• Tips - Pin your most useful widgets 📍
• Deep Dive - Reduce Apple Watch overwhelm 😮‍💨
• Health Challenge Update - Join our September 2026 Challenge! 🏆

• 🤫 Mute & dim your screen in just one touch.
• 📌 Pin your favorite widgets to save time.
• 💬 Create smart replies to text messages.

More is not always better, and when it comes to your Apple Watch, having fewer distractions can significantly improve your experience and save you time. Here are  my favorite tips on how to simplify your watch.

1. Minimize Your Apple Watch Control Center

Do you use every control in your watch's Control Center? If you say yes, I might accuse you of lying, because I've had an Apple Watch for six years and only use a few important controls. I recommend removing whatever you don't use and moving things around in a way that most makes the sense for you - like bringing whatever you use most to the top for easier access. I also recommend that you don't keep your Do Not Disturb button next to the Ping iPhone button, or you'll be making noise instead of silencing your watch.

2. Turn Off Automatic App Downloads

By default, whenever you download a new app on your watch, it will also be downloaded to your watch. While many apps have great companion apps for the Apple Watch, you might not want them clogging up your storage or getting in the way of navigating the apps you actually use. You can turn off Automatic App Downloads via the Watch app on your iPhone. The compatible apps will still appear in your list of watch apps and it only takes a tap to manually download it to your watch.

3. Use Siri Whenever Possible

If you don't want to go through the process of removing apps or tweaking your app view. The quickest way to open an app isn't tapping your screen, it's asking Siri to do it. To do this, just activate Siri on your watch in one of the three ways and say, "Open (App name)." My favorite way to do this on my watch is by holding in the Home button (on the Digital Crown). I have personally turned off Raise to Speak and Listen For (Hey) Siri so that I only summon your smart assistant when I actually need it.

4. Delete Unused Watch Faces

I am guilty of trying out a bunch of Apple Watch faces and just leaving them there. But it can be annoying to navigate a hundred different faces if you frequently switch between just two or three go-tos. Deleting any watch faces you don't use takes seconds and is a satisfying way to clear things up.

Is there a feature that you didn't learn about until recently? Email OntheWatch@iphonelife.com and let me know!

The iPhone Life September Health Challenge is here! 

The monthly iPhone Life Challenge is a great way to come together as a community and motivate each other to reach our health goals by staying active. We'll be doing a weekly accountability post for subscribers in our Insider Facebook group. Join to share struggles, trade tips, and support one another on our journeys.

To join the challenge, download the free Challenges app on your iPhone and enter the code Y4HQ when prompted. Need help? This article explains the steps and tells you more about the app.

Are you enjoying the challenge? Do you have any suggestions for how we can make it even better? Email OnTheWatch@iPhoneLife.com and let me know.

Sign up here to get the On the Watch newsletter in your inbox every other week.