Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 Gaining New 'Double Tap' Gesture Control Feature

Following the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple today detailed a new feature coming to the smartwatch next month. Called "Double Tap," the new gesture feature lets you control the Series 9 by tapping your thumb and index finger together twice.

f d193cf242e634347eaeea2044e050dd811cef19c
Users will be able to answer calls, stop alarms, open Smart Stack, play and pause Music, and more by using Double Tap. Apple said the new feature should make it easier to navigate the Apple Watch when you're one-handed, like walking your dog or holding a cup of coffee.

Double Tap will also be available on the new Apple Watch Ultra 2. The feature will be available in a software update next month for the Series 9 and Ultra 2.

Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

Apple Glass

Apple Smart Glasses: Everything We Know So Far

Wednesday May 21, 2025 8:21 am PDT by
Google recently made waves by showcasing a set of lightweight smart glasses featuring deep Gemini integration and an optional in-lens display. The demo has reignited interest in Apple's own smart glasses project, which has been the subject of rumors for nearly a decade. Here's a recap of where things stand. Current Development Status Apple is actively working on new chips specifically...
Apple Glasses Purple Feature

Apple Smart Glasses Launching in 2026

Thursday May 22, 2025 12:22 pm PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a set of smart glasses by the end of 2026, reports Bloomberg. The glasses will be comparable to the Meta Ray-Bans and the Android XR glasses that Google showed off earlier this week. Apple's smart glasses are expected to include cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities, much like the Meta Ray-Bans. The glasses will be able to take photos, record video, provide...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
maxresdefault

OpenAI Buys Jony Ive's AI Startup to 'Completely Reimagine What It Means to Use a Computer'

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:27 am PDT by
OpenAI is acquiring io, the hardware-based AI startup co-created by Jony Ive, OpenAI announced today. Ive has been working with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on io for two years, and the duo expects to develop a family of AI devices. In a video shared by OpenAI, Altman and Ive outlined their partnership and what they expect to create as a result of the merger. "I have a growing sense that everything ...
iPod shuffle generations

Kuo: Jony Ive's Futuristic OpenAI Device Like a Neck-Worn iPod Shuffle

Thursday May 22, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The big news in the technology world this week is that ChatGPT maker OpenAI is working more closely with Apple's former design chief Jony Ive on a futuristic AI device. The company is remaining tight lipped about the device, but Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared some alleged details about its design. In a social media post today, Kuo said the device will be "slightly larger" ...
WWDC 2025 Banner

Apple Announces WWDC 2025 Schedule, Including Keynote Time

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced a more detailed schedule for its annual developers conference WWDC, which runs from June 9 through June 13. The schedule confirms that Apple's keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with a live stream to be available on Apple.com, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube. During the keynote, Apple is expected to announce iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16,...
macOS 16 visionOS Inspired Feature 1

macOS 16: Everything We Know So Far

Tuesday May 20, 2025 7:31 am PDT by
The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple's annual developer and software-oriented event, is less than three weeks away. We haven't heard a great deal about macOS 16 ahead of its announcement this year, so we could be in for some major surprises when June 9 rolls around. Here's what we know so far about the next major update to Apple's Mac operating system. macOS 16 Name? Every year ...

Top Rated Comments

Stephen13 Avatar
22 months ago
The finger tap thing isn't new. Perhaps the trigger of some specific functions are new, but in the current WatchOS you can use Assistive Touch to customize many different gestures using a finger tap(s) or even a fist clench.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPack Avatar
22 months ago
It almost seemed like Apple was about to make an entire event out of this one feature. ?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ApplesAreSweet&Sour Avatar
22 months ago
This "new" feature has been available since watchOS 8.3. Apple even did a video on it themselves, explaining what it does and how to set it up.

So Apple will be removing gesture controls for Series 8 and older if you upgrade to watchOS 10?


Attachment Image
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vertsix Avatar
22 months ago
Don't be fooled - this is already on your watch under Accessibility.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Antes Avatar
22 months ago
The thing is most apple watches can already do this as an accessibility feature. It was almost comical this got such a long segment in the keynote.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Johnny907 Avatar
22 months ago
It didn't gain Jack. This has been available under Accessibility since WatchOS 8.
Accessibility -> Assistive Touch -> Hand Gestures and then scroll down to Customize Gestures. Set Double Pinch to Tap and you can do everything shown in that promo right now. Or you can really get fancy and customize all the options like clenching your fist to go forward and back in menus.
I've been using these settings to control my watch during workouts for a couple years now, which is evidently how long it took Apple to figure out it had a useful feature it should promote, especially if it helps them sell a yawn of a new product that 100% isn't required to use it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)