Everything You Can Do With the Double Tap Gesture on Apple Watch

With the watchOS 10.1 update that came out today, Apple has added Double Tap to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 devices. Double Tap was announced when the new models were introduced, but it took some time for Apple to implement it. With Double Tap, you can activate some Apple Watch functions with just one hand.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 double tap gesture 230912 Faeture Blue
Using Double Tap requires you to tap your thumb and index finger together twice, and when you do this, you'll see a little icon on the Apple Watch to let you know that the tap was recognized. Double Tap uses the sensors in the Apple Watch to detect minute movements and blood flow when the fingers are positioned in a certain way.

apple watch ultra double tap feature green
There are a number of things you can do with Double Tap, and Apple has made it work with some of the most common actions that you might need to perform with one hand.

  • Open the Smart Stack from the watch face, and then Double Tap again to scroll through widgets.
  • Answer phone or FaceTime calls.
  • Hang up phone or ‌FaceTime‌ calls.
  • When you get an iMessage, Double Tap to view it, and then Double Tap again if you need to scroll.
  • Reply to a Message using dictation and then send it with Double Tap.
  • Act on notifications - Apple says a Double Tap on an incoming notification will activate the primary action, such as snoozing a reminder or replying to a message.
  • Pause, resume, and end a timer.
  • Stop and resume the stopwatch.
  • Snooze an alarm.
  • Play and pause music, podcasts, or audiobooks (or skip a track, depending on settings).
  • Change to the Elevation view in the Compass app.
  • Start or stop automatic Workout reminders when a workout is detected.
  • Take a photo with the Camera Remote.
  • Record a voice memo in the Voice Memo app.
  • Change Flashlight modes.

In the Apple Watch app under Gestures, you can opt to change the playback option from play/pause to skip, and the Smart Stack option from Advance (swaps through the widgets) to Select (opens a widget's associated app).

While Double Tap can be used with third-party apps through incoming notifications, there is no Double Tap API for third-party apps at the current time. Developers can still customize their apps for Double Tap to an extent by assigning the action that should occur when a Double Tap gesture is used on an incoming notification.

Double Tap is limited to the Apple Watch Series 9 and the ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌ because, as Apple executives said in a recent interview with Tom's Guide, the S9 chip in the new models is the first that is powerful enough for the gesture system.

To use Double Tap, ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌ and Apple Watch Series 9 owners will need to update their devices to watchOS 10.1 through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone. watchOS 10.1 requires an ‌iPhone‌ running iOS 17 or later.

Note that Double Tap will not work when Low Power Mode, Sleep Focus, Theater Mode, or Water Lock is activated, and you must first raise your wrist to wake the Apple Watch to perform the gesture. Double Tap also does not work on watches that are paired as a Family Setup watch.

Related Roundups: watchOS 11, watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: iPhone 17's 'Awe Dropping' Accessories

Friday August 29, 2025 8:12 am PDT by
Following the announcement of Apple's upcoming "Awe dropping" event, on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show we talk through all of the new accessories rumored to debut alongside the iPhone 17 lineup. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos We take a closer look at Apple's invite for "Awe dropping;" the design could hint at the iPhone 17's new thermal system with ...
Awe Dropping Apple Event Feature

Five Things to Expect From Apple's 'Awe Dropping' September 9 Event

Tuesday August 26, 2025 4:17 pm PDT by
Apple today announced its "Awe Dropping" iPhone-centric event, which is set to take place on Tuesday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. There are a long list of products that are coming, but we thought we'd pull out five feature highlights to look forward to. That Super Thin iPhone - Apple's September 9 event will see the unveiling of the first redesigned iPhone we've had in years, ...

Top Rated Comments

Akrapovic Avatar
24 months ago

Sorry to be late to the party on this... So Double Tap works on other generations of Apple Watch, not just S9 and U2?
No, it does not, despite these posts.

On previous watches if you enable the Assistive Touch option in the Accessibility Features section of your watch then you can get a similar feature where hand gestures can do certain controls. This is what they're referring to. However, it isn't as fast or accurate as Double Tap, as the previous generation watches do not have the neural engine which this runs on. So yes you can do it - it just isn't quite as good. I do use this accessibility feature on my AWU.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Akrapovic Avatar
24 months ago

Why do people keep acting like this is new? This has been an accessibility feature for a long while.
Why do people keep posting this thinking their post is new? It's been a post for a long while!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Minecatt48 Avatar
24 months ago
Why do people keep acting like this is new? This has been an accessibility feature for a long while.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Skyscraperfan Avatar
24 months ago
I think the Apple Watch should also detect the "middle finger" gesture. It could be used to automatically reply with "F*** you!" to an incoming message.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Akrapovic Avatar
24 months ago

Do you have an older watch and know for a fact that Double Tap on WatchOS 10 doesn't work on it?
I think there is some confusion. The Double Tap feature is only available to Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Assistive Touch works on all current Apple Watches that support watchOS8, however it isn't as smooth or reliable as Double Tap. But this works on any watch. I've been using that for a few years.

Edit: Corrected myself. Assistive Touch works on watchOS8/9 as well of course.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
slippery-pete Avatar
24 months ago

Why do people keep acting like this is new? This has been an accessibility feature for a long while.
Did you actually try/use the accessibility feature? Comparing it to this is comparing and apple to an orange.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)