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Apple Watch

How to use Zoom on Apple Watch

by Abigail Shilets

Use Zoom to magnify what’s on the Apple Watch display.

With Zoom on, you can zoom in or out, move around the page, and adjust the magnification, and the small Zoom button shows you where you are on the page.

Here’s how to use Zoom on Apple Watch.

Turn on Zoom

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Go to Accessibility and tap Zoom. Then turn on Zoom.

You can also use your iPhone to turn on Zoom for your Apple Watch—go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Accessibility, then tap Zoom. You can also use the Accessibility Shortcut.

Controlling Zoom

When you’ve turned on Zoom, you can perform these actions on your Apple Watch.

  • Zoom in or out: Double-tap the Apple Watch display with two fingers.

    Tip: Double-tap with two fingers while setting up your Apple Watch to get a better look.

  • Move around (pan): Drag the display with two fingers. You can also turn the Digital Crown to pan over the entire page, left-right and up-down. The small Zoom button that appears shows you where you are on the page.
  • Use the Digital Crown normally instead of panning: Tap the display once with two fingers to switch between using the Digital Crown to pan and using the Digital Crown the way it works without Zoom on (for example, to scroll a list or zoom a map).
  • Adjust magnification: Double-tap and hold with two fingers, then drag your fingers up or down on the display. To limit magnification, tap the plus or minus button on the Maximum Zoom Level slider.

You can use hand gestures instead of taps to control Zoom. Go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, then go to Accessibility > Zoom > Hand Gestures. Turn on Hand Gestures, then use gestures including clench, double clench, tap, and double tap.

Note: The universal double tap gesture isn’t an option once you turn on Hand Gestures for Zoom.

See also

Tag: accessibility
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How to adjust text and display settings on Apple Watch

by Chris Smith

You can change text size and display settings to customize the appearance of onscreen elements. You can make text bold, turn on color filters, and adjust transparency.

Text size is quick to change from Control Center, and you can limit animation, too.

Here’s how to adjust text and display settings on Apple Watch.

Adjust text size in Control Center

  1. Press the side button to open Control Center.
  2. Tap the Adjust Text Size button and turn the Digital Crown to adjust.

Choose how text and other items appear on the screen

You can adjust transparency, make text bold, turn on color filters, and more.

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Accessibility, then adjust any of the following:
    • On/Off Labels: Adds visual indicators to switches—a vertical line shows when a switch is on, and a circle shows when it’s off.
    • Reduce Transparency: Reduces transparency effects to improve text readability against backgrounds.
    • Increase Contrast: Increases color contrast between text and backgrounds for better visibility.
    • Show Borders: Shows the outline of onscreen elements.
    • Color Filters: Applies a filter to view the entire screen in grayscale or adjust colors for color vision deficiencies.
    • Minimum Brightness: Sets a higher minimum brightness level when the display automatically adjusts to lighting conditions.
    • Text Size: Adjusts the size of text for better readability.
    • Bold Text: Makes text appear bolder and more prominent.

You can also go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Accessibility, then change an option.

Note: Changes in bold text and grayscale take effect after you restart your Apple Watch.

Limit animation

Motion on the Home Screen, and when apps open and close, is something you can limit.

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Go to Accessibility, tap Reduce Motion, and turn on Reduce Motion.

You can also go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, go to Accessibility > Reduce Motion, then turn on Reduce Motion.

Quick tip: Turn on Reduce Motion, choose grid view for the Home Screen, and every app icon ends up the same size.

See also

Tag: accessibility
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How to use the Accessibility Shortcut on Apple Watch

by Emily Long

You can set the Digital Crown to turn these accessibility features on or off with a triple click: AssistiveTouch, Control Nearby Devices, Left/Right Balance, Reduce Motion, Reduce Transparency, Touch Accommodations, VoiceOver, or Zoom. If you set up more than one, you choose a feature each time.

Set the Accessibility Shortcut

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Go to Accessibility, tap Accessibility Shortcut, and tap to put a checkmark next to each feature you want to turn on or off using the shortcut.

You can also go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, go to Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut, then choose an option.

Use the shortcut

  1. Press the Digital Crown quickly three times.

    If you’ve set up the shortcut to turn more than one feature on or off, choose a feature, then tap Done.

  2. Triple-click the Digital Crown again to turn off the accessibility feature.

See also

Tag: accessibility
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How to use VoiceOver on Apple Watch

by Moses Johnson

VoiceOver helps you use your Apple Watch even if you can’t see the display. Use simple gestures to move around the screen and listen as VoiceOver speaks each item you select.

It can even help you set up your Apple Watch, and you can turn it on from your iPhone, too. You can also use the VoiceOver rotor and adjust VoiceOver settings.

Here’s how to use VoiceOver on Apple Watch.

Turn VoiceOver on or off

Siri: Ask Siri something like, “Turn on VoiceOver.” See Control your Apple Watch and smart home accessories with Siri.

Or without using Siri:

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Go to Accessibility and tap VoiceOver. Turn on VoiceOver.

    To turn VoiceOver off, double-tap the VoiceOver button.

You can also use your iPhone to turn on VoiceOver for your Apple Watch—go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, go to Accessibility, then tap the VoiceOver option. Or, use the Accessibility Shortcut.

Use VoiceOver for setup

VoiceOver can help you set up your Apple Watch—triple-click the Digital Crown during setup. For step-by-step instructions, see Set up Apple Watch using VoiceOver.

VoiceOver gestures

Use these gestures to control your Apple Watch with VoiceOver.

Note: VoiceOver supports the Always On Display, and if you tap the dimmed display, it focuses on the element under your finger.

  • Explore the screen: Move your finger around on the display and listen as the name of each item you touch is spoken. You can also tap with one finger to select an item, or swipe left or right with one finger to select an adjacent item. Swipe left or right, up or down with two fingers to see other pages.
  • Go back: If you’ve gone down a path you didn’t expect, do a two-finger scrub: use two fingers to trace a “z” shape on the display.
  • Act on an item: With VoiceOver on, use a double tap instead of a single tap to open an app, switch an option, or perform any action that would normally be done with a tap. Select an app icon, list item, or option switch by tapping it or swiping to it, then double-tap to perform its action. For example, to turn VoiceOver off, select the VoiceOver button, then double-tap anywhere on the display.
  • Perform additional actions: Some items offer several actions—listen for “actions available” when you select an item. Swipe up or down to choose an action, then double-tap to perform it.
  • Pause reading: To have VoiceOver stop reading, tap the display with two fingers. Tap again with two fingers to resume.
  • Adjust VoiceOver volume: Double-tap and hold with two fingers, then slide up or down. Or go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, then go to Accessibility > VoiceOver and drag the slider.

You can use hand gestures instead of taps to control VoiceOver. Go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, then go to Accessibility > VoiceOver > Hand Gestures. Turn on Hand Gestures, then use gestures including clench, double clench, tap, and double tap.

Note: The universal double tap gesture isn’t available if you turn on Hand Gestures for VoiceOver.

Use the VoiceOver rotor

The rotor changes VoiceOver settings and jumps from one item to the next on the screen. Its options on Apple Watch include Words, Characters, Actions, Headings, Volume, and Speaking Rate.

When VoiceOver is turned on, rotate two fingers on your screen as if you’re turning a dial. VoiceOver speaks the rotor setting. Keep rotating your fingers to hear more settings. Stop rotating your fingers when you hear the setting you want.

Use these gestures with the rotor.

Action Gesture
Choose a rotor setting Rotate two fingers
Move to the previous item or increase (depending on the rotor setting) Swipe up
Move to the next item or decrease (depending on the rotor setting) Swipe down

Adjust VoiceOver settings

You can adjust VoiceOver behaviors from your Apple Watch. Go to the Settings app on your Apple Watch, go to Accessibility > VoiceOver, then do any of the following:

  • Turn off VoiceOver
  • Adjust the speaking rate
  • Set Speech options

    Tap Speech, then choose options for voice, pitch, rotor voices, and Improve Speech Clarity.

  • Set Audio options

    Tap Audio, where you can adjust VoiceOver volume and turn audio ducking on or off. You can also tap Sounds & Haptics to turn sounds, Match Speech Volume, and haptics on or off.

    When Match Speech Volume is on, the volume rotor changes the volume of VoiceOver speech and sounds; when it’s off, the volume rotor changes only the volume of VoiceOver speech.

  • Set Braille options

    Tap Braille, then choose options for Braille output, Braille input, word wrap, alert display duration, and Braille tables.

  • Set Keyboards options (not available on Apple Watch SE 3)

    Pair a Bluetooth keyboard to Apple Watch, tap Keyboards, then choose options for phonetic feedback, typing feedback, modifier keys, keyboard interaction time, and devices.

  • Turn off VoiceOver hints
  • Navigate with the Digital Crown
  • Choose to hear the name of the highlighted item when you raise your wrist
  • Turn on Screen Curtain, which turns off the display for privacy when using VoiceOver
  • Speak seconds
  • Configure Hand Gestures

You can find these same options on your iPhone. Go to the Apple Watch app, tap My Watch, then go to Accessibility > VoiceOver.

See also

Tags: accessibility, VoiceOver
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How to tell time on Apple Watch

by Stacey Butler

See the time on the watch face, hear the time spoken aloud, and feel the time as taps on your wrist. You can also turn on 24-hour time.

Just raise your wrist to see it on the watch face, or in the top-right corner of most apps. Apple Watch can also play chimes on the hour, like Bells or Birds. You can glance at the time without raising your wrist, too, with Always On.

Here’s how to tell time on Apple Watch.

See the time

The time shows in the top-right corner of most apps and on the watch face, so you can simply raise your wrist to see it.

Always On lets you glance at the watch face and time without raising your wrist.

Turn on 24-hour time

24-hour time doesn’t use AM and PM. Afternoon and evening hours appear as 13:00 through 23:59, so 8:00 PM, for example, shows as 20:00.

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap My Watch, tap Clock, and turn on 24-Hour Time.

Ask Siri for the time

Once you’ve turned on Raise to Speak, you can simply raise your wrist and say “What time is it?”

Hear the time with a gesture

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Clock, then turn on Speak Time.
  3. Hold two fingers on the watch face to hear the time.

Apple Watch can also play chimes on the hour. In the Settings app on Apple Watch, tap Clock, then turn on Chimes. Tap Sounds to choose Bells or Birds.

Play chimes and haptics at specified time intervals

With chimes turned on, Apple Watch plays your selected sound and haptics at regular time intervals.

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Accessibility and tap Chimes.
  3. Turn on Chimes, then set the following:
    • Schedule: Choose Hourly, 30 minutes, or 15 minutes.
    • Sounds: Choose Bells or Birds.

You can also set up chimes on your iPhone—go to the Apple Watch app, tap My Watch, tap Accessibility, then tap Chimes.

See also

Tag: Clock
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How to tell time with haptic feedback on Apple Watch

by Emily Long

Taptic Time tells you the current time as taps on your wrist—without anyone else hearing it. You can choose Digits, which uses long taps for tens and short taps for ones, Terse, which is accurate to a 15-minute period, or Morse Code.

Set up Taptic Time

  1. Start the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Clock and scroll down. Then tap Taptic Time.
  3. Turn on Taptic Time. Then select the pattern you want Taptic Time to use.

    • Digits: Conveys the hours and minutes by using long taps for tens and short taps for ones.

      For example, two long taps and three short taps, followed by three long taps and four short taps, would mean 23:34, or 11:34 p.m.

    • Terse: Conveys the time accurate to a 15-minute period; it’s less precise than Digits. It uses long taps to signify that 5 hours have passed since midnight, followed by short taps for the remaining hours and then long taps again for each quarter-hour.

      For example, three long taps, four short taps, and two long taps would convey a time between 19:30 (7:30 p.m.) and 19:44 (7:44 p.m.).

    • Morse Code: Taps out each digit of the current time in Morse Code. This is handy for people who are familiar with this coding system.

If VoiceOver is on, turn on Taptic Time by double-tapping the watch face while the display is inactive.

You can also configure Taptic Time on iPhone. Go to the Apple Watch app on iPhone, tap My Watch, go to Clock > Taptic Time, then turn it on.

Note: Taptic Time doesn’t work if Apple Watch is set to always speak the time. To use Taptic Time, first go to Settings > Clock, and then turn on Control With Silent Mode under Speak Time.

Use Taptic Time

When Taptic Time is turned on, touch and hold two fingers on the watch face to feel the current time as taps on your wrist.

See also

Tags: accessibility, Clock
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How to choose alert sounds and haptics on Apple Watch

by Dave Johnson

You can customize the sounds that Apple Watch plays for different types of alerts and notifications. Choose from several built-in sounds to help you distinguish between different types of alerts.

Each sound has a synchronized haptic pattern that you can feel as taps on your wrist, and you can preview it before you choose. You can make these changes on your iPhone, too, in the Apple Watch app.

Here’s how to choose alert sounds and haptics on Apple Watch.

Preview and choose alert sounds and haptics

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Sounds & Haptics.
  3. Tap Ringtone, Text Tone, or another category.
  4. Choose a tone to preview the sound and haptic pattern.

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 adjust motor skills settings on Apple Watch

by Emily Long

If you have trouble using the touchscreen, you can adjust settings to change how the screen responds to touches.

You can set the side button and Digital Crown button speed, and use Touch Accommodations to respond to touches of a certain duration or ignore multiple touches.

Here’s how to adjust motor skills settings on Apple Watch.

Set side button and Digital Crown button speed

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Go to Accessibility, tap Button Click Speed, and then choose a speed.

You can also go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, then go to Accessibility > Button Click Speed.

Use Touch Accommodations

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Go to Accessibility and tap Touch Accommodations to do any of the following:

    • Respond to touches of a certain duration: Turn on Hold Duration and tap the plus or minus buttons to adjust the duration.

      To perform swipe gestures without waiting for the specified hold duration, tap Swipe Gestures, then turn on Swipe Gestures. You can choose the amount of required movement before a swipe gesture begins.

    • Ignore multiple touches: Turn on Ignore Repeat and then tap the plus or minus buttons to adjust the amount of time allowed between multiple touches. Then, if you touch the screen several times quickly, your Apple Watch treats the touches as a single touch.
    • Respond to the first or last place you touch: Choose Use Initial Touch Location or Use Final Touch Location.

If you choose Use Initial Touch Location, your Apple Watch uses the location of your first tap—when you tap an app on the Home Screen, for example. If you choose Use Final Touch Location, your watch registers the tap where you lift your finger. Apple Watch responds to a tap when you lift your finger within a certain period of time. Tap the plus or minus buttons to adjust the timing. Your device can respond to other gestures, such as drags, if you wait longer than the gesture delay.

You can also go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, then go to Accessibility > Touch Accommodations.

See also

Tag: accessibility
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What you can do while on a call on Apple Watch

by Stacey Butler

During calls on your Apple Watch, you can adjust audio settings, switch between devices, enter numbers for extensions or verification codes, and use Hold Assist to wait for a live agent.

You can adjust the volume, mute the call, and move the call to your iPhone or to an audio device. With Call Context, you can get relevant information, too, and Hold Assist recognizes when a live agent is available.

Here’s what you can do while on a call on Apple Watch.

Adjust the audio volume

  1. Open the Phone app on your Apple Watch.
  2. During a call, do any of the following:
    • Adjust the volume: Turn the Digital Crown.
    • Mute the call: Tap the Mute button.

Switch the call to another device

  1. Open the Phone app on your Apple Watch.
  2. During a call, do any of the following:
    • Move the call from your Apple Watch to your iPhone: Unlock your iPhone and then tap the green button or bar at the top of the screen.
    • Move the call to an audio device: Tap the More Options button, then choose a device.

Enter additional numbers during a phone call

  1. Open the Phone app on your Apple Watch.
  2. During a call, tap the More Options button, then tap Keypad. (Not available on FaceTime calls.)
  3. Tap the digits on the keypad.

Use Hold Assist

Hold Assist can wait on hold for you if someone puts you on hold during a call, then notify you to return to the call when it recognizes that a live agent is available.

Note: Hold Assist is available when your Apple Watch is nearby your paired iPhone and requires iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 12, or later. Hold Assist isn’t available in all languages, countries, or regions.

  1. Open the Phone app on your Apple Watch.
  2. During a call, tap the More Options button and tap Hold Assist.

    Apple Watch automatically detects when you are placed on hold and asks if you want to be notified when an agent is available. Tap the Hold button in the notification to turn on Hold Assist.

  3. Hold Assist notifies you when an agent is available and transcribes the part of the call you missed. Tap the Answer Call button to rejoin the call.

Get relevant information

When you’re calling a business, Call Context can proactively surface relevant information from across your apps, such as a confirmation code from Mail when you call an airline.

The call screen showing the confirmation number for a ticket and flight information.

Note: Call Context requires your paired iPhone nearby. Call Context on watchOS 27 or later is an Apple Intelligence feature available when your Apple Watch is paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone. Apple Intelligence isn’t available in all regions or languages.*

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

Tag: Phone
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How to accept or decline incoming calls on Apple Watch

by Tyler Stephen

When you receive phone or FaceTime calls, you can answer on your Apple Watch or iPhone, dismiss calls and send them to voicemail, or reply with a text message. You can also use Call Screening to handle unknown callers automatically.

If you can’t answer, a wrist flick silences the call. And you can listen to and manage voicemail messages directly on your Apple Watch.

Here’s how to accept or decline incoming calls on Apple Watch.

WARNING: For important information about avoiding distractions that could lead to dangerous situations, see Important safety information for Apple Watch.

The Phone app showing an incoming call. The End Call button is at the bottom left. The Answer button is at the bottom center.

Answer a call

  1. When you hear or feel the call notification, raise your wrist to see who’s calling.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • Answer on your Apple Watch: Tap the answer button. Talk using the built-in microphone and speaker, your connected AirPods, or a Bluetooth device paired with your Apple Watch.
    • Answer using your iPhone: Tap the More Options button. Tap Answer on iPhone.

      The call is placed on hold and the caller hears a repeated sound until you answer on your paired iPhone.

      Tip: If you can’t find your iPhone, tap the Ping Phone button on your Apple Watch.

Dismiss a call

You can decline an incoming call if you can’t answer it.

  • Silence the call and send it to voicemail: Tap the end call button, cover the display, or perform a wrist flick.
  • Send a text message instead: Tap the More Options button, then tap an option.

Turn on Call Screening

Call Screening answers unknown callers automatically, so you’re not interrupted. When the caller has shared their name and the reason for the call, you decide whether to pick up.

Note: Call Screening requires that iPhone is nearby, and is available in Cantonese (China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao), English, French (Canada, France), German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese (China mainland, Macao, Taiwan), Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, U.S.).

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps, tap Phone, and then turn on Screen Incoming Calls in the Calls from Unknown Numbers section.

When you get an incoming call from an unknown number, tap View to see a live transcription of the caller’s response, then choose whether to accept or dismiss the call.

Listen to voicemail

If a caller leaves a voicemail, tap the Play button in the notification to listen. You can also listen to the voicemail later or see a transcription.

  1. Open the Phone app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Voicemail.
  3. Choose any of the following options:
    • Start and stop playback.
    • Skip ahead or back 5 seconds.
    • Adjust the volume with the Digital Crown.
    • Return the call.
    • Delete the voicemail.
    • Read a transcription of the voicemail.

See also

Tag: Phone
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