How to use Apple Watch’s New Double Tap Gesture? Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 devices will get a new Double Tap gesture when watchOS 10.1 is launched later this month. Here’s everything Double Tap can do and how to get it running on your watch before the firmware upgrade.
Double Tap is a new gesture-based feature available on the most recent Apple Watch models that allows you to control watch functions by tapping your thumb and index finger together twice. The function intends to make navigating the Apple Watch easier when you only have one hand free, such as when walking a dog, carrying groceries, or holding a cup of coffee.
The new Double Tap gesture is only available on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, and will be enabled with the October release of watchOS 10.1. watchOS 10.1 is now available as a developer beta. If you wish to install the beta on your watch, it must be linked with an iPhone running the iOS 17.1 beta, which is available for free download.
What Does a Double Tap Do?
The functionality of Double Tap is straightforward. You raise your watch to wake it and then double-tap your thumb and index finger together to control what happens on your watch’s screen.
Double tapping selects the primary button in whichever program you’re in by default. For example, if you receive a call, you can double-tap to answer it and then double-tap again to hang up. Similarly, if you’re watching or listening to the material, you can pause and resume (or skip) it.
Other applications include: pausing a timer by double-tapping. Repeating the gesture restarts the countdown, and when the timer goes off, a double tap stops it. Similarly, you can use it to snooze alarms, activate the Camera Remote app’s shutter button, and dismiss notifications.
As you might think, the motion is also designed to imply that your other hand is occupied. When you get a text message, for example, a double tap allows you to respond with a voice message, while another double tap transmits the message.
Furthermore, Double Tap can be used to launch the Smart Stack from the watch face and navigate between your widgets, providing you with a one-handed view of your most often-seen information.
How to Configure Double Tap?
Double Tap is deactivated by default, therefore you must enable it manually for it to function. This may be done via your wrist or the iPhone’s Watch app, and both menus contain choices to customise Media Playback and Smart Stack capabilities.
It should be noted that in order to enable Double Tap, you must first grant watchOS permission to disable various Accessibility features, such as Assistive Touch, Zoom with Hand Gestures, VoiceOver with Hand Gestures, and Quick Actions.
On the Apple Watch:
- Launch the Settings app.
- Gestures can be tapped.
- On the following screen, tap Double Tap, then turn on the switch next to Double Tap.
- Turn off Accessibility Features at the bottom of the on-screen alert if requested.
- Select your chosen “Playback” (Play/Pause or Skip) and “Smart Stack” (Advance or Select) settings.
On the iPhone:
- Launch the Watch app.
- Tap Gestures while the “My Watch” tab is chosen.
- On the following screen, tap Double Tap, then turn on the switch next to Double Tap.
- Turn off Accessibility Features if requested in the on-screen alert.
- Select your chosen “Playback” (Play/Pause or Skip) and “Smart Stack” (Advance or Select) settings.
Apple claims that the faster Neural Engine in the S9 processor enables Double Tap, which is why the feature is only available on the Series 9 and Ultra 2. Apple claims to have created an algorithm that recognises the “unique signature” of minute wrist movements and variations in blood flow when the index finger and thumb are tapped together.
If you have an older Apple Watch model that doesn’t support Double Tap, you can use AssistiveTouch, a comparable but more limited accessibility function available on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer.
Also Read: How to Fix Can’t Install Apps on Apple Watch?
