Best watchOS 11 tips and tricks to get more from your Apple Watch

Apple has updated watchOS to 11. But that’s not how version numbers work. That’s why we’re here to show you the best parts because we know what makes watchOS tick…

If you don’t know if your Apple Watch can run the new software, check out the following: Apple watchOS 11 system requirements: Will it work on your Apple Watch?

Basic information

Discover new apps

Are you a bit of a surfer? To track nearby tide patterns, go to App View and open Tides. On vacation? Try Translate. Speak into your watch and your words will be translated into another language. You can play this back to avoid embarrassing yourself later. There’s also Music Recognition, which has been renamed Shazam because someone on Apple’s naming team is too boring.

Get ready

Whether or not you’re new to Apple Watch and watchOS 11, take the time to browse through Settings. Good places to start are Display and Brightness (for adjusting text appearance and toggling the always-on display), App View (for grid or list options), and Passcode (for unlocking your watch with your iPhone).

Check your vitals

Vitals app is also one of the new arrivals. Wear your watch while sleeping; It will measure your heart rate, blood oxygen and other important things. After a week he will understand what is normal for you. And when something is an outlier, “HUMAN! You are doomed to ruin! or maybe something more logical. Definitely one of them.

Double tap to scroll

Hate buttons? Ignore the Digital Crown and double-tap to swipe through apps like Weather. Do you love them? Press and hold the Ultra’s Action Button to access the action toggle menu.

Improve your health

Health includes other watchOS 11 goodies, too. When you do a Custom Workout, your watch will inform you about your current interval and the next step. Notify the Health app on iPhone if you are pregnant; Period Tracker on Apple Watch will provide useful information. Start a Check-in session using Messages or Workout to reassure your loved ones.

change your face

Touch and hold your watch face, swipe right and tap the + icon. You will find Flux and Reflections on the new Watch Faces. The first one fills the screen as the seconds pass. The second is a fancy metal sunburst that reacts to light in real time. Natch, Apple didn’t give you a way to quickly switch between faces. Tsk.

New Apple Watch photo features

Try photos face

The face of Photos isn’t new, but it’s improved. Set this in your iPhone’s Watch app; select some photos (Select Photos for specific photos) and choose from a variety of font, color and style options. Swipe down to the right to add up to two complications.

Tap for joy

Once you’re done, your face will sync with your Apple Watch. Probably by the pigeon. (It might take a while.) But once you’re there, you’ll see a new photo every time you lift your wrist or tap the screen.

Fitness adjustments

Check your load

Like a snarky workout subtweet, your Apple Watch will now rate your effort after each exercise session. If you disagree with his assessment, open the Activity app, scroll down, select a workout, tap Effort, and change the number.

Track and fine-tune

Use the iPhone’s Fitness app to review previous workout tricks (and tune in for the big cheat). But to rearrange or remove cards, also tap Edit Summary on the Summary tab; so you only look at the things that are important to you.

Manage your rings

Put the rings on hold

Are you terribly ill and about to lose your streak? Running a marathon and don’t want to do 30 minutes of exercise? Apple no longer thinks you’re a robot; Tap your rings, then tap Pause Rings. Turn them off for the day or a special time.

Set goals

You can tap the ‘-+’ button for each goal and change the goal for today only. Or under Change Daily Goal, tap the calendar button and tap Schedule to set goals for different days. Read: If you like to lie down, stand up less on weekends.

Use your iPhone

Dealing with targets is easier on the iPhone. On the Summary tab of Fitness, tap the rings, then tap Change Goals, then tap Plan. You’ll then see the entire week on display, ready to tweak.

cut fat

remove objects

Press the Digital Crown to view your apps. Press and hold the screen and delete what you don’t use. Then press the Side button to display Control Center. Scroll down, tap Edit, and arrange the items to optimize limited space and access what you need.

Edit widgets

Rotate the Digital Crown upwards on any facet to display the Smart Stack. Now includes Live Events and improved time-based alerts. Hold to edit and use + to consider new widgets that contain multiple elements or show your training load.

Get more Apple Watch apps

Barcodes

There’s an App Store right on your Apple Watch, or you can install apps using the Watch app on your iPhone instead. Get started with Barcodes: Loyalty Card Wallet, which lets you scan cards into your blower and redeem them right from your watch at stores, gyms, and libraries.

Bear Focus Timer

Bear Focus Timer on iPhone helps you focus by placing your phone face down to start timers. You won’t be operating your watch face down, but the app remains effective. You can define study sessions and break times, and haptic information alerts you when the timer runs out.

Star Eraser

It’s unlikely that the Apple Watch will be the PS5 for gaming. Or even a Commodore 64. But it could be a truly great old-school LCD game. Star Eraser Have you turned the Digital Crown to make a small ship fly around collecting space junk? And that has to be better than reading junk emails.

Need more apps? Check out the 2024 best Apple Watch apps we actually use