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Apple Watch

How to extend the battery life on Apple Watch

by Moses Johnson

You can maximize battery life by turning on Low Power Mode or preventing apps from refreshing in the background.

Low Power Mode turns off certain features, like the Always On Display and background heart rate measurements. Other notifications may be delayed, and certain cellular and Wi-Fi connections are limited. Once the battery drops to 10 percent or lower, your watch even offers to turn it on.

Here’s how to extend the battery life on Apple Watch.

Turn on Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode turns off certain features, such as Always On Display, background heart rate and blood oxygen measurements, and heart rate notifications. Other notifications may be delayed, emergency alerts may not arrive, and certain cellular and Wi-Fi connections are limited. Cellular is turned off until you require it—when you stream music or send a message, for example.

When the battery level drops to 10 percent or lower, your Apple Watch asks if you want to turn on Low Power Mode. To turn it on manually, do the following:

  1. Press the side button to open Control Center.
  2. Tap the battery percentage, tap Low Power Mode.
  3. Tap Turn On or Turn On For. Choose a duration.

    The Low Power Mode screen with a partial yellow ring indicating the remaining charge. The Low Power Mode On button is at the bottom.

Return to the normal power mode

  1. Press the side button to open Control Center.
  2. Tap the battery percentage, then turn off Low Power Mode.

Prevent apps from refreshing in the background

Switching to a new app means the one you were using doesn’t stay open or take up system resources. It may still “refresh” in the background by checking for updates and new content.

To maximize battery life, you can turn this option off, since refreshing apps in the background can use power.

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap General, then tap Background App Refresh.
  3. Turn off Background App Refresh to prevent all apps from refreshing. Or scroll down and turn off refresh for individual apps.

Note: Even with their background app refresh setting off, apps with complications on the current watch face keep refreshing.

See also

Tag: Battery
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How to check battery health and usage on Apple Watch

by Kevin Hollington

You can monitor your Apple Watch battery in several ways: check the current battery level, view usage history and charging patterns, and assess overall battery health.

The quickest check is Control Center, which shows the battery percentage, including for connected accessories like AirPods. You can also add a battery complication to the watch face, or see the time since the last charge. And Apple Watch alerts you when battery capacity is significantly reduced.

Check the battery level of Apple Watch and accessories

  1. Press the side button to open Control Center and see the battery percentage.

    The battery level in Control Center.

  2. To see the battery levels of any Bluetooth connected accessories, such as AirPods, tap the battery percentage and turn the Digital Crown.

See the battery level on the watch face

If you add a battery complication to the watch face, you can check the battery level at a glance.

The screen for customizing the watch face. The battery percentage complication is in the top-right corner.

Check the time since the last charge

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Battery.

    The Battery screen shows the remaining battery percentage, a graph that details the recent history of the battery charge, and information about when the battery was last charged.

Check battery health

You can check your Apple Watch battery’s capacity relative to when it was new.

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Battery, then tap Battery Health.
  3. Scroll down to see the maximum capacity.

When battery capacity is significantly reduced, Apple Watch alerts you so you can check your service options.

See also

Tag: Battery
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How to charge the battery on Apple Watch

by Dave Johnson

Apple Watch has an internal lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Compared with traditional battery technology, lithium-ion batteries are lighter, charge faster, and have a higher power density for longer battery life.

For best results, you charge it with the included magnetic charger, though the MagSafe Duo Charger and compatible third-party chargers work, too. When Apple Watch needs to be charged, a low battery symbol appears on the screen. You can also optimize battery charging and use fast charging.

Set up the charger

The included magnetic charger gives the best results when you charge your Apple Watch, though a compatible third-party charger or the MagSafe Duo Charger, sold separately, works too.

  1. In a well-ventilated area, place your charger on a flat surface.
  2. Plug the charger into a power adapter (sold separately).
  3. Plug the adapter into a power outlet.

Begin charging Apple Watch

When Apple Watch needs to be charged, you see the low battery symbol on the screen.

  1. Position the back of your Apple Watch on the charger. The concave end of the charger magnetically snaps to the back of your Apple Watch and aligns it properly.

    The concave end of the charger magnetically snaps to the back of Apple Watch.

  2. When charging begins, a charging symbol appears on the watch face and a chime plays (unless your watch is in Silent Mode).

    Note: If the charging symbol is yellow, Apple Watch is in Low Power Mode. Low Power Mode turns off when the battery is charged to 80 percent.

Optimize battery charging

To reduce battery aging, Apple Watch learns your daily charging routines with on-device machine learning and holds off on charging past 80 percent until you need to use it.

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Battery, then tap Battery Health.
  3. Turn on Optimized Battery Charging or Optimized Charge Limit.

About fast charging

For fast charging, you need an 18W or greater USB-C Power Adapter and a compatible charger.

Note: Fast charging isn’t available in all countries or regions. The specifications of the included magnetic charger may vary depending on your country or region.

WARNING: For important safety information about the battery and charging Apple Watch, see Important safety information.

See also

Tag: Battery
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How to add complications to the watch face on your Apple Watch

by Kevin Hollington

On Apple Watch, you can add special features—called complications—to some watch faces, so you can instantly check things like stock prices, the weather report, or information from other apps you installed.

Most apps open right from their complication, and some show just what you need with a glance. Apps you get from the App Store can include complications, too.

Add complications to the watch face

  1. With the watch face showing, touch and hold the display and then tap Edit.
  2. Swipe left all the way to the end.

    If a face offers complications, they’re shown on the last screen.

  3. Tap a complication to select it and turn the Digital Crown to choose a new one—Activity or Heart Rate, for example.
  4. When you’re finished, press the Digital Crown to save your changes and tap the face to switch to it.

    The customize screen for a watch face showing featured complications. Turn the Digital Crown to browse complications.

Complications also come with some apps you get from the App Store.

Complication options on Apple Watch

You can open most apps by tapping a complication on the watch face. Some complications show specific information from a particular app so you see just what you need with a glance. Weather, for example, includes complications for air quality, conditions, temperature, and more.

The following apps offer multiple complications.

App Available complications
Activity Rings

Timeline
Astronomy Earth

Moon

Solar

Solar System
Calendar Your Schedule

Lunar Date

Today’s Date
Compass Compass

Elevation

Level
Compass Waypoints Last Viewed Waypoint

Saved Waypoints

Parked Car Waypoint
Depth Depth

Water Temperature
Home Home

Grid Forecast
Maps Nearby Transit

Maps, Get Directions
Mindfulness Mindfulness

State of Mind
Notes Open Notes

Last Edited Note

New Note
Shortcuts Shortcuts

Run Shortcut
Tides Swell

Tides
Time Analog Seconds

Analog Time

Digital Seconds

Digital Time
Timers Added Timers

Timer
Weather Air Quality

Conditions

Humidity

Rain

Temperature

UV Index

Wind
World Clock Sunrise/Sunset

Added Locations

See also

Tag: Watch Faces
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How to adjust volume and haptics on Apple Watch

by Emily Long

Apple Watch has separate volume controls for system sounds (such as alerts, alarms, and timers), Siri, and media playback (such as music and podcasts). Adjust the volume to ensure you receive notifications and hear audio in a way that works best for you.

You can also adjust the strength of haptic feedback—the taps and vibrations Apple Watch uses for notifications, alerts, and interactions. It’s under Sounds & Haptics in the Settings app.

Here’s how to adjust volume and haptics on Apple Watch.

Adjust the volume for alerts, alarms, timers, and system sounds

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Sounds & Haptics.
  3. Set any of the following:

    • Silent mode: Silence all alerts.
    • Automatically adjust volume: Apple Watch can automatically change the volume for ringtones, notifications, alarms, and timers based on the ambient noise around you (available on Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and later). Turn on Automatically Adjust Volume, tap Level, and then choose Default, Louder, or Quieter.

      Note: When Automatically Adjust Volume is turned on, the volume doesn’t exceed a certain level.

    • Manually adjust volume: Turn off Automatically Adjust Volume and then adjust the volume slider (up to a maximum of 100%).
    • Headphone Safety: Turn on Reduce Loud Sounds. Adjust the maximum audio level.

You can also make these adjustments on your iPhone—go to the Apple Watch app, tap My Watch, then tap Sounds & Haptics.

Adjust the volume of Siri

While Siri is speaking, turn the Digital Crown to control the volume, or change it in Settings.

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Siri, then scroll down and tap Siri Responses.
  3. Scroll down to Voice Volume. Set any of the following:

    • Automatically adjust volume: Apple Watch can automatically change the volume for Siri based on the ambient noise around you (available on Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and later). Turn on Automatically Adjust Volume and tap Level and choose Default, Louder, or Quieter.

      Note: When Automatically Adjust Volume is turned on, the volume doesn’t exceed a certain level.

    • Manually adjust volume: Turn off Automatically Adjust Volume and then adjust the volume slider (up to a maximum of 100%).

You can also make these adjustments on your iPhone—go to the Apple Watch app, tap My Watch, tap Siri, then tap Siri Responses.

Adjust the volume for music and media

Turning the Digital Crown controls the volume while audio media is playing. You can change the volume in Control Center, too.

  1. Press the side button to open Control Center.
  2. Tap the Volume button.
  3. Drag the slider to adjust the volume level.

Adjust haptic intensity

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Sounds & Haptics.
  3. Adjust any of the following:
    • Haptics: Set the intensity of wrist taps to Default, Prominent, or Off.
    • Crown Haptics: Turn on or off haptic feedback when you rotate the Digital Crown to scroll.
    • System Haptics: Turn on or off the haptics for system controls and interactions.

You can also make these adjustments on your iPhone—go to the Apple Watch app, tap My Watch, then tap Sounds & Haptics.

See also

Tag: Settings
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How to use Tides on Apple Watch

by Tyler Stephen

Use the Tides app on your Apple Watch to plan and enjoy coastal location activities and stay informed of changing tidal conditions over a 7-day period.

You can add and remove locations, view location details, and check tides, including the current tide level and future high and low tides. You can see swell height and water temperature, too, and nearby locations show up in the Maps view.

Here’s how to use Tides on Apple Watch.

Note: The availability of Tides features may vary depending on your country or region.

WARNING: The Tides app displays or uses information from third parties, which may be unavailable, inaccurate, or incomplete, and is not intended to be relied upon in situations where imprecise information may lead to death, personal injury, or severe environmental damage.

Add and remove locations

A screen in the Tides app showing a list of locations with tide info.

  1. Open the Tides app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap the List button, then tap the Add button.
  3. Enter what you’re looking for and then tap Search.

    Note: You can also view nearby locations in the Maps view.

  4. Tap a location to add it.

To remove a location, swipe left on its name in the location list, then tap the Delete button.

View location details

Tides shows a summary of changing tidal conditions.

  1. Open the Tides app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap a location and tap the tide summary at the bottom of the screen to view the following coastal weather metrics:

    • Tides: Shows the current tide level and future high and low tides.
    • Swell: Shows the swell height, direction, period, and water temperature.

      Note: Swell and water temperature aren’t available in all locations.

    • Weather: Shows the current temperature, UV index, and visibility.
    • Wind: Shows the wind speed and direction.
    • Sunrise and Sunset: Shows the sunrise and sunset time, and the time for First Light and Last Light.
    • Severe Alert: Shows details for a severe weather alert

      Note: Severe weather alerts aren’t available in all locations.

To view the location in the Maps app, tap Open in Maps.

To view the location in the Weather app, tap Open in Weather.

Check tides

When you tap a location, you can scroll through 7 days of tidal information. You can view tidal extrema, estimations of rising and falling tides, sunrise and sunset, and more.

A screen in the Tides app showing tide information for a location.

  1. Open the Tides app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap the List button and tap a location.
  3. Turn the Digital Crown to see estimations for the next high tide, rising tide, sunset, and more.
  4. When you’re finished, tap the Close button.
Tag: Tides
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How to enter text on Apple Watch

by Abigail Shilets

You can enter text by dictating, scribbling with your finger, or typing on the onscreen keyboard. You can also use emoji and switch to typing on your paired iPhone.

You can switch input methods anytime you’re entering text, like when composing a message. With Scribble, you draw letters on the screen with your finger, and dictation has your speech transcribed to text. The onscreen keyboard isn’t available on Apple Watch SE 3, though.

Here’s how to enter text on Apple Watch.

Change the input method while entering text on Apple Watch

Whenever you enter text, such as when you’re composing a message, you can change the input method.

  1. Tap a text field—such as a new message or a search field.
  2. The button at the bottom right indicates the current input method. To change the input method, tap the button. Then choose one of the following:
    • Onscreen keyboard: Tap the Keyboard button. (Not available in all languages; not available on Apple Watch SE 3.)
    • Scribble: Tap the Scribble button to draw letters on the screen with your finger. (Not available in all languages.)
    • Dictation: Tap the Dictate button to have your speech transcribed to text. (Not available in all languages.)

Dictate text

The text field screen showing a message created with dictation. The Emoji and Dictation buttons are at the bottom of the screen.

When the input method is set to dictation (not available in all languages), you can do the following:

  • Speak punctuation: For example, say something like “Did it arrive question mark.”
  • Speak emoji: For example, say something like “Thumbs up emoji.”
  • Move the cursor: Turn the Digital Crown.
  • Replace a word: Tap the word, then say a different word.
  • Select all: Double-tap the screen.
  • Erase: Tap the Erase button.

Scribble with your finger

The text field screen showing a letter written with Scribble. The Emoji and Scribble buttons are at the bottom of the screen.

When the input method is set to Scribble (not available in all languages), you can do the following:

  • Write: Use your finger to write letters, numbers, and punctuation on the screen.
  • Add a space: Tap Space.
  • Move the cursor: Turn the Digital Crown.
  • Use predictive text: Turn the Digital Crown to see suggested words, then stop turning the Digital Crown to enter the highlighted suggestion.
  • Replace a word with a suggestion: Tap the word, then turn the Digital Crown.
  • Select all: Double-tap the text.
  • Erase: Tap the Erase button.

Type with the onscreen keyboard

Note: The onscreen keyboard is not available in all languages or on Apple Watch SE 3.

The text field screen showing a message created with the onscreen keyboard. The Emoji and Onscreen Keyboard buttons are at the bottom of the screen.

When you set the input method to the onscreen keyboard, you can do the following:

  • Type: Tap characters to enter them.
  • Use QuickPath: Slide from one letter to the next without lifting your finger. To end a word, lift your finger.
  • Use predictive text: Suggested words appear as you type. Tap a finished or unfinished word to highlight it, then turn the Digital Crown to see suggested words. Stop turning the Digital Crown to enter the highlighted suggestion.
  • Move the cursor: Turn the Digital Crown.
  • Switch to a different keyboard: If you’ve set up your Apple Watch to use more than one language, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen, then choose a different language keyboard.

Add emoji

  1. When entering text using dictation, Scribble, or the onscreen keyboard, tap the Emoji Picker button.

    The text field screen showing emoji.

  2. To browse, touch and hold the categories at the bottom and drag left and right.
  3. When you find the right emoji, tap it.

Type on your iPhone

With your paired iPhone nearby, you can enter text from it instead.

  1. On Apple Watch, start dictating or entering text.
  2. On iPhone, tap the notification for Apple Watch Keyboard Input and then continue dictating or typing.

See also

Tag: Keyboard
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How to update Apple Watch software

by Stacey Butler

You can update your Apple Watch software directly on your Apple Watch, or by checking for updates in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.

On your watch, it’s in the Settings app, under General and then Software Update.

Here’s how to update Apple Watch software.

Check for and install software updates

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap My Watch, go to General, tap Software Update, then, if an update is available, tap Download and Install.

You can also go to the Settings app on your Apple Watch, tap General, then tap Software Update.

See also

Tags: Settings, watchOS
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How to get apps in the App Store on Apple Watch

by Abigail Shilets

Apple Watch includes apps for a variety of communication, health, fitness, and timekeeping tasks. You can install apps you have on your iPhone and get new apps from the App Store.

In the App Store, you can get details about an app including screenshots, ratings, reviews, accessibility support, privacy information, file size, age ratings, and more. You pay with the payment method associated with your Apple Account, and you can get automatic downloads and updates.

Note: When you use Apple Watch with cellular service, cellular data charges may apply.

Discover and find apps

  1. Start the App Store app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • Browse apps and collections: Scroll down or turn the Digital Crown.
    • Search: Tap the Search button, enter what you’re looking for and tap Search. You can search by app name, category, developer, and more.
  3. Tap an app to see the details.

Buy and download an app

  1. Start the App Store app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Go to the app you want and tap Get (if the app is free) or the price.

    An App Store screen showing the product page of an app with a short description of the app, its ratings, and the Get button on the right.

    If you see the Download button, you’ve already purchased the app. You can download it again without a charge.

  3. Double-click the side button to complete your purchase.

    Purchases are made with the payment method associated with your Apple Account.

Get automatic downloads and updates

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap App Store. Adjust any of the following settings:
    • Automatic Downloads: Automatically install the watchOS version of free and paid apps purchased on other devices.
    • Automatic Updates: Automatically download new versions of your apps when they’re available.

You can also go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, then go to App Store.

Install apps you already have on iPhone

When they’re available, the watch-compatible versions of your iPhone apps install on Apple Watch automatically by default. You can also pick specific apps to install.

  1. Start the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap My Watch and tap Apps. Then scroll down to Available Apps.
  3. Tap Install next to the apps you want to install.

See your purchase history

  1. Start the App Store app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Account. Tap Purchased.

See also

Tag: App Store
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How to track daily activity with Apple Watch

by Stacey Butler

The Activity app on your Apple Watch helps you keep track of your movement throughout the day and encourages you to meet your fitness goals. It tracks how often you stand, how much you move, and how many minutes of exercise you do, and three rings in different colors summarize your progress. The goal is to sit less, move more, and get some exercise by completing each ring every day.

The Fitness app on your iPhone keeps a record of your activity. If you’ve tracked at least 6 months of activity, it displays daily trend data, from active calories and exercise minutes to stand hours, walking pace, and cardio fitness, so you can see how you’re doing compared with your average activity.

Note: Your Apple Watch is not a medical device. For important information about using the wellness apps safely, see Important safety information for Apple Watch.

Get started

You’re asked if you’d like to configure the Activity app when you set up your Apple Watch. If you choose not to, you can do it the first time you open the Activity app.

  1. Start the Activity app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Use the Digital Crown to read the Move, Exercise, and Stand descriptions. Tap Get Started.

Check your progress

Go to the Activity app on your Apple Watch at any time to see how you’re doing. The Activity app displays three rings:

  • The red Move ring shows how many active calories you’ve burned.
  • The green Exercise ring shows how many minutes of brisk activity you’ve done.
  • The blue Stand ring shows how many times in the day you’ve stood and moved for at least 1 minute per hour.

The Activity screen, showing the Move, Exercise, and Stand rings.

When you’ve specified that you use a wheelchair, the blue Stand ring turns into the Roll ring, showing how many times you’ve rolled for at least one minute per hour during the day.

When you turn the Digital Crown, your current totals appear, and if you keep scrolling, you’ll see your progress for each of your rings, plus your total steps, total distance, flights climbed, and activity history.

An overlapping ring means you exceeded your goal. Tap the Weekly Summary button to see how you’re doing for the week.

See your weekly summary

  1. Start the Activity app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap the Weekly Summary button.

You’ll find a daily average and weekly total of your progress toward closing your rings in the summary.

Check your activity history

  1. Start the Fitness app on your iPhone and then tap Summary.
  2. Tap the Activity rings, tap the Calendar button, and then tap a date.

Check your trends

The Trends area in the Fitness app on iPhone shows daily trend data for active calories, exercise minutes, stand hours, and walking distance, along with stand minutes, cardio fitness, walking pace, and running pace. Trends weighs your last 90 days of activity against the last 365.

To see more detail, follow these steps:

  1. Start the Fitness app on your iPhone.
  2. In the Trends area, tap a trend to see the history.

A Trend arrow pointing up for a particular metric means you’re maintaining or improving your fitness levels. When an arrow points down, it means your 90 day average for that metric has started to decline, and you’ll receive coaching, like “Walk an extra quarter of a mile a day,” to help motivate you to turn the trend around.

See your awards

You can earn awards for personal records, streaks, and major milestones using your Apple Watch. To see all your awards, including Activity Competition awards and awards you’re making progress towards, follow these steps:

  1. Start the Activity app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap the Awards button.
  3. Tap an award category (like Monthly Challenges). Then tap an award to learn more about it.

You can also open the Fitness app on your iPhone, then tap Awards.

See Compete with your friends for more information about competitions.

An award achievement showing on Apple Watch. Below the award is a description of the award. You can drag to rotate the award.

See your workout, meditation, and dive history

For workouts, dives, and meditations you’ve completed in Apple Fitness+, the Workout app, the Depth app, and compatible third-party apps, you can see data like your average heart rate, how long you worked out, total calories burned, and more.

  1. Start the Activity app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the screen.
  3. To review a workout, meditation, or dive, tap it.

Control activity reminders

Reminders can help when it comes to meeting goals. Your Apple Watch lets you know if you’re on track or falling behind your Activity goals. To choose which reminders and alerts you’d like to see, follow these steps:

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Activity and then configure the notifications.

You can also open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Apps, then tap Activity.

Suspend daily coaching

To turn off activity reminders, follow these steps:

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Activity, then turn off Daily Coaching.

You can also open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Activity, then turn off Daily Coaching.

See also

Tag: Fitness
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