If you're the owner of a new Apple Watch, it's time to learn how to set it up your way.
The Apple Watch is a hugely versatile and personal device – and no two people will use it the same way.
There are also loads of settings and customizations that people don't take advantage of – and then complain about elements of the experience.
We've been using Apple Watch almost daily since 2015, so here are our tips for the first things to do with your Apple Watch.
1. Set up and pair the Apple Watch
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Getting started with your new Apple Watch is simple. First things first, you need an iPhone 6S or newer, and it needs to be fully updated to the latest version of iOS. On-screen instructions mostly cover it, but here's the gist:
1. On your iPhone, check that Bluetooth is on and that you're connected to a Wi-Fi network. Then, open the Apple Watch app.
2. Turn your Apple Watch on, then:
- If your phone detects the watch is near, you should see the message, "Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch". Hit the 'Continue' button.
- If you don't see this, open up the Apple Watch app and tap 'Start Pairing'. You'll be prompted to hold your iPhone over the Apple Watch so it is visible in the camera's viewfinder.
3. Follow the prompts to complete your setup, such as choosing a language and watch orientation, and defining a passcode.
4. If this is your first Apple Watch, you'll then need to hit Set Up Apple Watch. If you've had a Watch before, you can choose to restore from an old backup.
5. Should you later wish to unpair the Apple Watch, do so by going to the iPhone's Apple Watch app and selecting My Watch > Apple Watch > Unpair Apple Watch.
2. Install apps on the Apple Watch
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Standalone apps are one of the handiest features of the Apple Watch, but the majority are still extensions of apps on your handset.
During setup, you'll get the chance to install all available Apple Watch versions of your existing iPhone app – if you want.
You can also do this later in the companion app, as well as choose whether to have new ones added automatically. We don't like having scores of apps on the Watch we don't use – so we do recommend being selective.
You can also now browse and download apps through the App Store directly on your wrist.
You might still find the iOS app useful due to screen room and reading, but you're no longer dependent on your phone for apps. Just open up the App Store on your Apple Watch to get started.
We've already reviewed and ranked the best Apple Watch apps to help you out.
3. Now set the app screen
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This is one from personal preference – but I wouldn't say I like the default Apple apps screen with the honeycomb. Finding apps can be a fiddle, and then you need to pick them out with precision. Call me old-fashioned, but I find the list format far easier to use:
1. Go to the app screen.
2. Hold down your finger on the screen for a couple of seconds
3. Choose List view (or Grid if you're reverting).
4. Change the watch face
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Changing the Apple Watch face is the easiest way to customize the experience. And it's easy to do.
Just long-press on the watch face, and you'll be taken to a gallery of options. If you're not seeing many, then swipe right and choose the + and you can then add faces from the catalog.
Apple tightly controls the watch faces available – so there's not a huge selection. There are plenty to choose from now. However, you can usually tweak the style (font and colors) as well as setting complications. These are snippets of data on the watch face, from apps on the Apple Watch, which enrich the experience and make it more useful.
Also, read our guide to the Portrait watch face and make dials from your best photos.
5. Set your fitness goals
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The key to making progress with your health and fitness goals is to ensure you're setting ambitious but achievable goals. So getting these set up early on is essential.
Even before owning an Apple Watch, you may have been familiar with the three rings: Move, Exercise and Stand. These form the basis of your daily activity tracking on the smartwatch.
To tweak the goals:
1. On your Apple Watch, press on the digital crown (physical button on the side) to launch the app drawer
2. Tap the Activity app (It's the one with the rings) to open up and view your rings
3. On the screen displaying your rings, press down firmly on the screen to reveal options to view Weekly Summary or Change Move Goal
If you need help understanding the full ins and outs of the Apple Watch Activity and Workout apps once you're all set up, make sure to check out our guide.
6. Set up Apple Pay
One of the biggest benefits of the Apple Watch over pretty much any competitor (bar Wear OS watches is Apple Pay). It can feel a bit of a drag to set this up when you first strap on your Apple Watch, but it's so worth it.
You will be prompted to input your card details on your iPhone – or if you already have one set up on your iPhone, you can bring this across by confirming the CVV.
To use Apple Pay on the Apple Watch, you can just double-tap the button under the brown – and tap it to the contactless point to pay.
You can also set up Express Travel payments, which means you can enter transit systems – such as the London Underground – just by tapping your watch, without having to activate the payment card.
To do that, go to the Watch companion app, and go to Wallet and Apple Pay. Then assign your card to be an Express Travel Card. Thank me later.
7. Tame Apple Watch notifications
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Notifications are a big part of the Apple Watch experience, and it helps you keep tabs of messages and calls without being glued to your smartphone.
But no-one wants their wrist constantly buzzing – and getting too many is just going to make the Apple Watch feel like an annoying experience. However, you can add a big element of control to what you see on the wrist.
In the iPhone Apple Watch app, go to My Watch > Notifications.
When active, the Notifications Indicator shows a red dot at the top of the watch face when you've got unread notifications. A privacy option exists for only showing notification details when you tap on an alert.
Beneath these switches is a list of built-in apps, followed by third-party apps. Third-party apps each have a switch for mirroring alerts to your Apple Watch (said alerts are managed in the iPhone's own Settings app).
How to: Clear notifications on your Apple Watch
Most Apple apps are set to 'Mirror my iPhone' (as in, mirror alert settings from your iPhone) but can have custom options defined, such as turning on haptic alerts but disabling sound for Messages.
Maps and Activity are exceptions, the former's sole switch being for toggling alerts for upcoming turns, and the latter having granular options for stand reminders, progress updates, goal completions, achievements, and your weekly summary.
Try more Apple Watch guides
How we test
Craig Grannell is a writer, journalist and editor, who has for more years than he cares to remember, specialized in all things Apple and Mac. (He's been doing this so long that he remembers when Apple genuinely was doomed.) Much of his day is spent surrounded by Apple kit, or peering at his Apple Watch, testing apps and games, and then writing about them. This includes Wareable's best Apple Watch apps and games list, but he also smashes out words for the likes of Stuff, TechRadar, MacFormat, British GQ, Macworld, British Airways, and, frankly, whoever will pay him.
When not immersed in apps, you can usually find Craig putting together Lego with his youngling, faffing about with retro-gaming hardware, or putting together his next wannabe chart-topper with a mix of Korg Gadget, Logic Pro, a battered old acoustic guitar, and a big dollop of optimism.