What are the teardrop icon, orange icon, and red dot on Apple Watch? Learn all about the Apple Watch symbols available on watchOS 8 and earlier!
By Hannah NicholsUpdated 02/22/2022
Your Apple Watch uses various icons, symbols, dots, and arrows to convey important information to you. They are small and don't come with much explanation, so it's natural to be confused. We'll take the mystery out of reading these icons and help you understand these extremely useful communication tools.
Each of the symbols and icons on your Apple Watch has a purpose. In general, these images are colorful methods for your watch to communicate with you without disrupting you by sending a formal notification. They can be very helpful if you know how to interpret them! We'll go over the common Apple Watch symbols and icons and teach you their meanings so that you can use your watch more efficiently. Here's a guide to the wonderful world of Apple Watch icons, including a section on the i icon on Apple Watch.
Every Apple Watch Control Center Symbol Explained
The Apple Watch Control Center allows you to quickly access various modes, features, and information. Here is what the Apple Watch Control Center icons mean and how they function:
iPhone Connection & Location Tracking on Apple Watch
At the top of the Control Center, you will see two tiny icons: a phone or Wi-Fi and an arrow. You can tap on it to see more information. But even at first glance, you can see that your iPhone is connected to your Apple Watch if the icon is green. If the icon is red and there is a diagonal line through it, your phone is disconnected. If you see the Wi-Fi symbol instead of a phone, this means that your iPhone is disconnected but your Apple Watch is connected to Wi-Fi. If the arrow is filled in blue, that means that an app is actively receiving your location. If you only see the outline of the arrow, then the location will be shared if requested by an app. You can learn more about location tracking here.
If you tap on the smaller icons, you'll see this screen with larger icons and more information. If your phone is disconnected and your watch is connected to Wi-Fi, you'll see the name of the Wi-Fi network.
Under Location you will see if it is being received or just requested. Unfortunately, you won't see which app is receiving it.
Wi-Fi Icon on Apple Watch
The Wi-Fi icon can show you if you are connected to Wi-Fi. You can tap and hold this to connect to a different network.
Apple Watch Cellular Icon
The cellular icon turns the Apple Watch cellular connection on or off. It is only available on Apple Watch models with cellular. Enabling cellular functions allows you to make and receive calls and texts when don’t have your iPhone near you and can't access Wi-Fi.
Ping iPhone Icon on Apple Watch
The icon with the phone two curved lines on either sign is the ping iPhone button. As long as your iPhone is connected to your Apple Watch and within range, tapping this will make your iPhone make a noise so that you can locate it. If you tap and hold this icon, it will make a noise and flash a light to make it easier to find in the dark. This icon always looks the same, even if your iPhone isn't connected. It does temporarily turn blue to indicate that your iPhone is pinging.
Apple Watch Battery Percentage Icon
The percent icon shows the remaining battery percentage of your Apple Watch. It is one of the few icons that cannot be removed from the Control Center. If you tap on it, you will see the option to activate the Power Reserve to have your watch battery last longer but limiting functionality.
Apple Watch Silent Mode Icon
The bell icon can turn Silent Mode on and off. When the bell is gray, your watch has sound and vibrations on. If the bell is red and has a line through it, it will not make any sounds, but it will still vibrate and light up when there is a notification.
Theater Mode Icon on Apple Watch
The happy and sad masks represent Theater Mode. When the icon is gray, Theater Mode is off. When it is orange, Theater Mode is on and Silent Mode will also be activated. This means that your watch will only vibrate if you receive a notification, but it won’t ring or light up your screen.
Apple Watch Walkie-Talkie Icon
The radio icon in the Control Center is the Walkie-Talkie icon. When it is gray, the feature is off. Tap it to turn it on and it will be yellow with two curved lines on either side to show that it is on. You will still have to set it up and open the app from the App Library in order to send a message to a contact.
Do Not Disturb Icon on Apple Watch
The moon symbol represents Do Not Disturb Mode. Tap it to turn on regular Do Not Disturb or to select one of the new Focus Modes. If you don't see the options you want, you can add existing Focus Modes and create custom ones on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. They will sync across your devices so that you can use them on your watch as well.
Flashlight Icon on Apple Watch
Many users are surprised to learn that their Apple Watch has a functional flashlight! You can turn it on by tapping on the flashlight symbol in the Control Center. This will turn your screen a bright white color. You can swipe left to switch to a flashing white and again to a red screen. You can turn it off by swiping down.
Apple Watch Airplane Mode Icon
The airplane symbol turns Airplane mode on and off. When it is grayed out, it is off. Tap it to turn Airplane mode on and it will be orange. By default, Airplane Mode will turn off your Wi-Fi and cellular networks but will keep your Bluetooth enabled. You will still get notifications in Airplane Mode, especially if you are connected to Wi-Fi. It doesn't silence your notifications, it simply prevents you from connecting to the cellular network.
Apple Watch Water Mode Icon
Many users wonder about the Apple Watch water drop icon and what it actually does. The droplet icon turns the Water Lock on but not off. When you turn on Water Lock, you will still be able to see your watch face, but you won't be able to open anything. To turn it off, you will need to turn the Digital Crown to unlock your watch. Forgetting to activate it before you get your watch wet will not damage it, as long as your Apple Watch is water resistant. However, it is good practice to turn it on when getting out of water to help remove water from the speaker via vibrations.
Audio Output Icon on Apple Watch
Tapping the triangle with three curved lines above it takes you to a list of any Bluetooth speakers, headphones, or earbuds that your watch is connected to. You can add new audio devices by tapping Connect a Device.
Headphone Volume Icon on Apple Watch
Tapping the ear symbol in the Control Center takes you to headphone volume. It looks the same as the app to measure noise levels that can be found in the App Library.
Apple Watch Announce Notifications Icon
This newer icon isn't clickable for many users and has caused confusion. This bell with lines next to is is can be tapped to allow for Siri to read notifications. You have to enable it in the Settings under Siri before you can toggle it on and off by tapping it in the Control Center.
Edit Control Center Button on Apple Watch
At the bottom of the Control Center, you will see an Edit button. Tap it to add or remove the icons mentioned in this list. By default, some options may be hidden and optional to add.
To remove an icon, tap the small circle with a minus sign. It will appear below MORE. Some icons cannot be removed, this includes the battery percentage, Wi-Fi, and Airplane Mode.
To add an icon, tap the green circle with a plus. It will move above MORE. You can also drag the icons to rearrange them.
Once you are done making changes to your Apple Watch Control Center, which can mean adding, removing, or moving icons, tap Done.
Apple Watch Schooltime Icon
The person with a raised hand icon enables Schooltime but doesn't disable it. Once enabled, you will only be able to see the date, time, and your name. To disable Schooltime, you need to turn the Digital Crown. It functions as an Apple Watch lock button, similar to Water Lock and Sleep mode.
Apple Watch Status & Active App Icons & Other Symbols
With watchOS 5 or later, your Apple Watch will show active apps. To open the app, tap the icon. The following icons are some examples of active app icons and which apps they correspond with. You may also see other icons, here are what they all mean!
Green Lightning Bolt
When the lightning bolt is green, it means that your Apple Watch is charging. If your watch is on the charger, you'll see a ring around this icon indicating to what percentage your watch is charged.
When you see a red lightning bolt on your watch, it means that your battery is low. If you've just put it on the charger and that's when you saw the icon, just keep charging it. If you see the red lightning bolt and your Apple Watch is locked up, it means your watch is in Power Reserve mode and will need to be charged and restarted.
Red Rectangle with a Diagonal Line
This icon indicates that your Apple Watch is not connected to your iPhone. You may need to move your devices closer together or turn off Airplane Mode.
This red X means your Apple Watch with GPS + Cellular has no connection to the cellular network.
Blue or Turquoise Water Drop
There are many nicknames for the Apple Watch water drop icon. Some people call it the raindrop logo, drip icon, tear icon, and tear symbol. When you see this little drop on your watch screen, it means Water Lock is on, and the screen will not respond to taps.
To unlock your Apple Watch, turn the Digital Crown (the dial on the side of the watch). The Water Lock is only available on Apple Watch Series 2 or later and Apple Watch SE. Do not swim with Apple Watch 1st Generation or Apple Watch Series 1 as they are not waterproof.
This icon indicates that your Apple Watch is locked. Tap to enter the passcode and unlock your watch.
Green Circle with a Running Stick Figure
This icon appears when you use Workout. It means there is a workout in progress, and your watch is currently tracking it. You can navigate to the Workout app to start and stop workouts. If you still see this icon after your workout has ended, simply restart your watch to reset it.
Five Red Lines from Largest to Smallest in a White Circle
These lines form a triangle shape like the play button on many devices, so it makes sense that this icon is the Now Playing icon. It indicates that audio is currently being played via a connected or paired device, such as CarPlay or your AirPods. Sometimes this feature auto-opens when you play audio on another Apple device, so it can be confusing.
Black Turn Arrow Pointing to the Right
This arrow indicates that you are using a third-party navigation app.
Orange Microphone
This icon means your Apple Watch mic is active. It appears when you are using Siri, recording a voice memo or text, or using the microphone with another app like Handwashing.
Your Apple Watch with GPS + Cellular is connected to a cellular network. The number of dots indicates cellular network strength.
Red Dot, Apple Watch Circle, or Center Dot Symbol
One of the most common questions is, “what is the red dot on my Apple Watch?” This icon indicates that you have received a notification. To read the notification, swipe down on the watch face. This red dot will show up on your Apple Watch charging screen if you get a notification as well.
A common question people ask is, “where is the i icon on my Apple Watch?” This is a slightly more complicated symbol that you can only see when your watch isn’t paired with your iPhone. You can see it if you do a factory reset on your Apple Watch and use it to find out the name of your watch for manual pairing.
Where is the i on Apple Watch? It is on the bottom right of the watch display but only on the initial pairing screen. This is the only icon on Apple Watch that you don't have to worry about during everyday use!
Knowing the different symbols and icons on your Apple Watch helps you use your watch to its fullest and as efficiently as possible. Are you wondering about a less common icon we didn't mention? Apple maintains a thorough list of Apple Watch icons meanings for your reference.
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How much does a cellular Apple Watch plan cost? We’ll break it down, plus answer your top Apple Watch cellular plan FAQs.
By Conner CareyUpdated 01/20/2022
A cellular plan for Apple Watch is super handy. We'll discuss what each Apple Watch cellular plan costs, plus give answers to your top Apple Watch cellular plan questions. We've already gone over the best iPhone plans for you, now here’s how much an Apple Watch cellular plan for the Series 4, 5, 6, 7, and SE will cost you on the available plans.
The cellular model of the Apple Watch Series 7 starts at $399 for the model with just GPS. The version with GPS and cellular starts at $499.
Like the Series 6, the Apple Watch Series 7 has a cellular model that allows you to place calls, check email, and stream music without your iPhone. You will, of course, still have to own an iPhone and pay for an iPhone cellular plan. But owning the cellular Apple Watch means you’ll also need to add the cost of an Apple Watch data plan to your current bill.
How Much Does the Apple Watch SE Cost?
The cellular model of the Apple Watch SE starts at $279 for the model with just GPS. The version with GPS and cellular starts at $329.
How Much Does an Apple Watch Cellular Plan Cost?
After you make the purchase, you'll want to know your carrier cost. When trying to decide which is the best Apple watch data plan for you, you'll want to know all your options.
So really, how much does cellular cost on Apple Watches? Well, it appears the currently supported cellular carriers for the Apple Watch are very nearly a united front on the price: at least $10 a month to add your wearable.
The one exception is U.S. Cellular, which offers a discount for the first three months before charging the regular $10/month. Why U.S. Cellular can afford to undercut the competition when everyone else is offering a fixed price, I don't know, but it's a sweet deal for U.S. Cellular customers. As long as $120 a year is worth it for you and your budget, it’s incredible to have an Apple Watch that can go iPhone free.
Does an Apple Watch Cellular have to have a plan, or can you use it without getting data? We'll go into more detail on how this works later in the article, but it's technically possible to use an Apple Watch Cellular+GPS model without actually harnessing its cellular power.
AT&T Apple Watch Plan
AT&T used to have quite a labyrinth of a website that made it hard to find the pricing info for an Apple Watch cellular plan, it's now quite simple: it's $10/month to add to any unlimited plan. If you don't already have a plan, it would cost the same as a phone line. Prepaid plans do not support Apple Watches.
Appalachian Apple Watch Plan
It only costs $10 a month to add a cellular Apple Watch to your Mix-and-Match, Unlimited, or Appalachian Advantage iPhone plans.
Bluegrass Cellular Connected Device Option
Bluegrass Cellular (now part of Verizon) charges $10/month for an Apple watch to be added to your plan.
Carolina West Wireless Apple Watch Plan
While the Carolina West website doesn't appear to have this information visible, I chatted with a representative online who informed me adding an Apple Watch data plan is $10/month with every plan.
C Spire Apple Watch Cellular
C Spire is right upfront about how much it will cost to add an Apple Watch to your data plan; the first three months of service are free, $10 a month thereafter. C Spire also offers a useful summary of how the cellular service on an Apple Watch works and how to set it up.
T-Mobile Apple Watch Plan
It costs $10 per month to add your Apple Watch cellular option to the Magenta, Magenta Max, or Essentials plans. A one-time $20 activation fee may apply.
U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular has made a change from its original offer of adding an Apple Watch to your plan for free, and has fallen in line with the $10 per month club, available with any plan, except prepaid plans.
Verizon Apple Watch Plan
Verizon has a simple structure of $10 per month for your Apple Watch with any Unlimited plan.
Xfinity Wireless
Xfinity now offers Apple Watch plans at $10 per month.
Family Setup
A new thing to consider when trying to decide the best Apple watch data plan for you and your family is Apple's new Family Setup. Starting with WatchOS 7 users can pair other users' Apple Watches to with their iPhone in what Apple is calling Family Setup. This means members of a household or family can have their own Apple Watches while connecting to one iPhone, and therefore one cellular plan. Besides a great way to save on monthly costs, this also allows parents to monitor their child's Apple Watch use and even location, offering new ways to keep children safe in a world of increased technology. The carriers with Family Setup support are:
1. Can You Still Text on an Apple Watch without Cellular Service?
Yes, but only if your iPhone is connected and within range, and has service. Without a cellular plan of its own, your Apple Watch is essentially just a wearable extension of your iPhone, and only has service through it.
2. What's the Difference between Apple Watch GPS & Apple Watch GPS+Cellular?
The main difference between an Apple Watch with cellular versus an Apple Watch without a cellular plan is that one with cellular can perform call, text, and data functions without a connected iPhone nearby. This is because the cellular service for Apple Watch GPS+Cellular allows it to act independently from your iPhone for those services, like a mini wearable iPhone. An Apple Watch with GPS only relies on your iPhone and sometimes an internet connection for these functions.
3. Can You Use an Apple Watch Cellular without a Cellular Plan?
Apple Watches that are cellular-equipped don't have to have to utilize a cellular plan—they still have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities, so they can use the data and cell service from your iPhone. If you don't intend to use cellular with your Apple Watch, though, it makes sense to go with the cheaper version and purchase an Apple Watch GPS instead of a more expensive version that comes equipped for cellular.
4. What Can My Apple Watch Do without My iPhone?
Apple has a great resource to explain the things you can and can't do on your Apple Watch without a cellular connection, Wi-Fi, or your iPhone paired. Without your iPhone nearby, functionality will be quite limited unless you have an Apple Watch with a cellular plan.
Do these 4 things to get better Apple Watch calories burned accuracy.
By Erin MacPhersonUpdated 05/05/2022
Are Apple Watch Calories Accurate? Find out how the Apple Watch calculates calories burned and how to use that information to improve your Apple Watch calorie accuracy and Apple Watch heart rate accuracy.
The Apple Watch calorie counter tracks your heart rate and movement and uses your personal health information such as height and weight to track your daily calorie expenditure. Apple Watch calorie calculations are based on health standards and are known to be accurate.
How are calories measured? Apple Watch calorie tracking is based on a scientific principle called the metabolic rate. Metabolic rate is the rate of a person’s metabolism, or how quickly the body expends the calories ingested through food intake.
Each individual has a unique metabolic rate, but scientists can accurately predict an individual’s metabolic rate based on their gender, weight, and height.
When you set up your Apple Watch, you give Apple this info in the Health app. It then uses this personal information to calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which is your metabolic rate under normal resting conditions, and your Active Metabolic Rate (AMR), which is your metabolic rate while you are exercising. Apple Watch uses your heart rate and movement to detect increases or decreases in activity, which measures AMR.
The Apple Health app determines how much the average person of your size, age, and gender needs to exercise in order to run a calorie deficit. Meaning how much you need to move and be active to burn more than the number of calories you consume in a day.
What's the difference between active calories and total calories? Calories are burned in two ways: through your body maintaining itself at rest, and through additional calories used during exercise. Active Calories are what Apple calls the additional calories used during exercises. Total Calories is equal to Active Calories plus BMR, or the sum total of calories burnt at rest and calories burned during exercise.
This question can be asked and answered in two parts.
First, how accurate is Apple's measurement of BMR, the calories used as determined by your age, gender, and size? The answer is that this calculation is pretty accurate. BMR science is commonly used in the medical field, and the indicators used by Apple in making this calculation are industry-standard.
Next, how accurate is the Apple Watch calories expenditure tracking? A study conducted in 2017 by Stanford University found Apple Watch to be the best in its class out of 60 other competitors for energy expenditure tracking, with the best heart rate tracking and top movement tracking.
While a medical device such as a calorimeter may be better at tracking calories used, the Apple Watch is close to being the best device to track calories burned and heart rate. It is crucial, however, that your watch is set up correctly to ensure that calories are tracked as precisely as possible.
How to Improve Calorie Tracking Accuracy on Apple Watch
Because calorie usage depends so much on your own biology, it's essential that your Apple Watch is updated with the latest information regarding your weight, height, and activity. This can be done in the Health app. This Health app information is also key to tracking your exercise minutes correctly when using your Apple Watch, so keeping it updated is a good habit to get into.
Open the Health app.
Select Show All Health Data.
Scroll down until you see Height and Weight, and select the category that needs to be updated.
Select Add Data and input your new height or weight.
You will also want to ensure that your watch is not too loose since a poorly fitting watch band can also interfere with Apple Watch heart rate accuracy. Also, ensure that when you exercise, you select the activity from the Workout app on your Apple Watch that most closely matches the exercise you are performing to allow Apple Watch to accurately track your movement.
Pro tip: Keep in mind that tattooed skin may interfere with the accuracy of the heart rate sensors.
Now you know that an Apple Watch is about as good as you can get for accuracy and ease of use in a compact device. If you are actively trying to close your Move rings but are struggling to reach the automatically assigned number, read this on how to change exercise minutes on Apple Watch so that your goals match your personal needs and keep you motivated!
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Are your Apple Watch exercise minutes wrong? Find out what counts as exercise on Apple Watch and how to make sure you get credit for every minute.
By Olena KaguiUpdated 05/05/2022
We'll explain how Apple Watch exercise minutes are calculated and how to troubleshoot if your Apple Watch is not counting exercise minutes correctly.
How Does Apple Watch Measure Exercise?
What counts as exercise on an Apple Watch is based on an individual’s personal health data. When tracking exercise minutes, the Apple Watch will closely monitor your heart rate. Having a faster heart rate for an entire minute will count toward your exercise. If your heart rate during a workout is close to your resting heart rate, the time spent won’t count toward your Apple Watch exercise minutes. Some types of workout minutes are also based on the pace at which you are moving. If you have troubel closing your Exercise ring, you can always change the goals.
How to Fix Apple Watch Not Counting Exercise Minutes Correctly
If your Apple Watch is not tracking exercise correctly, you may need to adjust your personal data, calibrate the watch, or adjust the way you wear it. Follow the steps below to get the most accurate Apple Watch exercise minutes.
First, it is important to make sure that you are wearing your Apple Watch correctly. This means wearing it on the wrist that you set it up for, and making sure that the strap is fitted so the watch isn’t too loose or too tight. The fit should be snug without slipping, but shouldn't cut into your wrist at all.
If you intend to use your Apple Watch to track your fitness, the most important step is to update your personal data. This will help the watch more accurately track the minutes you exercise, stairs you climb, distance you travel, and steps you take.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and select Health.
Tap on Health Details.
Tap Edit in the upper-right corner.
Tap on the rows to update your personal information.
Tap Done in the upper-right corner when you're finished updating.
Certain Apple Watch workouts are tracked based on speed as much as heart rate. For example, if you are tracking an Outdoor Walk exercise, your pace may factor into tracking exercise minutes. Heart rate permitting, if your pace stays above 3.3 mph (5.3 kph) for an entire minute, you should receive one exercise minute. Not every Apple Watch exercise has a specific heart rate or pace requirement. You can learn how to create a custom workout on your Apple Watch here.
Your Apple Watch can do its best tracking if all settings are optimized and location tracking is turned on. This helps your watch get all the information that it needs to track your Apple Watch workouts.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap on Privacy.
Tap on Location Services.
Make sure the Location Services toggle is green, which means it's enabled.
Scroll down and make sure Apple Watch Workouts says "While Using."
If it doesn't, tap on Apple Watch Workouts.
Tap on While Using the App and make sure the Precise Location toggle is toggled on.
Once your personal data is updated and location tracking is on, you should calibrate your Apple Watch.
Whether you just got your Apple Watch or have had it for a while, calibrating or recalibrating your watch can help make it more accurate. Apple Watch Calibration will make sure that your distance, pace, exercise minutes, and calorie measurements are as accurate as possible. For these steps, wear your Apple Watch throughout the activity. If your watch has cellular capabilities, you don’t need to bring your phone. However, if it is GPS only, then you will also need your iPhone with you in order to complete your Apple Watch calibration.
Go to a flat, open outdoor area. Try to choose a clear day and a location with good GPS reception.
Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
Select either Outdoor Walk or Outdoor Run.
Walk or run at your normal pace for at least 20 minutes.
This activity will calibrate your Apple Watch to your pace, steps, and distance so that you can get a more accurate accounting of your Activity metrics, such as exercise minutes. Speaking of steps, did you know that you can add a complication that will display them on your watch face?
If you feel like your Apple Watch isn’t tracking your workouts accurately even after you've calibrated it, you may consider resetting your calibration data and trying again.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and select Privacy.
Tap on Reset Fitness Calibration Data.
Tap Reset Fitness Calibration Data at the bottom of your screen to confirm.
Now you know the best ways to ensure that your Apple Watch exercise minutes are calculated correctly, instead of being inaccurate. Enjoy closing those Activity rings and maybe even competing with friends! Next, learn how to win every single Apple Watch competition.
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If your Apple Watch zooms in by itself, you can fix it without restarting your watch over and over or trying to change it on the magnified Apple Watch screen.
By Leanne HaysUpdated 05/05/2022
This article was inspired by a thread in our Facebook group, where several people were experiencing the same annoying issue with their Apple Watches; a zoomed-in display that could only be minimized by restarting the watch. If your Apple Watch keeps zooming in, this post will teach you how to fix it for good.
The Zoom feature on your Apple Watch is a helpful accessibility feature if you have a visual impairment. However, if you don't need to enlarge your watch's display, you can turn Zoom off. If you're somehow able to still navigate the Settings app on your zoomed-in watch face, you can do this on your Apple Watch. If not, you'll want to use the iPhone method.
Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
Tap on Zoom.
Tap the green toggle to disable Zoom.
When Zoom is disabled, the toggle will turn gray.
This means that you won't be able to use Zoom to enlarge things on your Apple Watch screen, but it also means you won't have to deal with restarting your Apple Watch repeatedly to reset the zoomed-in screen.
If your Apple Watch zooms in by itself, it's often too zoomed in to read or navigate easily. In this case, you may have better luck disabling Apple Watch zoom on your iPhone instead. Use these steps to disable zoom using your iPhone:
Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Tap Accessibility.
Tap on Zoom.
Tap the green toggle to disable Zoom.
When Zoom is disabled, the toggle will turn gray.
Remember that you can always go back in and enable this if you're having trouble reading your Apple Watch screen.
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iOS 15 Update: Are Fitbit watches compatible with iPhones? Yes, and a Fitbit Apple Health sync is easy. Many third-party devices can work alongside the Apple Health app seamlessly. Here’s how!
By Becca LudlumUpdated 02/28/2022
If you're asking, "how do I sync Fitbit to Apple Health?" we've got the answer. Syncing your Fitbit, Garmin, Polar, Misfit, Withings, or other wearable trackers to Apple's Health app makes it easy to keep all of your comprehensive health information in one place on your iPhone. We will teach you how to sync Apple Health to Fitbit using a third-party app.
Can You Link Apple Health to Fitbit, Garmin, Polar, Misfit, or Withings? YES!
So is Fitbit compatible with iPhones? The short answer is yes! Skip to the next section to see how. Unfortunately, to connect certain wearables to Apple Health, you need to use a third-party app like Sync Solver.
We'll go over how to sync Fitbit to the Apple Health app below; even though Fitbit doesn't technically work with Apple Health, it's possible to connect your health information anyway using a Fitbit sync app. We'll cover how to connect Apple Health to the most popular fitness trackers below.
Fitbit and Apple Health can work together, but they need some help from a third-party app. Until Fitbit is ready to approve direct syncing with Apple Health, third-party apps need to be used to sync the Fitbit app with the Apple Health app. Our favorite app is Sync Solver for Fitbit ($4.99). To connect Fitbit to Apple Health:
From the App Store, download the Sync Solver for Fitbit app.
Open the Sync Solver app and tap Sync Now.
A message will pop up; tap Continue.
Your Health app will open; tap Turn All Categories On.
Next, the app will redirect you to Fitbit.com.
Log into your account.
Sync Solver will ask permission for info from Fitbit; tap Allow.
Your iPhone will want to open Sync Solver; tap Open.
Your Fitbit info will then sync with Sync Solver.
Any time you want to update your Health app information with your Fitbit's data, return to Sync Solver and tap Sync Now.
Sync your Fitbit with the Sync Solver app.
Can you sync Fitbit Charge 3 to iPhone? Yes! These steps should work for any model of Fitbit and several others.
Pro Tip: Syncing your Fitbit and Apple Health is not the same as learning how to pair your Fitbit with your phone. This is done using the Fitbit app by tapping Set Up a Device from the account page.
Fixed: Sync Solver Duplicating Data in Apple Health
One known problem with this third-party setup is that your iPhone could duplicate the data. The developers of the app offer these steps as a fix:
From the Health app, select the Browse from the bottom of the screen.
Tap Activity.
Choose Steps.
Scroll to the bottom and tap Data Sources & Access.
Select Edit in the top right corner.
Long-press and drag the three-bar handle next to the Sync Solver data source to move it to the top of the list.
Tap Done in the top right corner to finish.
Moving Sync Solver to the top of your list of data sources will tell your iPhone that Sync Solver is most important and that the Health app should consider data from it first. Sync Solver also says, "be sure not to sync the same data types as this will result in a data duplication loop."
As with the Fitbit, Misfit wearables require an app to track your data with the Health app. You can use the free Misfit app to sync your data to Apple Health. For best results, move Misfit to the top of your Sources list within Apple Health:
Install the Misfit app from the App Store, if you haven’t already. Log in or create a Misfit account.
On the Misfit app home screen tap Devices.
Under iPhone Tracking tap Sync. Wait a moment. It might take a little while for the Misfit app to get started, but it's working in the background.
Misfit will pop up a Health Access request.
You can tap Turn All Categories On at the top, or toggle only the categories you want.
What to Do If the Health App Duplicates Misfit App Data
Your Health app data may be duplicated by the iPhone if there are several sources that it is coming from. To fix this:
From the Healthapp, select the Browse from the bottom of the screen.
Tap Activity.
Choose Steps.
Tap Data Sources & Access.
Select Edit.
Long press the three horizontal lines and drag Misfit to the top of your list.
Moving Misfit to the top of your list of data sources will tell your iPhone that Misfit has priority, and the Health app should consider data from it first.
Withings has a wide variety of products from fitness wearables and blood pressure monitors. The company makes syncing Withings devices to the Apple Health app easy by using its app Withings Health Mate. To connect Withings devices to Apple Health:
Download the Health Mateapp by Withings from the App Store.
Log in or create an account.
Tap Profile on the bottom-right corner.
Scroll down and tap on the Health app icon.
You'll get a Health app data request window. Toggle on the categories you want to sync.
How Do I Sync the Health App with a Garmin, Polar Tracker, or another Device or App?
In general, it’s smart to check the settings of any app or device app you want to sync with the Apple Health app. The app settings should show something along the lines of Health App Syncing. From there, you should be able to grant permissions to the app or device app.
When you request permission, you’ll be able to select what specific information is synced, or you can choose to sync all available information. Later on, if you decide you no longer want that information shared with the Apple Health app, you can visit the Sources tab in Health and turn off any apps you want to, as well as delete any information from connected devices.
If, for whatever reason, you can’t figure out how to sync an app or device to the Health app, make sure you’re logged into the app or device app. Then:
Why Use the Apple Health App Instead of 3rd-Party Health Apps?
Health and fitness tracking has come a long way from the days of the little pedometer we would clip on our waistband. We have wearable fitness monitors now that track everything from steps to exercise and even sleep—and now our smartphones can do the same. Health monitors include blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, and scales.
The Apple Health app is your go-to place for tracking all of it—from exercise and sleep to blood pressure and temperature. You can even export your Health data from the app for sharing with doctors or counselors. The Apple Health app connects with most fitness wearables, and if you take your iPhone (6s and newer) with you everywhere you go, it can act as a fitness tracker by tracking your steps, activity, and even sleep with its motion coprocessor.
With all fitness trackers to date except for Fitbit, you'll have to download and open the app that comes with the fitness tracker to pair it with Apple's Health app. Having information from all your wearables in one place can help you get a better overall picture of your health.
Now you know how to link Fitbit to Apple Health and how to keep it from duplicating data. We’ve also covered how to sync data from other wearables to keep everything in one place. Whenever you have multiple wearables or apps, make sure to prioritize your most trusted one as the primary source of data. To learn more about Apple Health, including how to track your breathing on Apple Watch, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter.
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Learn how to delete texts on Apple Watch, including how to delete individual texts and clear all messages.
By Olena KaguiUpdated 05/05/2022
Your Apple Watch can send and receive text messages just like your iPhone. I will teach you how to clear messages in the Messages app on your watch. You can delete all texts at once or individually. I will also tell you what to do if you have texts on Apple Watch but not iPhone.
Deleting messages one by one is easy, but you may be wondering, ‘How do I delete all text messages at once?” Unfortunately, there is no simple way to delete all text messages from your Apple Watch, but you can delete many messages at once. To learn more Apple Watch tips, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter. To see an example of a tip we would send, check out how to text on Apple Watch using custom replies.
To delete all text messages, you will have to delete multiple texts simultaneously from your iPhone:
Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
Tap Edit.
Tap Select Messages.
Select the texts you want to delete.
Tap Delete.
Confirm to delete the selected messages.
Now you know how to delete mass messages! Can you delete a text message on your Apple Watch but still keep it on your iPhone? No. It is essential to keep in mind that deleting them on your iPhone will also delete them on your Apple Watch unless you have a syncing issue.
How to Clear Apple Watch Message Threads Individually
For easier navigation of all your text messages, you may consider deleting irrelevant message threads. Keep in mind that if you delete a text threat on your Apple Watch, it will also be deleted on your iPhone and vice versa.
From your Home Screen, open the Messages App.
Swipe left across the conversation you want to delete.
Tap the trash icon.
Don’t forget that if you erase messages on iPhone, they will also be erased from your Apple Watch.
Does Deleting Text Messages Free Up Space on Apple Watch?
There are many reasons to clear messages from your watch, for example, for easier navigation. It can also help delete data on Apple Watch to free up some space. Although text messages don't take up a significant amount of space, threads with photos, videos, gifs, and Memojis can add up.
How Long Do Messages Stay on Apple Watch?
Although the Apple Watch mirrors your iPhone, messages are only saved for 30 days on your watch. The primary function of having messages on the Apple Watch is to respond and send new texts conveniently and quickly without your iPhone. At the moment, there is no way to store your messages for longer than 30 days.
How to Mute a Messages Conversation on Your Apple Watch
Rather than deleting a conversation in Messages, you can also mute it if you are busy and want to wait to respond. Muting an individual conversation allows you to keep receiving other notifications outside of that one thread. This is useful if you are in a busy group text but still need to use your Apple Watch for work.
On your Home Screen, open the Messages App.
Swipe left across the conversation you want to mute.
Tap the Do Not Disturb (moon) icon.
You can always swipe it again and tap the Do Not Disturb icon to unmute it. All muted conversations will have a moon icon to the left of the contact’s name.
Apple is pretty good about updating its products, but it seems to have forgotten about the Calendar app and its many downsides. The makers of Informant 5, on the other hand, do not forget to regularly improve their app based on user experience and feedback. The latest updates to this calendar and task-management app are a productivity game-changer.
Did you know that you can use your Apple Watch to ping your iPhone when you can't find it? Or use it to wake up gently with customized vibrations? Unlock the mysteries of your Apple Watch and discover new tips and even secret features with our free Apple Watch Mini Course! If you sign up you can expect to get a new minute-long article every morning for 15 days that will teach you something valuable about your Apple Watch! Enroll today (no credit card necessary!)
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