Apple Watch Series 9 tips and tricks: Get the most out of your device

The Apple Watch Series 9 represents the latest model of one of the market’s leading smartwatches. It’s packed with sensors, tools and features, including new user interactions and a redesigned interface. We’ve rounded up our best Apple Watch Series 9 tips and tricks to get the most out of your new device.

Apple’s Smart Stack is a home screen tool that automatically displays relevant widgets throughout the day. For example, in the morning, the stack contains weather and calendar widgets. You can access the Smart Stack by swiping up on the watch face. You can customize your Smart Stack by pinning preferred widgets, removing the ones you don’t need, or adding new ones. We recommend customizing the featured app widget with three shortcuts to your most used tools.

How to access and customize your Smart Stack

• Scroll up from the watch face to access your Smart Stack.
• Press and hold the top widget to access edit mode.
• Tap the yellow pin icon to pin a desired widget to the top of your stack.
• Tap the red minus icon to remove widgets.
• Customize your app widget by tapping the red minus symbols associated with an app you want to replace. Then tap the circled plus symbol to add a new shortcut.

Thanks to the watchOS 10.1 update, Series 9 users can now break in the new Double Tap gesture control. The new feature makes it easy to interact with your device, even if you’re drunk.

• After raising to wake the clock, pinch twice with your thumb and index finger to pause music, snooze alarms, cancel timers, and more.
• From the watch face, the gesture lets you scroll through your Smart Stack widgets.

If you’ve previously owned an Apple Watch, you’ll quickly notice changes to your button functionality thanks to watchOS 10. From your watch face, the side button now comes to your control center. Meanwhile, a single tap on the Digital Crown takes you to your apps, while a double tap takes you to a directory of your open apps.

Apple’s Low Power Mode helps users get a few extra hours between charges. Instead of settling for the company’s 18-hour claim, you can use this mode to reach beyond a full day’s use.

How to extend battery life with Low Power Mode

• From the watch face, press the side button to access your control center.
• Tap the battery percentage indicated.
• Tap Low Power Mode.
• Scroll down and tap Turn On.

Schedule focus modes

Just like on the iPhone, Apple’s focus modes help users silence their digital noise for sleep, work and other periods of disconnection. You can set your Apple Watch Series 9 to mirror Focus schedules on your iPhone or set new schedules from your wrist.

How to schedule focus modes

• From the watch face, press the digital crown to access your app library.
• Tap the Settings app, then tap Focus.
• Tap the category you want to schedule: Do Not Disturb, Personal or Work.
  • Sleep Focus automatically follows the schedule set in your Sleep app, even if iPhone mirroring is not enabled.
• Tap Add New and create a schedule.

The Apple Watch Series 9 is still only compatible with domestic watch faces, but luckily Apple offers plenty of designs for your consideration. Whether you want to display a favorite photo, lean towards a specific shade or load your face with data and shortcuts, there are versatile options for every use. WatchOS 10 even introduced new faces, including an animated one featuring Snoopy.

How to customize your Apple Watch Series 9 face

• Press and hold your current watch face.
• Swipe all the way to the left and tap Add New.
• Use swipes and your digital crown to select custom settings.

To customize a face that’s already in your gallery, tap and hold your current watch face and tap edit under the design you want to customize.

Share contacts via NameDrop

Share numbers with other Apple Watch users directly from your Apple Watch. With iOS 17.1 and watchOS 10.1, you can use NameDrop to share contact information with a nearby device.

How to customize your Google Assistant tile

• Open the Contacts app on your Apple Watch and tap your picture in the upper right corner.
• Tap Share, then bring your watch near the other person’s Apple Watch. Your watch will vibrate when the connection is made.
• Continue holding the devices next to each other until NameDrop appears on both screens.
• Choose whether you want to share your contact card and receive the other person’s or just receive the other person’s.

You can also share contact information from an iPhone to an Apple Watch by holding the phone’s display a few centimeters from the top of the Apple Watch. Follow the instructions above when NameDrop appears on the screen.

A new watch band is a quick and effective way to personalize your device. Apple Watch Series 9 bands come in all different materials, from nylon or silicone to leather or stainless steel. The best band is one that fits your lifestyle.

How to change your Apple Watch band

• Place your Apple Watch face down on a clean, soft surface.
• Press and hold the band release button, then slide the band along the watch case to remove it.
• Repeat for opposite side.

From training platforms to productivity tools, Apple’s third-party app support is second to none. The App Store has options for everything you can’t find on your device. Although apps on your iPhone should be automatically installed on your device, you can also add more Apple Watch apps directly from your wrist.

How to install third-party apps

• Press the Digital Crown to access your app library.
• Scroll down to and tap App Store.
• Select a category or search for the app you want to install.
• Tap Download and then double-click the side button to install.

That’s it for our favorite Apple Watch Series 9 tips. Have more? Drop your best recommendations below in the comments section.