configure Apple Watch Extremely’s Motion button in watchOS 11

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

Beforehand, the one means of adjusting the Motion button’s linked operate was to enter the watchOS Settings app. I am going to exhibit the brand new technique beneath, in addition to its ongoing limitations.

configure the Extremely’s Motion button in watchOS 11

Swap it up right away for quicker controls

To alter what the Motion button does, all you must do is maintain it down and scroll by an inventory 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 take a look at a video of the characteristic on Threads if you wish to see it simulated.

There’s nonetheless a restricted variety of apps and features you may set off. These embrace:

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

Notice that the final possibility requires creating an automation within the official Shortcuts app in your iPhone. It is extraordinarily highly effective — you would, for example, begin shuffling music and navigate residence 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’ve got accomplished one, faucet its Extra (triple-dot) icon, then Data (i). Choose Present on Apple Watch Extremely.

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

1. Open the watchOS Settings app.
2. Go to Motion Button > Motion, then faucet Shortcut.
3. For those who do not see shortcuts you’ve got flagged, faucet the Again button, faucet Shortcut once more, then choose a shortcut.

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

Ready for change immediately 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 in all probability no common means of linking particular instructions inside particular apps, which suggests Apple has to do the coding itself.

The corporate may be attempting to maintain the Apple Watch expertise simple. 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 prone to be among the most used, or at the very least aimed in 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 just a little bit extra, or at the very least added a couple of extra appropriate apps.