Apple Watch Ultra Tips and Tricks

There’s a good reason that the Apple Watch continues to be the most popular smartwatch in the world. And while the Watch Series 8 was also released in 2022, the Apple Watch Ultra is by far the more exciting smartwatch of the two. Not only does this represent the biggest design overhaul since the original Watch was released, but it also provides incredibly battery life and more than a few new features that you won’t find elsewhere.

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Apple Watch Ultra tips and tricks

Create and display Compass Waypoints

It’s pretty obvious that Apple positioned and is marketing the Apple Watch Ultra for those who enjoy experiencing the great outdoors. One app that you might not have even known was available on the Apple Watch is the Compass app. But with the release of the Ultra, Apple has revamped and improved the Compass app, along with making it possible to create Compass Waypoints right from your wrist.

1. Open the Compass app on your Apple Watch Ultra.
2. Tap the Waypoint icon (bubble with arrow) in the bottom left corner.
3. Enter the information for your waypoint including label, change the color, or add a symbol.
4. Tap Done.

Once the Compass Waypoint has been set, you can view it from the Compass app, simply by turning the Digital Crown to select the waypoint (if multiple are used), then tapping Select. You can also view the waypoint on a map at the bottom of the screen, including the specific latitude and longitude coordinates.

Retrace your steps

Along with bringing the Depth and Siren app to the Apple Watch Ultra, the Compass app has also been updated with a new feature called Backtrack. Essentially, instead of needing to leave behind breadcrumbs while hiking, or making a trek through IKEA, Backtrack does the work for you. Unlike some other features, Backtrack is enabled by default and is accessible right from the main interface of the Compass app.

1. Open the Compass app on your Apple Watch Ultra.
2. Tap the steps icon in the bottom right corner of the Compass app’s interface.
3. When prompted, tap Start to begin recording your route.
4. When you are ready to use backtrack with Apple Watch, tap the Pause button in the bottom right corner.
5. From the prompt that appears, tap the Retrace Steps button.
6. The location that you were at when initializing Backtrack will appear on the compass.
7. Follow the path back in order to return to the original location when activating Backtrack.
8. Once you have reached the location, tap the steps icon in the bottom right corner of the Compass app.
9. When prompted, tap the Delete Steps button.

One of the cool things about having a feature such as Backtrack available is that once you figure out how to use it, you might find yourself relying on it for more than just hiking. Even basic things such as trying to find your car in an enormous parking lot is a great example of how Backtrack can be quite useful.

Contact Emergency Services

The Apple Watch Ultra features upgraded sensors that are able to detect G Force up to 256 Gs, which works in tandem with the built-in GPS sensor, microphone, and barometer. The GPS is used to determine the speed at which you were traveling, the microphone listens for any sounds of a crash, and the barometer “detects the change in pressure that occurs when airbags are deployed.”

All of these sensors combine to determine whether you have been in a severe car crash. With Crash Detection on Apple Watch or iPhone enabled, your devices are then able to automatically notify emergency services, along with your emergency contacts.

1. Open the Watch app on the iPhone paired with your Apple Watch.
2. Tap the My Watch tab in the bottom toolbar.
3. Scroll down and tap Emergency SOS.
4. Tap the toggle next to Call After Severe Crash to the On position.

If you happen to be in a severe car crash, your Apple Watch will do the following:

“It will display an alert and automatically initiate an emergency phone call after 20 seconds unless you cancel. If you are unresponsive, it will play an audio message for emergency services, which informs them that you’ve been in a severe car crash and gives them your latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates with an approximate search radius.”

Another feature Apple recently debuted with the iPhone 14 lineup is Satellite SOS. When Crash Detection is activated, your iPhone will first attempt to call emergency services using your cellular network. However, if your network is not available, it will then try to use a different carrier. And in the event that you are not within range of a cell tower, Satellite SOS will be used to contact emergency services using the Emergency SOS functionality.

Use the Siren App

One potentially helpful option added to the Apple Watch Ultra is the all-new Siren feature. When enabled, this will play a “continuous siren that repeats at regular intervals and that can be heard up to 600 feet away.” It’s designed to be a safety feature that could prove extremely helpful if you are lost and need to be indicated. According to Apple, the siren will continue sounding until you either turn it off or your Watch Ultra runs out of battery. Here’s how you can turn on Siren with the Action Button on Apple Watch Ultra:

1. From your Apple Watch Ultra, open the Settings app.
2. Tap Action Button.
3. Scroll down until you reach the Siren section.
4. Tap the toggle next to Hold to Turn On.

With Siren enabled on Apple Watch Ultra, you can now activate it using these steps:

1. Press and hold the Action Button until the slider appears.
2. Drag the Siren slider to start a countdown.

Once the countdown has finished, the Siren will be activated and can be turned off by tapping the Stop button in the Siren app. Also, Apple points out that you can cancel the Siren after it has started by resting the palm of your hand over the Watch Ultra’s display for at least three seconds.

Apple has also made it possible for you to stop the Siren from sounding before it even starts. All you need to do is release the Action Button to cancel, provided that you were activating it by holding down the Action Button.

Track Your Nightly Wrist Temperature

Another one of the new sensors that Apple has introduced with the Apple Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch Series 8 are for tracking your wrist temperature.

1. Open up the Health app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the Browse tab on the bottom right.
3. Scroll down until you find the Sleep option.
4. You’ll find yourself at the Sleep home screen.
5. Scroll down until you find Sleep Schedule.
6. If Sleep Schedule is off, toggle it on.
7. Set your sleep schedule. Drag the days block to configure which days you want to set a sleep schedule for. Rotate around the circle to configure the time you sleep and wake up.
8. Tap on Add.
9. You can set a different schedule for different days, depending on your schedule.

After setting up your Sleep Schedule, you’ll be able to begin keeping track of your wrist temperature after wearing your Watch Ultra for about five nights. This is so that you Apple Watch can determine a baseline before it’s able to begin looking for any potential changes. Not only is this great to keep an eye on your health, but it also works in conjunction with Cycle Tracking to “provide retrospective ovulation estimates and improve period predictions.”

Here’s how you can go back and view your wrist temperature after the baseline has been captured by your Apple Watch Ultra.

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Browse icon in the bottom toolbar.
3. Under Health Categories, tap Body Measurements.
4. Look for Body Temperature.
5. Tap a point on the chart to view more information.

Use Cycle Tracking

The Apple Watch Ultra is an incredible piece of technology that can truly help everyone keep an eye on their health and fitness. But Apple also introduced Cycle Tracking for those who want to be able to securely and comfortably log details about their menstrual cycle. According to Apple, users “can add flow information and record symptoms such as headaches or cramps.” And over time, the Cycle Tracking app will attempt to predict when your “next period or fertile window is about to start”.

Understandably so, the ability to use Cycle Tracking on the Apple Watch Ultra isn’t enabled by default. Here’s how you can set everything up to use Cycle Tracking.

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Browse icon in the bottom toolbar.
3. Under Health Categories, tap Body Measurements.
4. Tap Cycle Tracking.
5. Tap Get Started.
6. Follow the on-screen steps to set notifications and other options.

After you have finished setting up Cycle Tracking, you’ll have access to a new dedicated app for this functionality. It’s available on your iPhone but is also accessible from the Apple Watch Ultra.

Turn on Low Power Mode

You need your Apple Watch to not run out of juice until you can get to a charger, but by the time you look again, the Watch’s battery is drained. Low Power Mode has been a feature on both the iPhone and Mac for some time now, and it’s finally coming to the Apple Watch.

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. In the bottom toolbar, tap My Watch.
3. Tap General.
4. Tap Software Update.
5. Wait for the update to appear.
6. Tap the Download and Install button.

Make sure that your Apple Watch has at least a 50% charge and is connected to a charger throughout the process. You’ll also need to make sure that your iPhone stays within a few feet of the Apple Watch just to avoid any potential problems that may arise. As a note, with Low Power Mode enabled, the following features will be turned off:

• Background heart rate measurements
• Heart rate notifications
• Blood oxygen measurements

Extend Your Apple Watch UItra’s Battery Life Even Further

Apple recently released watchOS 9.1, which provides the necessary option to help you reach the claimed 60 hours of battery life for the Watch Ultra. There’s an all-new toggle that is being called “Fewer GPS and Heart Rate Readings”, which is currently only available for Watch Ultra owners. And here’s how you can enable it from your smartwatch:

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
2. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the list and tap Workout.
3. Tap the toggle next to Low Power Mode to the On position.
4. Tap the toggle next to Fewer GPS and Heart Rate Readings to the On position.
5. Tap the < button in the top right corner to save your changes.

Customize the Wayfinder Watch Face

As is the case most of the time whenever Apple releases a new version of watchOS or a new Apple Watch, the company usually offers some new watch faces. This trend continues with the Apple Watch Ultra thanks to the all-new Wayfinder watch face that looks similar to what you might find on some traditional watches. However, the obvious benefit to using the Apple Watch is that you can swap out the different styles and change the complications that are at your disposal.

1. Open the Watch app on the iPhone paired with your Apple Watch Ultra.
2. In the bottom toolbar, tap My Watch.
3. Under the My Faces section, select the Wayfinder watch face.
4. Go through the following sections, making the necessary changes:
   • Style
     • Hour
     • Minute
   • Bezel
     • Latitude / Longitude
     • Elevation / Incline
     • None
   • Complications
     • Top Left
     • Top Right
     • Bottom Left
     • Bottom Right
     • Sub-dial Top
     • Sub-dial Left
     • Sub-dial Right
     • Sub-dial Bottom

Once you have finished making the necessary changes, simply tap the < Back button in the top left corner to save the updated watch face. And if you want to make this your primary watch face, follow these steps:

1. Open the Watch app on the iPhone paired with your Apple Watch Ultra.
2. In the bottom toolbar, tap My Watch.
3. Under the My Faces section, tap the Edit button.
4. Locate the Wayfinder watch face.
5. Touch and hold the three horizontal lines to the right of the watch face.
6. Drag and drop the Wayfinder watch face to the top of the list.

Now, the next time that you look at your Apple Watch Ultra, your customized Wayfinder watch face will appear.

Enable and Customize the Action Button

When you first go through the pairing and setup process for your Apple Watch Ultra, you are prompted to set up the Action Button. However, you can skip this step and come back to it later, when you have some more time or if you figure out how you want to use Action Button. If you skipped the initial prompt, here’s how you can set up Action Button on Apple Watch Ultra:

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra.
2. Scroll down and tap Action Button.
3. Tap Choose Action.
4. Select one of the following:
   • Workout
   • Stopwatch
   • Waypoint
   • Backtrack
   • Dive
   • Flashlight
   • Shortcut
5. In the top left corner, tap the < button.
6. If applicable, tap the App button.
7. Select an app to use when pressing the Action Button.
   • Some actions do not include an “App” option, so you can skip this step.
8. If applicable, tap First Press.
9. Select an action from the list of choices based on the App and/or Action that you have assigned.

It’s important to note that Apple and third-party app developers plan to implement more features that take advantage of the Action Button. So if you don’t see your favorite third-party workout app listed, it’s only a matter of time before that changes.

Use The All-new Depth App

One of the nifty things about the Apple Watch Ultra is the plethora of sensors that are packed into the smartwatch. In addition to keeping track of your steps, measuring your temperature, and tracking your sleep, there are other sensors that can be used to automatically detect what activities you are performing. This includes going for a swim, and you can even set the Depth app to automatically open.

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll down and tap Auto-Launch.
4. Scroll down again until you reach the When Submerged section.
5. Tap the toggle next to Auto-Launch App to the On position.

Of course, you can always open the Depth app manually, but this Auto-Launch feature ensures that you’ll have the necessary information at your disposal. Even for those times when you forget to open the app before diving underwater.