You Can Now Control iOS Devices from an Apple Watch

By emassey, 4 October, 2022

Forum
watchOS and Apple Watch Apps

Hello,
I found a new feature in WatchOS 9 that I do not think was mentioned in the blog posts or podcasts. If you open Settings > Accessibility on an Apple Watch, there is now an option called Control Nearby Devices. When you activate this option, it brings up a list of iOS devices signed into your iCloud account, and after you choose one of them, VoiceOver gestures performed on the watch are transferred to the other device. There are buttons at the bottom of the watch screen for home and the app switcher, and a "More" button that opens a menu of other options, including to open the notification center or control center, activate Siri, and control media playback. VoiceOver sound output is still played through the other device, not through the watch. This seems like it could be very useful for someone who wants to keep their phone in their pocket and cannot or does not want to carry a braille display, for example while traveling, as long as one has headphones or a Bluetooth speaker.

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Comments

By ming on Sunday, October 9, 2022 - 16:49

well, thanks for sharing.
it have more encouragement to me to get an Apple Watch

By Peter Holdstock on Sunday, October 9, 2022 - 16:49

I think this is actually one of the best new features of iOS 16 and watchOS 9. You can basically do all VoiceOver gestures as if you are doing them on the phone. You can do them using the entire screen of the watch. Some functions have their own specific buttons at the bottom of the display such as home, app, switcher, Control Panel and then there is a more button where you can find other shortcuts. Very convenient if you do not want to pick up your phone but have your watch on your wrist.

By nohansa nuh on Sunday, October 9, 2022 - 16:49

I like that fitters, I control my ipad pro using my iPhone.

By Igna Triay on Sunday, October 9, 2022 - 16:49

Going all the way to accessibility, control devices everytime you want to do this is a bit too much imo. If one is going to do this freequently, Is there a quicker way of accessing this, like via a complication on the watch face or via the control centre?

By kool_turk on Sunday, October 9, 2022 - 16:49

Silly question, but once you're controling another device, how do you switch back to the device you're doing the controling from?

I only have one Apple device so I can't test this myself.

With something like NVDA Remote on windows, there is a shortcut key you press that tells the device you're controling to no longer control that device.

I wouldn't mind seeing this in action, including how to switch back to the device that's doing the controling.

By nohansa nuh on Sunday, October 9, 2022 - 16:49

tap the done or clos button ad the top