Congratulations on acquiring your new Apple Watch, a powerful extension of your iPhone that offers a wealth of features across health, fitness, communication, and entertainment. To ensure you get the most out of your device right from the start, here are ten crucial steps to optimise your Apple Watch setup and functionality.
1. Adjust the Volume or Enable Silent Mode
The Apple Watch is set to produce sound by default, which can quickly become distracting with frequent notifications. To mute your watch, simply wake it up, swipe up from the bottom, and tap the bell icon in the Control Centre. If you prefer to just lower the volume, navigate to Settings > Sounds & Haptics on the watch or in the Watch app on your iPhone, and adjust the volume levels. Enabling “Silent Mode” is also an option to mute notifications without completely silencing the watch.
2. Unlock Your Mac with Your Watch
If you use a Mac, particularly one without Touch ID, you can set your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac automatically. This feature, accessible through your Mac’s System Preferences under Security & Privacy, saves time and enhances security by unlocking your Mac when your watch is nearby and unlocked.
3. Manage App Notifications
The Apple Watch mirrors the notifications from your iPhone, which can result in an overwhelming number of alerts. To streamline notifications, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Notifications, and customise which apps can send notifications to your watch. This ensures you only receive important alerts, improving your overall experience.
4. Remove Unwanted Apps
During setup, you may have opted to install all available apps from your iPhone, resulting in clutter. To remove unnecessary apps, press and hold an app on your watch and tap the (X) to delete it. Alternatively, use the Watch app on your iPhone, scroll to the list of installed apps, and toggle off “Show App on Apple Watch” for those you wish to remove.
5. Activate Cellular Connectivity
For those with a cellular Apple Watch, activating cellular service requires purchasing a plan through your carrier. This can be done via Settings > Cellular on the watch or through the Watch app on your iPhone. A red ring on the watch’s crown signifies a cellular model.
6. Set Up Sleep Tracking
Apple now offers built-in sleep tracking for the Apple Watch. To set this up, go to the Health app on your iPhone, navigate to Sleep, and follow the instructions to enable sleep tracking. This feature provides valuable insights into your sleep patterns and helps you maintain a healthy routine.
7. Conserve Battery Life
The Always On display on newer Apple Watch models is convenient but consumes more battery. To extend battery life, consider disabling it through Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On. Additionally, turning off Background App Refresh in General > Background App Refresh can further conserve battery life by preventing apps from updating content in the background.
8. Master Apple Watch Gestures
Learning the essential gestures of your Apple Watch enhances your user experience:
- Quick-press Crown: Opens the app view.
- Long-press Crown: Activates Siri.
- Quick-press Side Button: Opens Control Centre.
- Long-press Side Button: Accesses an expanded menu, including Power, Medical ID, Compass Backtrack, and Emergency SOS.
- Swipe Down from Top of Watch Face: Opens Notification Centre.
- Swipe Up from Bottom of Watch Face: Opens Widget view.
- Long-press Watch Face: Allows for switching and customising watch faces.
- Cover Watch Face with Palm: Puts the watch to sleep or mutes notifications.
For users of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, the new “double-tap” gesture allows you to perform actions like answering calls or stopping timers by double-tapping your index finger and thumb. Similar functionalities can be set up through Accessibility settings on other models.
9. Calibrate for Accurate Fitness Tracking
For accurate fitness tracking, calibrate your Apple Watch by performing a 20-minute outdoor walk or run in an open, flat area. This ensures your workout data is precise. Additionally, enable Fall Detection during exercises for added safety, as it can automatically contact emergency services if a fall is detected.
10. Charge Your Watch
Finally, ensure your Apple Watch is fully charged. Most devices ship with a partially charged battery, so charging it fully ensures it lasts throughout the day and is ready for sleep tracking. For Series 7 and newer models, use a USB-C power adapter that supports at least 5W and the Apple USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable for quick charging.
By following these ten steps, you’ll set up your new Apple Watch for optimal performance and usability. From adjusting notifications and managing battery life to mastering gestures and setting up important features, these tips will help you get the most out of your Apple Watch. Stay tuned for future updates and new features from Apple that will continue to enhance your experience with this versatile device.
