watchOS 27 adds new Apple Watch trick that I’ve been loving

Apple Watch is becoming a better single-handed device in watchOS 27 thanks to a convenient new tap gesture. Here’s what it does.

New tap gesture available in watchOS 27, joining Apple’s double tap and wrist flick features

Starting with Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in 2023, Apple made its wearable easier to use via gestures when your hands are occupied.

Double tap was the first gesture. It lets you do things like toggle play/pause for media, answer phone calls, navigate the Smart Stack, and more.

Then last year, watchOS 26 added wrist flick as a gesture to dismiss anything on-screen and return to your watch face.

Now in watchOS 27, a new tap gesture has arrived. Per Apple’s website:

Tap your index finger and thumb together once to select a widget in the Smart Stack and quickly see what’s relevant to you — even if your other hand is occupied.

The tap gesture is as simple as it sounds. It’s the same basic gesture as double tap, but one tap only—and with a different purpose.

I’ve been using the tap gesture in watchOS 27’s beta, and it’s a great complement to Apple Watch’s other gestures.

When double tap first arrived, I found it a bit gimmicky and unreliable. But over the years it’s improved a lot. These days I use double tap all the time for navigating the Smart Stack when my other hand is tied up.

In watchOS 27, I can double tap to open the Smart Stack, and there’s now a glow surrounding the active widget. That glow indicates I can tap once via the new gesture to select the widget, thus opening the app.

Every gesture works so well together. Double tap to navigate, tap to select, then return to the Smart Stack with wrist flick.

Any time my hands are tied up—holding my kids, doing dishes, or any other reason—watchOS 27’s trio of gestures are going to prove very useful.

Do you think you’ll use watchOS 27’s tap gesture? Let us know in the comments.

Best Apple Watch accessories

• AirPods Pro 3 (now only $169, down from $249)
• Portable USB-C charger for Apple Watch
• Retro Mac stand for Apple Watch Nightstand Mode
• Anker 20W USB-C charging brick
• Metal adjustable link Apple Watch band

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