Did you just get your very first Apple Watch? Here are five things you should try right away
If Santa has been good to you this year and you found a brand new Apple Watch under the tree, you might be wondering where exactly to start. If you’re new to Apple Watch and this is your first time using one, you may have heard of some of its great features and benefits, but putting it on for the first time can certainly be a little intimidating.
So what exactly does the Apple Watch do Doing? And how can you use it to change and improve your life? There are a lot of great features we could have chosen from, not least the App Store and the numerous third-party offerings to take your experience to the next level. In fact, it’s so important that we’ve put together a whole extra guide, five Apple Watch apps you should download on your first Apple Watch.
But what about the things your Apple Watch already offers? Here are five things every brand new Apple Watch owner should do, chosen from a variety of options to demonstrate the scope of its different features and how they can impact your life.
These features work whether you have the top-of-the-line Apple Watch, a mid-range Apple Watch Series 10, or a budget Apple Watch SE 2.
1. Record a workout
We’ll start with an obvious one: use your Apple Watch to record a workout. Using an Apple Watch to track and record your calories, steps, and exercise sessions is a great way to track your progress, make gains and improvements, and stay well-rested and injury-free. You get cool stats like heart rate, time, and in some cases even effort measurements. It also tells you how many calories you’ve burned and gives you access to controls for your music if you like to listen while you exercise. Not sure where to start? Why not try a short walk?
To track a workout on Apple Watch:
- Press the Digital Crown (the circle button on the side)
- Scroll down to Training
- Find the exercise you want to record and tap the tile
2. Pay for something
Whether you’re on the go, traveling, or just popping to the store, you can use your Apple Watch to pay for goods with Apple Pay anywhere Apple Pay or Contactless is accepted. A quick flick of the wrist and you can use your Apple Watch as a bank card. Not only can you store bank cards, but you can also keep airline boarding passes, loyalty and rewards cards, and even hotel room keys on your wrist. Using Apple Pay on your wrist adds another layer of convenience to your payment experience with your iPhone. If you’ve never used Apple Pay before, it might just change your life.
To pay for something with Apple Watch:
- Add your bank card to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone (there’s a Wallet & Apple Pay section on the front page)
- Double-click the long side button on your Apple Watch
- Scroll the Digital Crown to select the card you want, then hold it against a card reader to pay
3. Make a phone call
You can use your Apple Watch to send text messages and iMessages to people, but somehow calling just feels a little more special. You can make calls from your Apple Watch using your AirPods, or simply through your Apple Watch speaker. You’ll need your iPhone nearby unless you have a mobile Apple Watch. The latter can make calls even when your iPhone isn’t lying around.
Calling on Apple Watch:
- Press the Digital Crown
- Scroll to Telephone
- Tap a contact from the Favorites, Recents, or Contacts section, or simply call a number using the button in the top left corner
4. Find your way
Your Apple Watch is the perfect portable navigation companion, with full Apple Maps support so you can follow turn-by-turn navigation right on your wrist. You can use GPS for positioning and your watch will even vibrate as you approach upcoming intersections or exits, so you know when to check your pulse for the next instruction.
To navigate anywhere on Apple Watch:
- Press the Digital Crown
- Scroll down to Cards
- Press the search icon at the bottom right and enter a location using your keyboard, scribble (write the letters with your finger), or your voice
- You can also plot a route with your iPhone, which will automatically appear on your Apple Watch when it is nearby
5. Find your phone
I lose my iPhone all the time around the house, behind pillows, under blankets, and more. By far my favorite and most used Apple Watch feature is the Find Devices app. If you’ve lost your phone (or want to hide it to test this feature), you can use your Apple Watch to ping your iPhone. A sound will play, and if you have one of the top iPhones, like the iPhone 15 or 16, and a new Apple Watch Series 10, you can even search accurately with directions and distances like you would an AirTag.
Locating your iPhone with your Apple Watch:
- Press the side button once
- Press the phone icon with two curved lines on either side
- It’s the third button, to the left of the battery life percentage indicator
Master your Apple Watch
Master these five skills and you’ll be a pro at using your Apple Watch in no time, but you’re just getting started. You can use your Apple Watch to call emergency services, play music, unlock your smart front door, make appointments, set timers, check the weather, read and respond to email, do math, check your sleep tracking and much more.