If tap gestures aren't working on your Apple Watch
Try these tips if the double tap or single tap gesture isn't working on your Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, or Apple Watch SE 3.
If your Apple Watch doesn’t recognise the gesture
First, check these settings in the Settings app on your Apple Watch, or in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone:
Select Gestures, then make sure Gestures is turned on.
Select Gestures, select Tap Gestures, then make sure Tap Gestures is turned on.*
Select Passcode, then make sure Wrist Detection is turned on.
Select Display & Brightness, then make sure Wrist Detection is on.
Next, try these tips:
Make sure Low Power Mode
, Sleep Focus
, Theatre Mode
, and Water Lock
are turned off in Control Centre on your watch.Make sure your watch is unlocked and fits snugly on your wrist.
Raise your wrist to wake the screen before trying the gesture.
To double tap, tap your index finger and thumb together twice, at the same pace as double-clicking a mouse.
To single tap, tap your index finger and thumb together once.
Try tap gestures while sitting or standing still.
If you have a tattoo on the wrist where you wear your watch, try wearing it on the other wrist.
Make sure your watch wasn’t set up using Apple Watch For Your Kids (formerly known as Family Setup).
*You can't turn on tap gestures when these accessibility settings are on: AssistiveTouch, Quick Actions, Zoom with Hand Gestures, or VoiceOver with Hand Gestures.
If a tap gesture happens unintentionally
Some activities may evoke the gesture when you didn’t mean to. Open Settings, select Gestures, then tap Gestures to turn the feature off. When you're finished with the activity, turn gestures back on.
If the double tap icon shakes
If the double tap icon
appears and shakes from side to side, double tap isn’t available for that screen or third-party app.
These actions are available using double tap:
Play and pause music, podcasts, audiobooks and other media in Now Playing
Answer or end a phone call
Stop a timer
Reply to a message
Open Smart Stack from the Apple Watch face and scroll through widgets
Scroll through supported apps
Snooze an alarm
Take a photo in Camera Remote
Record a voice memo
Pause and resume a stopwatch
Switch torch modes
Gestures aren't available while using the Depth app or taking an ECG.
If you need more help
Open Settings, select Gestures, then tap Gestures to turn it off. Tap it again to turn it back on.
Make sure you wear your watch on the wrist that you selected in Settings. To check, open Settings, tap General, then tap Orientation.