It may feel like it was only yesterday, but we have already been enjoying the Apple Watch for eleven years. In that time, beyond the major new features, the operating system has gradually evolved to make it easier for us to interact with it and move around the system. Let’s go over 7 features that, while by no means unknown, are still key to getting the most out of our Apple Watch.
Jump between two apps in a second
Let’s start with a double press of the Digital Crown. When we do it, we’ll see a view showing the apps we have opened recently, and we can move between them simply by turning the crown. From here, we just need to tap the one we want to bring back in order to, for example, return straight to the previous app or switch between the ones we happen to be using at that moment.
Switch to list view to make our apps easier to see
The app grid, with all its elegance and flexibility, is not the only way we can view the applications on our watch. From the Watch app on our iPhone or from Settings > App View on the watch, we can choose List and see all the apps in alphabetical order.
Rearrange our apps so everything is where it suits us best
The Apple Watch also lets us reorganise our apps so the ones we use most often are closer at hand. We can do this directly from the watch’s grid by pressing and holding any app to move it, or from the iPhone in Watch > App View > Arrangement. The result is noticeable straight away, because we can place the apps we use most at the top and access them with a single tap.
Go back to the top with a tap on the time
When we scroll far down inside an app, getting back to the top of the screen can take a while. In most apps, tapping the time in the top-right corner lets us jump straight back to the top. It is an extremely simple function, but especially useful in long lists, settings, messages or screens with a lot of content.
Customise smart replies to answer much faster
Smart replies on the Apple Watch are especially practical when we want to answer a message with just a couple of words and carry on with what we were doing. From the Watch app on the iPhone, by going into Messages and then Default Replies, we can edit those phrases, reorder them and adapt them to our style. When a message arrives, we will have our own expressions ready to reply.
Create notes from the watch and save ideas straight away
With the arrival of the Notes app in watchOS 26, we can view our notes and create new ones on the Apple Watch. From the compose button, located in the bottom-right corner, we can create a new note by dictating the text directly to the watch. Then, thanks to iCloud sync, that note will appear on our other devices.
A gesture to make interactions even quicker
With a quick flick of the wrist, we can close the current screen and return to the watch face. There is more to it, however, because it also lets us silence calls, stop timers or dismiss notifications we have already read.
It is one of those gestures that, once we discover it, we will use all the time. Available on the third-generation Apple Watch SE, the Series 9, the Ultra 2 and all later models, it is a very elegant way to interact with our watch, especially with one hand.
The Apple Watch stands out for many things, but it is in the small details where the biggest difference is made. Small features that, once we incorporate them, help us gain speed, comfort and usefulness, and make our Apple Watch an even more useful, smarter and more pleasant companion to use every day.
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