Learn how to configure Apple Watch Extremely’s Motion button in watchOS 11

Whereas Apple did not make any {hardware} updates to the Apple Watch Ultra this 12 months aside from a brand new shade, it did at the very least introduce various software program options alongside watchOS 11, comparable to sleep apnea detection and a long-overdue Coaching Load metric. The truth is, as is surprisingly widespread for Apple, a few of these options went unannounced — together with a brand new approach of configuring the Extremely’s Motion button.

Beforehand, the one approach of fixing the Motion button’s linked perform was to enter the watchOS Settings app. I will show the brand new methodology beneath, in addition to its ongoing limitations.

Learn how to configure the Extremely’s Motion button in watchOS 11

Change it up straight away for sooner controls

To alter what the Motion button does, all you need to do is maintain it down and scroll by means of a listing of onscreen actions utilizing your finger or the Extremely’s digital crown. This works with each the unique Extremely and the Ultra 2. You’ll be able to try a video of the function on Threads if you wish to see it simulated.

There’s nonetheless a restricted variety of apps and capabilities you possibly can set off. These embody:

• Exercise
• Stopwatch
• Waypoint
• Backtrack
• Dive
• Flashlight
• Shortcut

Word that the final choice requires creating an automation within the official Shortcuts app in your iPhone. It is extraordinarily highly effective — you would, as an illustration, begin shuffling music and navigate dwelling on the similar time — however the Shortcuts interface takes some getting used to, and you will have to particularly flag a shortcut as seen in your Extremely. As soon as you have accomplished one, faucet its Extra (triple-dot) icon, then Information (i). Choose Present on Apple Watch Extremely.

In your Extremely, you will have to decide on which shortcut it will default to. To try this:

1. Open the watchOS Settings app.
2. Go to Motion Button > Motion, then faucet Shortcut.
3. When you do not see shortcuts you have flagged, faucet the Again button, faucet Shortcut once more, then decide a shortcut.

Why cannot I make the Motion button do something I would like?

Ready for change straight from the higher-ups

Solely Apple or third-party builders can say for certain, however we do know that, like all Apple cell platforms, watchOS 11 is comparatively locked down. There’s most likely no common approach of linking particular instructions inside particular apps, which suggests Apple has to do the coding itself.

The corporate may additionally be making an attempt to maintain the Apple Watch expertise easy. Having a flood of instructions to select from would possibly overwhelm some customers, main them to disregard the button totally. The choices watchOS 11 does have are more likely to be a number of the most used, or at the very least aimed in the direction of the Extremely’s (nominal) viewers of athletes, hikers, and divers.

The Shortcuts app is Apple’s reply to the issue, at the very least for the second. I would not be stunned although if watchOS 12 opened up the Motion button a bit of bit extra, or at the very least added a couple of extra suitable apps.