Night Mode on iPhone: Everything You Need to Know

watchOS 7: 14 Tips and Tricks for Apple Watch

Apple launched headline features such as Sleep Tracking and Handwashing Detection for Apple Watch with the arrival of watchOS 7, but it also snuck in a bunch of smaller improvements and design updates that are more likely to have slipped under the radar, so we've gathered some of our favourites here.

You'll need to make sure your Apple Watch is up to date with the new tech to make the most of them. You can do that by opening the iPhone Watch app and choosing General-> Update Apps. (Note that before you can upgrade your watch to WatchOS 7, you will also need your iPhone to run iOS 14).

‌watchOS 7‌ is available for Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, and Series 5, and comes pre-installed on Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 6. Note that Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 owners are not able to update to ‌watchOS 7‌.

1. Change Activity Goals

Now you can, if you want to make your activity targets more difficult or more practical. In watchOS 7, all activity goals on Apple Watch, including the stand target, can be personalised.

Open the Activity app and navigate to the bottom where a new choice for Change Goals can be found. Tap that and you will be able to use the plus and minus buttons to adjust your calorie, workout, and stand targets.

2. Get Siri Translations

With the latest Translate app, Apple enhanced the translation capabilities of iOS 14, and now you can ask Siri for spoken translations right on your Apple Watch.

Raise your wrist and say "Hello, Siri," or press and hold the Digital Crown to let Siri know that you have a question, then say something like "How do you say," How are you? "in Chinese?" Your response will be displayed on the screen and you will also be told by Siri. Ten languages, including Spanish , English, Japanese, Arabic , Chinese and Russian, can be translated by Siri.

3. Use Multiple Third-Party Complications

In previous versions of watchOS, Apple only allowed native apps like the Weather app to show more than one complication on the same watch face.

In watchOS 7, Apple has made it so that on the same watch face, you can have several complications from the same third party app. That implies that for a data-rich live health readout, you can use a face such as Infograph Modular to display multiple information streams from an app such as Heart Analyzer, for example.

4. Use the New Workout Types

In ‌watchOS 7‌, Apple has added four new workout types. Now you can accurately track fitness metrics for Dance, Functional Strength Training, Core Training, and post-workout Cooldown.

Apple Watch applies special algorithms, including other forms of exercises, to the data obtained by the onboard accelerometer , gyroscope, and heart rate monitor to reliably calculate the effort.

5. Show Two Time Zones Simultaneously

‌watchOS 7‌ brings some new watch faces to the party, one of which is GMT. The watch face has two dials: A 12-hour inner dial that displays local time, and a 24-hour outer dial that lets you track a second time zone.

Only tap the face of the watch to pick the time zone on the outside dial that you want to view. This face of the watch is only available on Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 4 or later.

6. Get Cycling Directions in Maps

In ‌watchOS 7‌, you can now see cycling directions on your Apple Watch. The Maps app presents the desired route along with information such as elevation, traffic, and the availability of bike lanes.

Cycling directions include options to be taken along the fastest route, the most direct path, or routes that avoid steep hills (Fastest, Shortest, and Suggested). Note that New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Shanghai, and Beijing are restricted to cycling directions in Apple Maps at the time of writing.

7. Use Siri Shortcuts on Apple Watch

The Shortcuts app is now available on the Apple Watch, so with just a tap on the wrist, you can activate custom tasks.

By making shortcuts on your iPhone, you can easily get directions back home, produce a top 25 playlist, track HomeKit accessories, and more. As a complication, you can run shortcuts from the Shortcuts app or connect them to the face of your watch.

8. Remote camera control from Watch Face

For the Camera Remote app, Apple added a new complication, so now you can monitor the camera of your iPhone with a fast tap on the face of your watch.

There's also a new three-second countdown in the Camera Remote app, should you need it

9. Track Elapsed Time

For monitoring elapsed time, the latest Count Up watch face can be used. To match the marker on the outer bezel to the minute side, press the key 12-hour dial. To set the length of time, turn on the Digital Crown, then tap the dial again to start timing.

When you're finished, you can return the face to its default state by tapping the red elapsed time button, or by pressing the Digital Crown.

10. Delete Control Center Buttons

You can uninstall buttons in the Control Center that you do not find helpful in ⁇ watchOS 7 ⁇. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to pull up the Control Center on the face of the watch, then press the Edit button at the bottom.

To remove a button, simply tap the red minus icon attached to it. Any buttons you remove can be reinstated by tapping the Edit button again.

11. Get an Extra Big Complication

If the time and a single data point are all you're interested in, you're in luck-the X-Large face now includes the option to add a rich complication.

It's the biggest complication yet, but it's the only one you get – so choose wisely.

12. Turn Off Blood Oxygen Sensors During Sleep

The Apple Watch Series 6 will sometimes calculate the levels of blood oxygen in the background and will normally do this while you are not moving. It uses a bright red light that shines against your wrist, which in dark environments you might find distracting.

Happily, in Sleep Mode and Theater Mode, Apple offers options for removing these measurements. On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app, tap Blood Oxygen, then scroll down and switch off Sleep Mode and/or Theater Mode.

13. Show Your Stripes

Stripes, another exclusive new watch face, allows you to pick the number of stripes you like (up to 9), choose your colours, and rotate the angle, allowing you to re-create the colours of your favourite sports team or the flag of your country.

For up to four complications, you can also turn between a full-screen face or a circular face with room. This face of the watch is only available on Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 4 or later.

14. Eliminate Distractions

When you want to concentrate on something, an associated Family Setup feature, Schooltime, will help make your Apple Watch less of a distraction. Do Not Interrupt or Theater Mode is a useful option because it silences alerts and blocks applications, but still lets you check the time.

Click the Edit button and press the green plus symbol on the SchoolTime icon to connect it to the Control Center. Simply open the Control Center and press the School Time button to turn it on the next time you want to remove distractions on your wrist. Just switch the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch to exit Schooltime, then tap Exit to confirm.