⌨️ Typing on your Apple Watch doesn’t have to be an exercise in frustration. Here’s what to do when you need to enter text on your watch’s tiny screen.

🌛 Don’t let your Apple Watch keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. Enable your watch’s Night Shift feature and say goodbye to the blue light coming from your watch face.

🤯 Did you know you can use a simple hand gesture to control your watch without touching it or even looking at it?

Test your knowledge about the first iPhone

Take this true or false quiz about the original iPhone in honor of Apple’s iPhone 16 announcement on September 9!

1. 🧮 True or False? The first iPhone didn’t have a calculator.
2. 🎬 True or False? Apple built and installed its own version of the YouTube app.
3. 🗺️ True or False? The Maps app could give you directions to your destination but couldn’t actually guide you there.

Scroll down to find out!

New iPhone and Apple Watch announcement happening Sept. 9 📱⌚ with software updates to follow soon after!

Apple’s fall “Glowtime” event is happening September 9 at 10 a.m. PDT. Find out how to watch the livestream and what to expect when Apple announces its newest devices.

In other Apple Watch news: A runner put watchOS 11’s new Training Load feature to the test, there’s a new watch band that can charge your watch, and more drivers can now add a digital license to their Apple Watch wallet. Get more details on these and other stories in Olena’s latest Apple Watch news roundup!

You asked and Olena answered: Follow up on what to do if your watch won’t stop chiming, plus how to stop your watch display from sleeping too soon 😴

Q: Would I still be able to view email on the watch if I disable Mirror my iPhone [in the Watch app’s Mail notification settings]? - Bill G.

A: Yes! You’ll still be able to open the Mail app on your watch and read your emails. I just wrote an article on how to customize Apple Watch notifications. When you follow the steps in the article for the Mail app and select Custom instead of Mirror my iPhone, you’ll be able to customize your Apple Watch Mail notifications or turn them off completely.

Q: I am a nurse and need my watch screen to remain open while counting pulse/respirations. I have it set to 70 seconds, but it always shuts off at about 15 seconds. Is there a way to keep it on without having to tap the face? Thanks! - Janet C.

A: I can understand your frustration! If you have an Apple Watch Series 5 or later, I recommend you start by making sure you have the Always On Display feature enabled in your watch settings. If your watch is older, open the Display & Brightness settings on your Watch and make sure you have Wake on Wrist Raise enabled. You can also try restarting your watch and making sure it is updated to the latest version of watchOS, because it should stay on for 70 seconds if you selected that setting. Hope that helps!

Q: Why do I often get phone calls on my watch and not on my phone? When that happens, I can only answer using the watch, which is hard. – Charles

A: When your iPhone is locked or asleep while your Apple Watch is unlocked, you’ll get notifications on your Apple Watch instead of your iPhone. One solution is to stop your Apple Watch from receiving any calls by opening Settings on your iPhone, tapping Phone, then Selecting Calls on Other Devices, and toggling it off. If you don’t want to take this extreme measure, it might also be worth learning how to transfer your call from your Apple Watch to your iPhone.

Follow up: Don’t listen to us; listen to this reader instead! Reader Christi S. responded to Jodi M.'s question from this newsletter's August 23 edition. Christi warns that Jodi's watch might be chiming because it's charging on an uncertified, third-party Apple Watch charger. Christi suggests Jodi tries using the charging puck that came with her watch, saying, “If the pinging stops, then discard the [third-party] charger you were using. We discovered this just recently after months of pinging.”

✉️ Email your questions to OnTheWatch@iPhoneLife.com and we might answer them in a future edition!

Getting Ready for watchOS 11

Apple usually releases its new operating systems within a few days of its September iPhone event. Once a new version of watchOS is available, there are a few things you’ll need to do before you can update.

1. Check your iPhone’s and Watch’s compatibility
   • First, you’ll need to check that your Apple Watch Model is compatible with watchOS 11.
   • Next, check that your iPhone model is compatible with iOS 18.
2. Get your iPhone ready to install iOS 18
   • Make sure your iPhone has enough storage space.
   • Back up your iPhone (this will also back up your Apple Watch).
   • Go ahead and install iOS 18 on your iPhone.
3. Get your Apple Watch ready to install watchOS 11
   • Charge your Apple Watch to at least 50%.
   • Make sure your watch has enough storage for installing the new software.
   • Once your watch is ready, install watchOS 11.
   • Leave your watch on its charger and keep your iPhone nearby until the update is complete.
   • Just in case, here’s what to do if your watch gets hung up during the update process.
   • Enjoy the newest watchOS features!

Next edition, I’ll take a deep dive into everything you need to know about buying and setting up a new Apple Watch!

Will you update to watchOS 11 right away or will you wait?

The finished version of watchOS 11 will be available to the public soon after the Apple event on September 9. Email OnTheWatch@iPhoneLife.com and let me know whether you like to install the newest software right away or take your time updating and why!

• 7️⃣ Cool things you didn’t know your Apple Watch could do
• ⛔ Don’t type these four characters. It could crash your iPhone!
• Outstanding credit card debt? Getting a new 0% intro APR credit card could help ease the pressure. (Sponsored)
• 🆕 Is it time to get a new iPhone? Find out!
• Master Your Camera with 80% off the Capture It All Course from iPhone Photography School. (Sponsored)
• ⌚ Will the Apple Watch Ultra 3 be worth it compared to the Apple Watch 10?
• 📲 Here’s what you need to know to know about iOS 18
• Join the millions who trust NordVPN for ultimate online privacy. (Sponsored)
• 📵 And here’s what to do if your iOS 18 installation goes wrong

So, are you an iPhone expert?

Or are you more like me, who didn’t get her first iPhone until 2012, and who probably would have failed this quiz?

1. FALSE.
   While the iPad is only just now getting a calculator, the iPhone has had one from the beginning.
2. TRUE.
   The App Store didn’t exist until 2008. So when the first iPhone was released in 2007, Apple’s own version of the YouTube app came pre-installed.
3. TRUE.
   The iPhone didn’t get GPS capabilities until the release of the iPhone 3G, so the iPhone’s Google Maps app (the Apple Maps app didn’t exist yet) had no way of knowing where you were when giving directions.

Are you ready for the biggest and most important iPhone update ever?

Make sure you register for the free iOS 18 Sneak Peek Class before the class is full!

Apple is set to release iOS 18 in a matter of days. That’s why I’m excited to invite you to our free iOS 18 Sneak Peek Class on Tuesday, September 11 at 3 p.m. ET.

In this live class, you will:

• Get an early preview of the coolest Apple Intelligence features
• Tour the many exciting updates coming to your iPhone
• Learn how to prepare your device for iOS 18 so you don’t lose any photos, notes, or data

BONUS: Everyone who pre-registers will get our downloadable Pre-Update Checklist as our gift to you!

You’ll also get a private replay link so you can watch the class at your own pace.

Reserve your spot in our free iOS 18 Sneak Peek Class!