What happened when I put my Apple Watch upside down?

Lifehacker [Japan Version] Reprinted from the article published on December 4, 2021

Apple Watch is one of the best iPhone accessories.

In my case, I use my Apple Watch for everything from receiving notifications, responding to text messages, setting timers, setting reminders with Siri, and even getting directions.

Apart from the iPhone, you're probably interacting with the Apple Watch more than any other device.

However, most people put on the Apple Watch the wrong way. Don't get me wrong, you're probably wearing it the same way you see it in photos and commercials, as Apple intended.

In fact, you probably wear an Apple Watch like most people do. But I think there is a better way.

Weaknesses of Apple Watch

Let's explain what that means from now on.

When you wear your Apple Watch on your left arm, many people have their Digital Crown pointing to the right. This is the worst position.

You can see why Apple placed it there. In the case of a mechanical wristwatch, the crown is located at that position on the wristwatch attached to the left wrist. That's fine, but it's not always ideal for digital watches.

For example, no one wants to accidentally call Siri by putting their hand in their pocket and pressing the Digital Crown for a moment.

It's also quite inconvenient for the back of your hand to lightly touch the Digital Crown, causing the podcast you were listening to to suddenly play at a loud volume. Also, inadvertent touching is not the only problem. The Digital Crown is in the upper right corner of the display, which makes it difficult to operate.

Its position is not suitable for pressing or adjusting buttons such as volume, or scrolling the interface. The index finger is there to press the display, not to do that.

Just put your Apple Watch upside down

On the other hand, the thumb is perfect for operating the Digital Crown. And if you put your Apple Watch upside down, the Digital Crown is in the right position for easy thumb access.

Therefore, you can operate the display without moving your index finger back and forth.

If you operate your Apple Watch frequently, this simple hack can make a big difference. Usability is greatly improved. For example, if you're typing text on the Apple Watch Series 7 swipe keyboard, you can use the Digital Crown to move the cursor around the text.

Using the thumb is also an ergonomic method and is much more reliable than reciprocating the index finger.

Overall, this way of wearing the Apple Watch is especially useful with the Series 7, which has a larger display. Even the smaller 41mm version is likely to improve your experience.

You can turn the screen upside down in the settings

Thankfully, Apple has a solution to this problem. Try wearing your Apple Watch with the Digital Crown on your left.

To the right of the setting that indicates which wrist you are wearing, there is a switch to flip the display.

If you flip it over and literally turn your Apple Watch upside down, the screen will display correctly.

This hack should change your life-at least, we guarantee that you'll change the way you interact with your Apple Watch.

Originally published by Inc.

Copyright © 2021 Mansueto Ventures LLC.

Translate: Takashi Kazami (Galileo)