is predominantly useful in emergency situations when you might be lost, injured, or too exhausted to call out for help, alerting people around you of your location. To avoid unintentional activation, you can disable this sound under Settings > Action Button > Siren on your Apple Watch.
