How to get the Apple Watch Double Tap feature on older models

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Being able to quickly tap your thumb and index together twice to control your wearable doesn’t sound transformative, but it’s one of the things that makes an Apple Watch so easy to live with – and contender for the best smartwatch on sale today. For example, you can hang up a phone call, or dismiss a timer going off, without having to touch the display or even look at your wrist.

Double Tap relies on the Neural Engine inside the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2 to process accelerometer, gyroscope, and optical heart sensor data to identify taps. But you can recreate the feature on older Apple Watch models using an existing accessibility setting. Here’s how you can try the new gesture on your existing device.

How to recreate Double Tap on your Apple Watch

Existing Apple Watch models come with AssistiveTouch as part of watchOS. It’s an accessibility feature baked into the software that helps users use gestures to control their watch, for those who may struggle. But there’s a toned down version of the full feature called Quick Actions that’s more-or-less the same as Double Tap. And while it might be an accessibility feature, switching the tool on will bring the Series 9’s new feature to your existing Apple Watch.

Head into the Watch app on your iPhone and find Accessibility. Or, go to Settings > Accessibility straight on your Apple Watch.
Navigate down to Quick Actions.
Select On from the list.
You can choose if you want a banner to notify you when you can use the feature, or if the button gets highlighted.
When you see the Quick Actions prompt, quickly double pinch your thumb and index finger together.

If you want to explore using gestures on your Apple Watch further, you can explore the rest of AssistiveTouch. It lets you use even more gestures, such as pinches and clenches, to control the rest of your device.

It’s a little harder to get to grips with, however. If you’re just looking to recreate the Series 9’s Double Tap feature, then switching on Quick Actions is your best bet.

Read more: Apple Watch Series 9 vs Ultra 2: what’s the difference?

About

Connor is a writer for Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website. He has been writing for around seven years now, with writing across the web and in print too. Connor has experience on most major platforms, though does hold a place in his heart for macOS, iOS/iPadOS, electric vehicles, and smartphone tech. Just like everyone else around here, he’s a fan of gadgets of all sorts! Aside from writing, Connor is involved in the startup scene. This exciting involvement puts him at the front of new and exciting tech, always on the lookout for innovating products.