20 Useful Tips for New Apple Watch Owners

If you recently got an Apple Watch or know someone who did, there are a lot of useful hidden little tips and tricks to take advantage of. We've rounded up 20 helpful tips that new Apple Watch owners should be aware of, and there may even be some tips and tricks seasoned Apple Watch owners don't know.


  • Rearrange Apps - In the main app grid, if you press and hold on an app, you can move it around to create a new app grid design. You can also rearrange apps in the Watch app on iPhone by going to App View > Arrangement.
  • Use List View - Hate the grid view? Open up the Watch app on ‌iPhone‌, tap "App View" and then choose List View to see all of your apps in a list when you press the Apple Watch Digital Crown.
  • Delete Apps - When your watch is in List View, swipe from right to left to delete an app. This works for third-party apps. You can also do this by holding down on an icon in the grid view.
  • Quickly Access Favorite Apps - The side button on the watch opens up recent apps by default, but if you go to the Watch app on ‌iPhone‌ and tap "Dock," you can change it to show a selection of favorite apps instead.
  • Use Tapback for Messages - When you get a message, a Tapback is a quick and useful way to reply. Just press on any incoming message and you can select a response like like, dislike, laugh, and more.
  • Take Advantage of Smart Replies - Smart Replies are also useful for responding to messages on Apple Watch. In the Apple Watch ‌iPhone‌ app under Messages, tap on Default Replies. Tap on any item in the list to customize it, and then when you get a message, swipe down to get to your reply options.
  • Silence a Phone Call - You can silence an incoming call by placing a hand over the Apple Watch's display. This will make the ringing stop, but the call won't be declined.
  • Clear Notifications - Swipe down on the Apple Watch display to get to notifications, and then scroll all the way up through the list and you'll see a Clear All option to get rid of all of your notifications at once.
  • Jump Back to the Top of an App - If you're using an app and need to get back to the top quickly after scrolling down, just tap on the time in the right corner.
  • See Battery Life in Nightstand Mode - When your Apple Watch is charging in Nightstand Mode, tap on the battery icon. Make sure Nightstand Mode is on by opening up the Apple Watch app on ‌iPhone‌, tapping "General" and then toggling on Nightstand Mode.
  • Swap Between Apps Quickly - Want to get back to the last app you used? Just double press on the Digital Crown.
  • Access Control Center - There are lots of quick tap controls on the Apple Watch in the Control Center. Swipe up from the bottom of the Apple Watch display to get to it. If you're inside an app, press and hold for a second or two and then swipe up.
  • Ping a Lost iPhone - Open up Control Center and then tap the little phone icon to ping your connected ‌iPhone‌. It's a useful way to find an ‌iPhone‌ you've misplaced. When it's pinging, hold down on the phone icon if you also want to make the camera flash.
  • Skip the Workout Countdown - There's a three second countdown when launching a Workout. To skip it, tap on the display.
  • Pause a Workout - You can quickly pause a workout by pressing the Digital Crown and the Side button together. Press them again to unpause.
  • Mark Workout Segments - In some workouts, it's useful to mark segments. To do so, double tap on the Apple Watch's display during a workout.
  • Make the Mickey Face Tell the Time - If you're using the Mickey or Minnie Apple Watch faces, you can tap on the characters to have them read the time. Note that your sound needs to be on for this to work.
  • Have Siri Read the Time - With any watch face, tap and then hold with two fingers on the display and Siri will read the time. Sound needs to be on.
  • Make a Memoji - The Memoji app on Apple Watch, which looks like a little cartoon face, can be used to create Memoji characters right on the watch. Memoji can be set as watch faces.
  • Control AirPods - You can use ‌Siri‌ to control your AirPods, skipping songs and adjusting volume. If you have AirPods Max or AirPods Pro, ‌Siri‌ can also toggle on Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.

Have other useful Apple Watch tips that we didn't mention here? Let us know in the comments.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch 10, Apple Watch SE
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...

Top Rated Comments

alexandr Avatar
59 months ago

Jump Back to the Top of an App - If you're using an app and need to get back to the top quickly after scrolling down, just tap on the time in the right corner.
time has nothing to do with it - you need to tap the top of the screen, same way you would on a iphone...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FlyBry Avatar
59 months ago

Make sure the fingers are together and in the center of the dial.
make sure the watch is not in silent mode - check the watch settings
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
59 months ago

I don't think it'll be that long, they've been making progress towards that outcome. Physical storage size is pretty much there and battery tech is heading there, with some app tweaks I think they'd have a solid standalone device.
Progress is being made but, it is still spec bumps. I think battery technology is the biggest hurdle.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
verpeiler Avatar
59 months ago

time has nothing to do with it - you need to tap the top of the screen, same way you would on a iphone...
Well, on the Apple Watch he is kinda right, if you tap to far left it will do nothing. Tap on the time and it works
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Minato1990 Avatar
59 months ago
Apple Pay feature instead of having to pull your iPhone out now cmon now
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
subi257 Avatar
59 months ago

Apple Pay feature instead of having to pull your iPhone out now cmon now
Definitely, I use the AW for Apple pay all of the time now. It is so convenient. I have only come across an issue in my local supermarket and you would scan your member/convenience card to get a scanner to scan as you shop. The kiosk for the scanners won't read the watch, but read the card instantly.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)