If Santa has been good to you this year and you've found a new Apple Watch under the tree, you might be wondering exactly where to start. If you're new to the Apple Watch and it's your first time using one, you may have heard about some of its great features and benefits, but putting it on for the first time can definitely be a little daunting.
So what exactly does the Apple Watch do? do? And how can you use it to change and improve your life? There are plenty of great features we could have chosen from, including the App Store and its large selection of third-party offerings to enhance your experience. In fact, it is very important that we have prepared a complete additional guide, five Apple Watch apps that you should download on your first Apple Watch.
But what about the things your Apple Watch already offers? Here are five things any new Apple Watch owner should do, selected from a variety of capabilities to help demonstrate the breadth of different features and how they could impact your life.
These features will work whether you have the best Apple Watch, a mid-range Apple Watch Series 10, or a budget Apple Watch SE 2.
1. Record a workout
We start with an obvious one: use your Apple Watch to log a workout. Using an Apple Watch to track and record your calories, steps, and workout sessions is a great way to help you monitor your progress, achieve gains and improvements, and stay well-rested and injury-free. You'll get interesting metrics like heart rate, time, and even effort measurement in some cases. It will also tell you how many calories you've burned and give you access to controls for your music if you like to listen to it while you exercise. Not sure where to start? Why not try a brisk walk?
To track a workout on Apple Watch:
- Press the Digital Crown (the circular button on the side)
- Scroll down to Exercise
- Find the exercise you want to record and tap the tile
2. Pay for something
Whether you're commuting, commuting, or just taking a quick stroll to the stores, you can use your Apple Watch to pay for products using Apple Pay anywhere Apple Pay or Contactless is accepted. A quick flick of the wrist and you can use your Apple Watch like a bank card. Not only can you store bank cards, but you can also store airline boarding passes, loyalty and rewards cards, and even hotel room keys on your wrist. Using Apple Pay on your wrist adds another layer of convenience to your iPhone payment experience. If you've never used Apple Pay before, this one could change your life.
To pay for something with Apple Watch:
- Add your bank card to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone (there is a Wallet and Apple Pay section on the main page)
- Double-click the long side button on your Apple Watch
- Scroll with the Digital Crown to select the card you prefer, then tap it to a card reader to pay.
3. Make a phone call
You can use your Apple Watch to send texts and iMessages to people, but somehow making a phone call feels a little more special. You can make calls from your Apple Watch using your AirPods or simply your Apple Watch speaker. You'll need your iPhone nearby unless you have a cellular Apple Watch. The latter can make phone calls even when your iPhone is not around.
To make a phone call on Apple Watch:
- Press the digital crown
- Scroll to Phone
- Tap a contact from the Favorites, Recents, or Contacts section, or simply dial a number using the button in the top left corner
4. Find your way
Your Apple Watch is the perfect portable navigation companion, with full Apple Maps support so you can follow turn-by-turn navigation right on your wrist. You can use GPS to position yourself and your watch will even vibrate as you approach upcoming junctions or turns so you know when to check your wrist for the next instruction.
To navigate somewhere on Apple Watch:
- Press the digital crown
- Scroll down to Maps
- Tap the search icon in the bottom right corner and enter a location using your keyboard, Scribble (write letters with your finger), or your voice.
- You can also set a route with your iPhone, which will automatically appear on your Apple Watch if it's nearby
5. Find your phone
I lose my iPhone at home all the time, behind cushions, under blankets, and more. By far my favorite and most used Apple Watch feature is the Find Devices app. If you've lost your phone (or want to hide it to try this feature), you can use your Apple Watch to ping your iPhone. It will play a sound and, if you have one of the better iPhones, like the iPhone 15 or 16, and a new Apple Watch Series 10, it will even give you precision search with directions and distances like an AirTag would.
To locate your iPhone using your Apple Watch:
- Press the side button once
- Tap the phone icon with two curved lines on either side
- It's the third button, located to the left of the battery life percentage indicator.
Master your Apple Watch
Once you master these five skills, you'll be a pro at using your Apple Watch in no time, but you'll barely have scratched the surface. You can use your Apple Watch to make calls to emergency services, play music, unlock your smart front door, schedule appointments, set timers, check the weather, read and respond to emails, do math, track your sleep, and a lot more.
