Got a tip for us?

Apple Watch

How to protect a lost Apple Watch

by Tyler Stephen

If you lose your Apple Watch, you can try to locate it in Find My, put it in lost mode, erase it, and remove payment cards.

When you mark your Apple Watch as lost, it’s locked with a passcode so others can’t access your personal information, and Apple Pay is suspended. Before you erase it, you can still try to locate it or play a sound on it, since Find My can’t do either after that.

Locate your Apple Watch

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap My Watch, then tap All Watches.
  3. Tap the Info button next to your watch and then tap Find My Apple Watch.
  4. In the Find My app on your iPhone, tap your watch to see its location on a map.

If the map tells you your Apple Watch is at your location, tap Play Sound.

Mark your Apple Watch as lost

Marking your Apple Watch as lost locks your watch with a passcode, so others can’t access your personal information. It also suspends the ability to pay with Apple Pay using credit or debit cards in Wallet.

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap My Watch, then tap All Watches.
  3. Tap the Info button next to your watch and then tap Find My Apple Watch.
  4. In the Find My app on your iPhone, tap your Apple Watch and then tap the More button.
  5. Tap Lost Mode and then tap Continue.
  6. Enter a phone number if you want the person who finds your Apple Watch to contact you.
  7. Tap Next. Enter a message that will be shown on your Apple Watch when someone finds it.
  8. Tap Next and then tap Activate to mark Apple Watch as lost.

When you find your Apple Watch, either enter your passcode on the watch or, on your iPhone, open Find My, tap Devices, tap your Apple Watch, tap Activated, then tap Turn Off Mark As Lost.

Erase a lost Apple Watch

Try to locate your device or play a sound on it before you erase it, because after you erase it, Find My can’t do either.

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap My Watch, then tap All Watches.
  3. Tap the Info button next to your watch and then tap Find My Apple Watch.
  4. In the Find My app on your iPhone, tap your watch and then tap Erase.

Remove payment cards using a web browser

You can remove your cards by signing in to the Apple Account website with your Apple Account if your Apple Watch is lost or stolen.

  1. In the Devices area, choose the device.
  2. Click Remove Items below Wallet & Apple Pay, then click Remove Items again to confirm.

You can also call the issuers of your cards.

When your iPhone and Apple Watch are no longer connected, or one of them isn’t working as expected, start by erasing the contents of your Apple Watch. Then unpair it in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, if it’s available.

See also

Tags: Find My, Privacy & Security
Show Full Article

How to use cards and passes in Wallet on Apple Watch

by Kevin Hollington

Show a boarding pass at the gate, a loyalty card at a store or cafe, or a QR code at a pickup counter. You can also tap to access your supported dorm, workplace, car, or home.

Express Mode, Automatic Selection, and Suggest in Smart Stack can pick a card for you automatically, though not all options are available for all cards. With Express Mode, a transit card can be selected at the metro station without waking your watch.

Here’s how to use cards and passes in Wallet on Apple Watch.

Present a barcode or QR code to a scanner

  1. Open the Wallet app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Scroll to the pass you want. Tap the pass.
  3. Scroll down so the code is visible and then present the code to the scanner.

Present a card or pass to a contactless reader

  1. Double-click the side button and then scroll to the card you want to use.
  2. Hold Apple Watch within a few centimeters of the reader, with the display facing the reader, until Apple Watch vibrates.

Automatically select and use a card

For convenience, you can use Express Mode, Automatic Selection, or Suggest in Smart Stack. (Not all options are available for all cards.)

  1. Open the Wallet app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap a card and tap Details.
  3. Turn on any of the following:
    • Express Mode: The card is automatically selected when needed—for example, a transit card at the metro station—without waking or unlocking your Apple Watch. You may even be able to use your card, pass, or key when Apple Watch needs to be charged.
    • Automatic Selection: The card is automatically selected when requested by the reader.
    • Suggest in Smart Stack: The card automatically appears in the Smart Stack based on your time or location—for example, a boarding pass near your departure time.

See also

Tag: Wallet
Show Full Article

How to ping your Apple Watch with iPhone

by Chris Smith

You can use your iPhone to help you find Apple Watch if it’s nearby. (Requires iPhone with iOS 17 or later.)

You add Ping My Watch to Control Center on your iPhone, then ping your watch from there. If you have more than one Apple Watch, it plays on whichever watch is selected in All Watches. You can also learn how to play a sound on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch and protect a lost Apple Watch.

Add Ping My Watch to Control Center

  1. On your iPhone, open Control Center with one of the following methods:

    • On an iPhone with Face ID: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
    • On an iPhone with a Home button: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
  2. Tap the Add button at the top left of the screen.

    You see Control Center in edit mode.

  3. Tap Add a Control at the bottom of the screen to open the controls gallery, scroll down to the Watch controls, and tap Ping My Watch.

Ping your watch from Control Center on iPhone

  1. On your iPhone, open Control Center with one of the following methods:

    • On an iPhone with Face ID: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
    • On an iPhone with a Home button: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
  2. Tap the Ping Apple Watch button.

    If you have more than one Apple Watch, the sound will play on the watch that’s selected in All Watches in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.

See also

Tags: Control Center, Find My
Show Full Article

How to unlock your iPhone with Apple Watch

by Dave Johnson

Your Apple Watch can unlock your iPhone. It needs a passcode, and it has to be unlocked, on your wrist, and close to your iPhone. To allow Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone for Siri requests or when an obstruction prevents Face ID from recognizing your face, do the following:

  1. On iPhone, open Settings and tap Face ID & Passcode. Then enter your passcode.
  2. Scroll down to Unlock With Apple Watch and turn on the setting for your watch.

    If you have more than one watch, turn on the setting for each one.

  3. To unlock your iPhone, make sure you’re wearing Apple Watch and wake your iPhone. Glance at its screen.

    Apple Watch taps your wrist to let you know that your iPhone has been unlocked.

Note: To unlock your iPhone, Apple Watch must have a passcode, be unlocked and on your wrist, and be close to your iPhone.

See also

Tags: Continuity, Privacy & Security
Show Full Article

How to unlock your Mac with Apple Watch

by Emily Long

Your Apple Watch can instantly unlock your Mac when it wakes from sleep. You need to be signed in to the same Apple Account on both your Mac and Apple Watch.

Your Mac needs to be a mid-2013 or later model with macOS 10.13 or later, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and your Apple Watch has to use a passcode.

Here’s how to unlock your Mac with Apple Watch.

Turn on Auto Unlock

  1. Make sure that your devices are set up as follows:

    • You have a Mac (mid-2013 or later) with macOS 10.13 or later.

      To find the model year of your Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your computer screen, then choose About This Mac. The year your Mac was made is listed next to the model—for example, “MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018).”

    • Your Mac has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
    • Your Mac and Apple Watch are signed in to the same Apple Account, and your Apple Account has two-factor authentication turned on.
    • Your Apple Watch is using a passcode.
  2. On your Mac, do one of the following:

    • On macOS 13 or later: Choose Apple menu > System Settings. Click Login Password.
    • On macOS 12 or earlier: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Security & Privacy, and click General.
  3. Select Use Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac.

    If you have more than one Apple Watch, select the watches you want to use to unlock your apps and Mac.

If you don’t have two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple Account, follow the onscreen instructions, then try selecting the checkbox again.

Unlock your Mac

While you’re wearing your watch, wake up your Mac, and there’s no need to type in your password.

Quick tip: Keep Apple Watch on your wrist and unlocked, and stay near your Mac.

See also

Tags: Continuity, Privacy & Security
Show Full Article

How to play audio during a workout on Apple Watch

by Chris Smith

You can set media to automatically play when you begin a workout type—either media selected for you by Apple Music based on the workout type and the music you love (Apple Music subscription required), or media you choose yourself. You’ll set it up separately for each workout type.

Note: To automatically play audio during a workout, you need Bluetooth® headphones or speakers, since audio won’t play automatically through the Apple Watch speaker (supported models). For more, see our guide, Choose an audio destination.

Choose audio for a workout

  1. Go to the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Turn the Digital Crown to the workout you want to do.

    To view all workouts, tap the Add button at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap the Media Playback button. Then turn on Autoplay Media.
  4. Pick what media is played:

    • To have media play automatically based on what you listen to and the type of workout, tap Picked for You (Apple Music subscription required).
    • To choose a suggested option, tap Choose Media, tap Add Media, then tap an option below Suggestions.

      Note: Suggestion for a workout type are based on what you’ve recently listened to. To view more options, tap Music or Podcasts below Sources.

    • To choose a playlist, tap Choose Media, tap Add Media, tap Music, tap Playlist, then choose a playlist.
  5. When you’re finished, tap the Back button.
  6. When you’re ready start your workout, tap the Start button.

Note: If you’re already listening to music or other audio before you begin your workout, it continues to play.

See also

Tags: Fitness, Music
Show Full Article

How to add music to Apple Watch

by Dave Johnson

When you add music to your Apple Watch, you can listen to it wherever you go, even when you don’t have your iPhone with you.

You can add specific playlists and albums using the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, you can also add music with the Music app directly on your Apple Watch.

And subscribers don’t have to choose specific music at all. Music you’ve recently listened to is added automatically, and if you haven’t listened to anything, music recommended by Apple Music is added. Music is added when your watch is near your iPhone, and music you want to listen to on your Apple Watch, like music that motivates you during a workout, can go in its own playlist.

Add music using your iPhone

  1. Start the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap My Watch, tap Apps, and then tap Music.
  3. Below Playlists & Albums, tap Add Music.
  4. Go to albums and playlists you want to sync to your Apple Watch and then tap the Add List button to add them to the Playlists & Albums queue.

Apple Watch adds music when it’s near your iPhone.

Quick tip: In the Music app on your iPhone, you can create playlists specifically for the music you want on your Apple Watch, like songs that motivate you during a workout.

Add music using your Apple Watch

As an Apple Music subscriber, you can add music right from your Apple Watch.

A screen in the Music app showing the Home tab.

  1. Start the Music app on your Apple Watch.
  2. On the Home screen, go to the music you want to add.

    Or, from the Home screen, tap the Back button, tap Search, then enter what you’re looking for.

  3. Tap a playlist or album and tap the More Options button. Tap Add to Library.

    A message confirms that the item was added.

    Note: You can stream music you add to Apple Watch when you have an internet connection. To play music when you’re not connected to the internet, you must first download it.

  4. To download the music to Apple Watch, tap the More Options button again and tap Download.

Note: Downloading music uses more of your Apple Watch’s charge than normal when it isn’t connected to power.

See also

Tag: Music
Show Full Article

How to use the Tips app on Apple Watch

by Abigail Shilets

In the Tips app, see collections of tips that help you get the most from your Apple Watch. You can discover new features in watchOS, learn how to customize your watch, and more.

You can quickly access the latest tips with the Tips widget in the Smart Stack or the Tips complication on the watch face. You can also find more resources for Apple Watch software and service.

Here’s how to use the Tips app on Apple Watch.

A tip showing in the Tips app.

View tips on Apple Watch

  1. Open the Tips app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap a tips collection. Scroll down to read the tip.
  3. To replay an animated tip, tap the Replay button.
  4. Tap the Try It button (if available), to see how the tip works on your Apple Watch.

Quickly access the latest tips

See also

Tag: Tips
Show Full Article

How to change the settings on Apple Watch

by Emily Long

Settings on Apple Watch stay in sync, so a change you make in one place updates in the others. For quick access to common settings like volume, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Focus modes, there’s Control Center. You can adjust Apple Watch settings in these places:

  • On your iPhone using the Apple Watch app
  • Directly on your watch using the Settings app
  • In Control Center for commonly used settings—like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Focus modes

Note: You can find some settings only in the Apple Watch app on iPhone.

All these places keep settings in sync, so a change in one updates the others.

Find and change settings in the Apple Watch app

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap My Watch to see the settings for your Apple Watch.

    If you have more than one Apple Watch paired with your iPhone, you see the settings for your active Apple Watch.

    The Apple Watch app on iPhone open to the My Watch screen, which shows your watch faces near the top and settings below. There are three tabs at the bottom of the Apple Watch app screen: the left tab is My Watch, where you go for Apple Watch settings; next is the Face Gallery, where you can explore available watch faces and complications; then Discover, where you can learn more about Apple Watch.

  3. To find a setting, tap the search field. Then enter what you’re looking for.

Adjust preferences in the Settings app on Apple Watch

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. To browse the settings, swipe up or down or turn the Digital Crown.
  3. Tap a setting and make adjustments.

Make quick adjustments in Control Center on Apple Watch

Common settings, such as Wi-Fi, volume, Bluetooth, and Focus modes, are conveniently accessible.

  1. Press the side button to open Control Center.
  2. Adjust any of the controls.

See also

Tag: Settings
Show Full Article

How to use tap gestures on Apple Watch

by Chris Smith

You can use the double tap gesture to do common actions such as answer a call, reply to a message, scroll through supported apps, and open and scroll through the Smart Stack. In the Smart Stack, the single tap gesture selects a widget.

Both gestures use your index finger and thumb. And when the double tap icon shakes, double tap isn’t available for that screen. The double tap gesture isn’t supported in some situations, too.

Perform the single tap gesture

Tap your index finger and thumb together.

Perform the double tap gesture

Tap your index finger and thumb together twice.

When double tap isn’t available

If the double tap icon shakes from side to side, double tap isn’t available for that screen or third-party app.

Note: The double tap gesture isn’t supported in the following situations:

  • Low Power Mode is turned on.
  • Sleep Focus is active.
  • The display is inactive because your wrist is down.
  • Apple Watch is locked.
  • Accessibility features that use hand gestures are turned on.
  • Apple Watch is set up for a family member.

Customize the tap gestures

Choose what a double tap does when playing media:

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Tap Gestures and then set any of the following:
    • Playback: Choose Play/Pause or Skip.
    • Ignore Tap Gestures: Temporarily ignore tap gestures while using Apple Vision Pro.
    • Off: Turn Tap Gestures off if you don’t want to use them.

You can also go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Gestures, then tap Double Tap.

See also

Tag: Setup
Show Full Article