12 Apple Watch Tips and Tricks to Enhance Your Smartwatch Experience
With WWDC 2025 approaching and the introduction of watchOS 12 anticipated soon, this is the ideal moment to explore some of the most beneficial Apple Watch tips and tricks. Whether you’re utilizing the latest Apple Watch Series 9 or the robust Apple Watch Ultra 2, these features—many of which debuted in watchOS 11—can assist you in maximizing your device’s potential. From health management to communication solutions, here are 12 Apple Watch tips and tricks that you should take advantage of.
1. Walkie-Talkie Your Friends
One of the most enjoyable and often overlooked features of the Apple Watch is the Walkie-Talkie app. This feature enables you to send swift voice messages to friends who also possess Apple Watches. Once they accept your invitation, you can communicate instantly—ideal for quick updates or organizing plans without needing to pull out your phone.
How to use: Launch the Walkie-Talkie app, select a contact, and press to speak. Your voice message plays right away on their watch.
2. Locate Your iPhone with Precision
If you own an Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2, you can utilize Precision Find to track down your iPhone 15 or 16. This capability employs Ultra Wideband technology to lead you directly to your misplaced phone with visual directions and haptic alerts.
How to use: Swipe up to open the Control Center and tap the iPhone icon. If Precision Find is accessible, your watch will navigate you to your phone’s precise location.
3. Vitals App and Training Load (watchOS 11)
watchOS 11 introduced the Vitals app, providing a snapshot of your key health metrics such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep. It also features a Training Load tool that helps you gauge how your workouts are impacting your body over time.
Why it matters: These resources assist you in making educated decisions regarding your fitness routine and overall health.
4. Personalize Activity Ring Goals
In watchOS 11, Apple finally allowed users to tailor their Activity Ring goals daily. You can now modify your Move, Exercise, and Stand goals to fit your timetable or energy levels.
Bonus: You can also pause your rings for a day or even a week without affecting your streak.
5. Enhance Sleep Quality with Sleep Tracking
The Sleep app on Apple Watch aids you in developing better sleep habits by allowing you to establish sleep schedules and monitor your sleep stages—REM, Core, and Deep. Wear your watch at night to gain detailed insights into your sleep quality.
Pro tip: Activate Wind Down mode to minimize distractions before sleep.
6. Detection of Sleep Apnea
One of the most significant health features recently rolled out is Sleep Apnea detection. With FDA approval, the Apple Watch can now track your breathing patterns while you sleep and alert you if signs of sleep apnea emerge.
Why it matters: Sleep apnea can lead to severe health complications such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Early detection is crucial.
7. Quick Nap Tracker
While not an official feature, the Apple Watch can frequently identify brief naps during the day and log them in the Health app. It’s a discreet yet useful method to monitor your rest, especially if you’re not using Sleep Focus.
Tip: Review the Sleep section of the Health app to verify if your nap was recorded.
8. Utilize Siri for Hands-Free Management
Siri on Apple Watch is more capable than ever. You can request it to initiate workouts, set reminders, send messages, or even manage smart home devices—all without touching your phone.
How to use: Simply raise your wrist and say “Hey Siri,” or press and hold the Digital Crown.
9. Automatically Unlock Your Mac
If you use a Mac, your Apple Watch can automatically unlock it when you come nearby. It’s a seamless approach to start working faster without entering your password.
How to enable: On your Mac, navigate to System Settings > Touch ID & Password > Use Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac.
10. Operate Your iPhone Camera
Use your Apple Watch as a remote shutter for your iPhone’s camera. This is great for group photos, selfies, or long-exposure shots.
How to use: Launch the Camera Remote app on your watch. You’ll see a live preview and can tap to capture a photo or set a timer.
11. Implement Focus Modes
Focus modes synchronize across all of your Apple devices, including the Apple Watch. Whether you’re working, sleeping, or enjoying leisure time, you can customize which notifications are allowed.
Tip: Set up distinct watch faces for each Focus mode to align with your requirements.
12. Emergency SOS and Fall Detection
The Apple Watch can be a genuine lifesaver. Emergency SOS enables you to quickly request assistance, while Fall Detection can alert emergency services if you experience a severe fall and don’t respond.
How to enable: Go to the Watch app on your iPhone > Emergency SOS >
