I’ve been using the Apple Watch since the very first Series 0, and it’s been incredible to witness its transformation over the years. Today, it serves as a sophisticated wellness computer on my wrist, functioning as a seamless extension of my entire Apple ecosystem. I wear it daily for countless reasons: to close my activity rings, manage my smart home devices, and unlock all my other Apple products. It’s a simple accessory that adds immense convenience to my life. Here are ten features that I believe you can easily incorporate into your routine.
Before jumping in, it’s important to highlight that all the features discussed here are available on every current Apple Watch model that supports WatchOS 11. If you’re considering an upgrade, you can often find discounted Apple Watch options on Amazon.
Now, let’s dive in!
Unlocking Your Mac with Apple Watch
This feature is undoubtedly one of the best aspects of the Apple ecosystem. It even lets you save money, as you no longer need to buy a Mac keyboard with TouchID – your Apple Watch can serve that purpose. It’s very easy to set up.
- Ensure that both your Mac and Apple Watch are linked to the same Apple ID
- Check that a passcode is enabled on your Apple Watch
- On your Mac, navigate to System Settings > Login Password > select your Apple Watch
- From now on, your Apple Watch will unlock your Mac whenever you need to enter your password.
Using Apple Watch as a Camera Remote
I frequently utilize the Camera Remote app on my Apple Watch, which I’ve relied on for years while creating content for my YouTube channel to check my positioning in the iPhone camera frame. The Camera Remote app offers several handy features:
- Viewfinder
- Digital crown for zooming
- Countdown timer
- Double-tap gesture activation (only for Series 9 and newer & Ultra 2)
- Video recording capability
- Switching between selfie and standard cameras
Locate My iPhone
How often do you find yourself using this feature? It has been around for a while, but recent upgrades have made it even more effective. As the name suggests, it helps locate your misplaced iPhone if it remains connected to your Apple Watch. This is incredibly useful when you’ve lost your phone somewhere in your home, a park, or any other location. You can access this feature from the control center on your Watch. Just tap the ping button (as shown below), and your iPhone will emit a loud sound. The recent addition of the AirTag FindMy UI improves your ability to precisely locate your device!
AppleTV Remote Application
Another essential utility that I use frequently is the Apple TV remote application. As long as your devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, you can control the Apple TV in the same way you would with the physical remote or the remote app on your iPhone. This dedicated app is available on the Watch, and I particularly enjoy how intuitive it is, especially with the digital crown allowing for volume adjustments. I find it incredibly helpful in my living room!
Good Morning and Alarm Features
I’m not even sure what to officially call this feature, but it’s one I adore. It works in conjunction with your sleep settings and focus modes. I have a sleep focus mode programmed to activate at 10:30 PM, which is followed by my alarm ringing at 6:30 AM. I wear my Apple Watch for the sleep tracking feature. One standout capability is that when my alarm goes off, my Apple Watch vibrates gently to wake me instead of blasting a loud sound from my iPhone, making for a calmer experience (I really appreciate this). It’s less disruptive and doesn’t wake anyone else nearby since it’s silent.
The second feature comes into play after turning the alarm off: a lovely good morning screen displaying current temperature, weather, time, date, and battery status appears. It is also viewable on your iPhone, but I find the Apple Watch version more visually appealing.
There are no specific settings required to activate this; it operates automatically when you establish a sleep schedule and enable your sleep focus mode.
Using Your Apple Watch as a Tesla Key
This feature is somewhat niche, as it requires you to own a Tesla. The Tesla app now permits you to utilize your Apple Watch as a key for your vehicle. It allows you to perform standard functions like pre-heating your car, unlocking the trunk, or locking your vehicle. The most significant advantage (for me) is that I can unlock my car without needing my phone or the key card, opening a world of convenience. Additionally, it includes numerous watch complications for quick access—making it a game changer for Tesla owners.
Taking Screenshots on Your Apple Watch
This is a feature I utilize more often than you might think, especially while creating articles like this one. Many people are unaware of it, but the process is straightforward. Simply press the digital crown and the side button (not the action button) simultaneously, and it captures a screenshot. Within five seconds, the image appears in your iPhone’s photo gallery.
Unlocking Your iPhone with Your Apple Watch
This method differs from using your watch to unlock your Mac, as it is not the primary way to access your iPhone, but it is quite helpful. To enable this feature:
- Ensure that both your iPhone and Apple Watch are signed into the same Apple ID
- Set a passcode on your Apple Watch
- Go to settings on your iPhone
- Scroll down to Face ID & Passcode
- Find the Apple Watch section
- Toggle the setting on
It’s worth noting that this feature is primarily intended to serve as a backup if Face ID doesn’t definitively recognize you—such as when you’re wearing a mask, sunglasses, or face paint. Your iPhone will attempt to use Face ID first, and if it is unsure, it will utilize your Apple Watch as a secondary authentication method to unlock. As the user, there won’t be any prompts; it will simply unlock.
Palm Mute Feature
This is another everyday feature for me, yet I’m unsure of its official name. This functionality allows you to silence or deactivate any activity occurring on your Apple Watch by simply covering the display with your palm. So, if an alarm is dissecting your peace, placing your palm over the screen will mute it. This method also works for phone calls, music, and notifications—essentially silencing anything that generates a haptic or auditory alert.
Sleep and Fitness Tracking
I rely on these features daily. Ever since Apple introduced sleep tracking, I’ve worn my Apple Watch during the night to gather valuable data. For those curious, I currently use the Apple Watch Ultra, which is slightly larger, but I adjusted to it within a few nights after transitioning from a Series 5. One of the standout aspects of Apple’s sleep tracking is the absence of a “score” associated with your rest. It provides raw data, allowing you to interpret the quality of your sleep rather than being pigeonholed by a score, which can sometimes be misleading. I’ve tried other sleep trackers that assign scores out of 100—a score of 91 is great, but a 65 can negatively affect my mindset. I prefer Apple’s approach to tracking.
As for fitness tracking, that’s a topic for another post, but I want to highlight that I track every workout, run, and walk, and monitoring my progress is one of my favorite features.
Final Thoughts
The Apple Watch Ultra has proven to be a remarkable device for me. It addresses numerous small issues that I didn’t realize needed resolution until it did. The Apple Watch might just be the one Apple product I truly cannot live without, given how extensively I use both passively and actively.
What are your thoughts about the Apple Watch? Which model do you own, and how do you utilize it? Let’s chat in the comments below!
