Apple Watch Mirroring was released in iOS 16 and allows you to control your Apple Watch screen from your iPhone. Making the watch experience more accessible for seniors and people with physical and motor skill disabilities, but make no mistake, it can be helpful for anyone.
Mirroring essentially casts your watch’s display to your iPhone screen using AirPlay. You can fully interact while also having the use of the side button and digital crown. You can do anything with your Apple Watch using your iPhone screen.
To use this feature, you’ll need an Apple Watch 6 or newer running WatchOS 9. As well as a paired iPhone running iOS 16. Make sure you’re up to date on all your devices by going to Settings>General>Software Update on your phone and your Apple Watch; launch the Watch app Genreral>Software Update.
How to Enable Apple Watch Mirroring
- Open the Settings App
- Tap on Accessibility
- Scroll and tap on Apple Watch Mirroring
- Toggle on the switch and wait for the devices to connect.
Once your Apple Watch face appears on the screen, use it the same way you would on the actual watch. The display on your Apple Watch will be highlighted in blue, indicating that mirroring is enabled.
Examples of Use
Tap on the digital crown to open the app library. Then, tap on an app to open it.
Tap on the side button to open your app tray.
Push and hold on the Home screen to access the editing area for Watch Faces.
Look at your Apple Watch to see that everything is also happening there.
When you’re all finished mirroring, tap the x in the top right corner of the Apple Watch card on your iPhone. The toggle will be turned off, the blue light on your Apple Watch will be turned off, and all will be back to normal.
Shortcut to Access Apple Watch Mirroring
For easy access to mirroring, you can turn on the Accessibility shortcut menu, and once it’s set up, triple-click on your side button or home button to access. To Set this up
- Open Settings
- Tap Accessibility
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Accessibility Shortcut
- Choose Apple Watch Mirroring at the very top
Now, triple-click on the side or home button to access Apple Watch Mirroring.
You can also set this up using Back Tap
- Open Settings
- Tap Accessibility
- Choose Touch
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Back Tap
- Now select Double or Triple tap
- Then under Accessibility, choose Apple Watch Mirroring
Once set up, double or triple-tap on the back of your iPhone, and Watch Mirroring should appear.
Conclusion
The key benefit is the larger watch screen on the iPhone. Making it easier for people with dexterity or motor skill issues to touch menus using their iPhones. I know this will be useful when I do screen sharing of the Apple Watch. Let me know if and how you’re using this new Apple Watch feature.
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