watchOS 26 brought a number of big and small updates to the Apple Watch, but one that I still loved is the new flick of the wrist gesture. Here’s how it works and what I use it for.
A quick flick of the wrist engages a double-tap, allowing the Apple Watch to be used hands-free
In recent years, watchOS has added two new gestures aimed at making the Apple Watch hands-free.
- Double tap
- Bracelet
Double-tap was first introduced in 2023 with the Apple Watch Series 9. However, the wrist motion is completely new.
Historically, I had some reliability issues with double-tap, although this has improved.
However, the wrist gesture has become one of my favorite additions in watchOS 26. The new gesture allows you to quickly close all kinds of content with a simple trick.
Quickly flick your wrist back and then forward and you can dismiss:
- notification
- application
- phone calls
- timers
- alarms
That’s five different types of fairly common content that you can close or mute with a hands-free gesture.
How I used the flick of the wrist in watchOS 26
Both the flick of the wrist and the double-tap can take a while to get used to.
But the more I tried to deliberately remember to use the flick of the wrist, the more natural and common it became.
I’m very used to closing notifications with a flick of the wrist, but I only recently realized that it can also close apps. Historically, this required clicking on the Digital Crown, but now I can close apps and return to my watch face quickly and hands-free.
Silencing timers and alarms with a flick of the wrist was also really nice. In particular, the timers often go off when my hands are tied – like in the middle of washing dishes or washing my hands.
If you haven’t used the flick of the wrist much in watchOS 26, I encourage you to remember it the next time you’re ready to close an app, dismiss a notification, or silence a timer. It’s a great little trick that will make your Apple Watch experience a little smoother.
Wrist motion is available for Apple Watch Ultra 3 and 2, Apple Watch Series 11, 10 and 9, and Apple Watch SE 3.
Did you use the flick of the wrist in watchOS 26? Let us know in the comments.
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