14 Apple Watch Features You Didn’t Know Existed

Apple Watch is more than just an extension of your iPhone. It’s a tiny computer, right on your wrist. It has plenty of apps to choose from, Siri, and in some cases, cellular connectivity. But, it also has some features that are often overlooked. Whether it’s your first time hearing about some of these features — or you just needed a reminder they’re there— continue reading to learn about 14 Apple Watch features you didn't know (or forgot) existed.

14 Take a Screenshot

If you haven’t checked out our awesome screenshot guide for Apple products, here's a new tip for Apple Watch users. Taking screenshots on Apple Watch is possible, but it has to be enabled first.

1. In the Watch app on your iPhone select the General settings. 
2. Locate the enable screenshots toggle, then enable it.
3. Now just press the side button and Digital Crown simultaneously to take a screenshot.

13 List View

While the circular "beehive" app selection screen may look cool, it’s not always practical.

1. When looking for apps, simply Force Touch the display.
2. Choose “List View” to sort apps in an alphabetical ordered list.
3. To switch back, force touch again and choose “Grid View.”

12 Soft Reset

If your watch is acting funny, you can always try a soft reset similar to your iPhone or iPad.

1. Simply press and hold the Digital Crown and side button simultaneously until the screen goes black.
2. A few seconds later you should see the Apple Logo.
3. When the watch comes back on, just enter your passcode and you’re good to go.

11 Theater Mode

If you’re in a dark theater or meeting room — and you don’t want your watch lighting up when you move your wrist — simply enable theater mode.

1. Just swipe up on your watch face to access Control Center.
2. Scroll down to the happy and sad masks icon.
3. Tap it to enable or disable theater mode.

Now your watch won’t make noise or light up when you raise your wrist. To see your watch face, you can press the side button or Digital Crown, tap the display, or slowly turn the Digital Crown (on supported models) to slowly dim the display.

10 Happy Birthday!

This one's pretty easy. Just raise your wrist on your birthday and you’ll be treated to a surprise birthday notification. You can then open the Notification Center to be reminded it’s your birthday and tap the notification to see the surprise again.

9 Save Power

If your Apple Watch is low on battery — or you just won’t need anything besides the time for awhile — you can save power with the “Power Reserve” option. The watch will automatically enter this state when the battery gets low. But you can also access it manually.

1. Swipe up on your watch face to access Control Center.
2. Tap the battery percentage and then slide the Reserve Power slider to the right.
3. Tap “Proceed.” Now your watch will only display the current time.
4. To exit press and hold the side button.

8 Time Travel

Time Travel was feature that let you see things like sunrise, sunset, upcoming and past events, and past activity from your watch face, simply by turning the Digital Crown. Later it was disabled and the ability to peek at the time was added in its place. But, why can’t we have both? It turns out you can.

1. On your iPhone, open your Watch app and select “Clock.”
2. You’ll see a toggle switch for Time Travel. Simply turn it on.
3. Now if your newer model watch is sleeping, simply turn the Digital Crown slowly to glance at the time.
4. When your watch is on, turn the Digital Crown (on most watch faces) and you’ll see the time go forward or backward.

7 A Tiny Flashlight

Remember when iPhone didn’t have a camera flash? And, having a flashlight meant downloading an app that turned your screen white? It’s basically the same thing on Apple Watch, but it’s built right in. 

1. To access the flashlight just swipe up on your watch face.
2. This will bring up Control Center and you’ll see a flashlight icon.
3. Tap it to activate the flashlight.
4. You can swipe left and right to change modes. There’s a white mode, strobe mode, and red mode. 

6 Siri Super Hearing

You may not know it, but Siri on Apple Watch is an excellent listener. While it has some limitations, Siri can hear what you’re saying over most traffic, crowds, and children. So whether your in a busy bar or at a concert, odds are Siri will hear you if you just speak up a bit. 

There are three ways to access Siri.

• You can press and hold the Digital Crown.
• Raise your wrist and say “Hey Siri!”
• Or you can press the Siri icon on the Siri watch face. 

5 Digital Touch Isn’t Just For Drawing

Digital Touch is a fun gimmick that Apple introduced with the first generation Apple Watch. It’s now also available in iOS.

1. To access Digital Touch open a message thread and scroll down.
2. Just above the Scribble and Apple Pay Options, you’ll see three smaller buttons.
3. The first is for dictation, the second is for emojis, and the last one is for Digital Touch. Tap it to get started. 

Once open, you can draw or write whatever you want to send. You can tap the top-right corner for more colors. But there’s a few more things you can do:

Tap Their Wrist

If the person you’re messaging is wearing an Apple Watch, simply tap the screen to tap their wrist. You can change the color of the tap in the top-right corner. 

Send Your Love

To send kisses, tap the screen with two fingers. You can also send your current heartbeat by pressing and holding two fingers to the display. Once you feel your heartbeat, stop pressing when you’re ready to send.

Don’t Get Glad, Get Mad (or Dad)

• You can express anger with a “fireball.” Touch and hold with one finger until the fireball appears. You can drag it across the display to animate it. Let go when you’re ready to send. 
• You can express sadness through a broken heart. Press with two fingers until you feel your heartbeat. Than swipe both fingers down. 

Bonus Tip for iOS

You can access Digital Touch on iOS in the iMessage app drawer. Once open it’s pretty much the same as Apple Watch; but, it’s a little more colorful. Swipe up to make the applet full screen then tap and hold any color at the top of the screen to bring up the color wheel. Slide your finger around to choose a color and then tap “Done.”

4 Find Your iPhone

So you’ve lost your phone. Probably under a couch cushion or hiding in another room. Apple Watch makes it easy to find your paired iPhone if you’re within Bluetooth range.

1. Just slide up on your watch face to access Control Center.
2. Select the iPhone icon that looks like it’s making noise (let me know in the comments if there’s a better way to describe this).
3. Tap it and your iPhone will make a pinging sound—even when it’s on silent. 

3 Nightstand Mode

If it’s not already enabled, you can enable Nightstand Mode in the Watch app under the general settings. Just place your watch on its side while it’s charging with the side buttons facing up. You’ll see the time and date, current charge level, and any alarms you have set whenever your watch is judged or a button is pressed. I’ve found you can just tap the table it’s on in some instances. 

If you have an alarm set on your phone, the watch will slowly brighten prior to your alarm sounding. You can use the Digital Crown or side button to snooze or stop your alarm. 

Quick Note: You don’t have to put your watch on its side, but it makes it more like a traditional alarm clock.

2 Tapback

iMessage supports a new feature called Tapback. You can double tap a message in iOS — or double click in macOS — to choose from available Tapbacks. But you can also double tap messages on your Apple Watch. You can chose from a heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, “Ha ha,” exclamation marks, or a question mark. Just tap to send.

1 Radio App

If you have headphones or a supported Bluetooth audio device connected, you can stream radio from Apple Music. Just open the radio app and choose a station. Or ask Siri to play something. You can say something like “Play some AC/DC” or “Listen to Top Charts Radio.”

? Final Thoughts

Hopefully this list of Easter eggs and obscure features helped you learn something new. If you have a favorite Apple Watch feature let us know on Facebook! Also, be sure to check out these Apple Watch charging accessories for your office desk or nightstand.

• ElevationLab NightStand for Apple Watch
• PowerTime Apple Watch Charging Dock with 3 USB Ports
• iPM 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad for iPhone and Apple Watch