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 colour, it did a minimum of introduce a variety of software program options alongside watchOS 11, corresponding to sleep apnea detection and a long-overdue Coaching Load metric. In reality, as is surprisingly frequent for Apple, a few of these options went unannounced — together with a brand new method of configuring the Extremely’s Motion button.

Beforehand, the one method of fixing the Motion button’s linked perform was to enter the watchOS Settings app. I will exhibit the brand new technique under, in addition to its ongoing limitations.

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

Change it up instantly for quicker controls

To alter what the Motion button does, all you must 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 possibly can 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

Be aware that the final possibility requires creating an automation within the official Shortcuts app in your iPhone. It is extraordinarily highly effective — you would, as an example, begin shuffling music and navigate house 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 might 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 need?

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 cellular platforms, watchOS 11 is comparatively locked down. There’s in all probability no common method 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 solely. The choices watchOS 11 does have are more likely to be a few of the most used, or a minimum of 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, a minimum of for the second. I would not be shocked although if watchOS 12 opened up the Motion button a bit of bit extra, or a minimum of added just a few extra appropriate apps.