The latest version of the operating system for our Apple Watch, watchOS 11, has arrived with many new features. Apart from the most visible changes and interface improvements, there are some features that may have gone unnoticed. Let’s talk about 11 little-known features of watchOS 11.
1. Pause Activity rings without losing the streak
If we have ever had to interrupt our activity goals, we can now pause the activity rings without losing our progress. By tapping on the rings in the Activity app, we will see the option to pause for a day, a week, until the next month, or for a custom period of up to 90 days.
2. The Digital Crown shows us the notifications
In previous versions of watchOS, we accessed notifications by swiping down from the top of the screen. With watchOS 11, in addition to that, we can also turn the Digital Crown down to quickly view notifications, which simplifies access without needing to touch the screen.
3. Check-In function for the peace of mind of our loved ones
The Check In feature, which arrived on the iPhone with iOS 17, is now also available on watchOS 11. This allows us to automatically notify a friend or family member when we arrive at a destination. We can even use it while exercising outdoors, which is very useful if we go running at night or in remote areas.
4. Training effort: A key metric
When we finish a workout in the Workout app, watchOS 11 will automatically assess or, alternatively, ask us to rate the effort made. This data, combined with heart rate, elevation, and other factors, helps to calculate our training load to accurately measure our level of effort and physical fitness.
5. Training load to avoid overexertion
Training Load is a new metric in watchOS 11 that compares the intensity and duration of our workouts over the past seven days with those of the previous 28 days. This allows us to assess whether we are training enough or, on the contrary, if we are overexerting ourselves.
6. We will no longer forget minutes while training
If we pause a workout and forget to resume it, the training app will now ask us if we want to add the lost minutes when we continue exercising. A small improvement that helps us maintain a more accurate record of our sessions, even if we forget to resume the activity manually.
7. We can exit sleep mode more quickly
In previous versions of watchOS, exiting sleep mode required holding down the Digital Crown for several seconds. In watchOS 11, this time has been reduced to a simple press, making it easier to access the main screen, especially if we need to check something during the night.
8. Our timers are more available
If we use timers regularly, watchOS 11 allows us to pin the timers we use the most at the top of the app. This way, we can access them with a simple tap, avoiding manual configuration or using Siri.
9. We can change the alert tones
With watchOS 11, in the Sounds and Vibration menu, we can customize the alert tones of our watch. It is now possible to change the ringtone, the tone for text messages, and even adjust the sounds for new emails, calendar alerts, and reminders.
10. New double-tap actions
The double-tap gesture now allows us to perform actions such as scrolling through content or dismissing a timer. Apple has also opened this feature to developers, so we will progressively see more third-party applications taking advantage of this gesture in the future.
11. Audio playback from the Apple Watch speaker
Finally, if we have an Apple Watch Series 10 or an Apple Watch Ultra 2, we can now play music or podcasts directly from the watch’s speaker, without needing to connect to AirPods. An option that we can select from the audio output menu in the Now Playing app.
It is clear that watchOS 11 arrives with a long list of new features, although it also removes four watch faces. These small details allow us to do more with our watch.
