Category: How To

The fastest way to clear all notifications on your Apple Watch

You know what the Apple Watch is great for?  Notifications.  Instead of constantly having to pull out your phone, any notifications you want can be delivered with a subtle tap right to your wrist.  However, there is a downside to receiving notifications on your Watch (in addition to perhaps more frequent distractions), which is how to efficiently clear a long list of updates behind that little red dot at the top.

Your options for clearing notifications include;

1. Checking and dismissing each little pop up as it comes in.
2. Clearing notifications one at a time from a long list.  To do this, pull down your notification list by swiping from the top of the watch face (red dot) to the bottom.
   • From here, you can either tap each notification, read it in full, and then take action or click Dismiss.
   • Alternately, you can swipe left on each notification header in the list and then click Clear.
3. But the fastest and bestest way to clear a handful of incoming reminders is to use Force Touch to clear them all.  To do this, pull down from the top red dot to bring up your notification list.

Notification List

Then Force Touch on the notification list (Force Touch = a firm press into the screen), then confirm by tapping Clear All.

Clear All (shown after Force Touch)

Bam!  No more red dot and all past notifications have been vanquished, at least for a few more hours.

Have fun!

How to see the future using Apple Watch

One of the most useful features in Watch OS2, in my opinion, was Time Travel.  This nifty little trick allowed you to see the future status of any Watch complication by turning the digital crown.  For example, you look at your watch first thing in the morning and see that its 48deg.  But what will the temperature be around lunch when you are outside – still chilly, or warm and sunny?  Using Time Travel, you can twist the digital crown and watch the temperature change along with the time to see what is forecast for later that day.  The same trick is also super useful when you want to check upcoming meetings at a glance, if you have the Calendar complication on your Watch face.

With Watch OS3, this amazing little productivity hack was turned off by default.  I guess not that many people used it?  Too bad.  However, thankfully Apple kept the feature, you just have to turn it on.  And to do that, you have to find it!

So, where is Time Travel hidden?  Not surprisingly, it is found in the Watch app on your paired phone.  Somewhat surprisingly, it is not in the General settings area or under Complications.  Time Travel is tucked away under the Clock heading.  Go figure…

To turn on Time Travel;

Go to Watch App on paired iPhone

Scroll down to and tap “Clock”

Tap the toggle switch for Time Travel to turn it green

Now, when your Apple Watch is showing the Clock face (the default view) and you have complications which change over time (e.g. Weather, Calendar) the projected status of those complications will dynamically adjust with the time as you turn the Digital Crown up.

Tips, tricks and tutorials for the Apple Watch

As an early adopter and regular user of the Apple Watch, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to get the most out of this little device.  I’ve also helped a bunch of family and friends set up and personalize their Watches.  Below is a list of the most commonly asked questions, tips, and tricks that I’ve encountered.  If there are other topics or tricks that you’d like me to cover, feel free to post in the comments section.

1. Clear All Notifications

2. Time Travel

3. Pairing & Playing Music to a Bluetooth Headset

4. Customizing Watch Faces

5. Personalizing Activity Tracking

6. Setting up your Watch on a new iPhone

7. Using multiple Apple Watches with one iPhone

8. How to Take or Turn Off screenshots on the Apple Watch

9. Customized Quick messages

10. Which Watch should you buy?