After watchOS 10 side button opens control center and not my recent apps

Have you ever tried to double click the crown in the middle or end of a run? Maybe it’s just me but I don’t always get the timing right and have to do it a few times to actually get to the recent app list.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Ultra is becoming nothing more than a larger watch version, rather than the Garmin competitor we were promised.

Yes! I feel the same way. I never use that screen that shows up when I swipe from the bottom. It’s literally just more widgets, but now it’s widgets that I don’t choose (and even if I could I wouldn’t want a whole other screen for them because the Home Screen is already the widgets I care about) I hope they change it back or come up with something better

sw1573 wrote:

Absolutely horrible!! I hate it. What was the purpose? I can never get the double click. The button was just not designed for that. Come on Apple!

Getting the press and release timing just right can be an issue. You can make it more reliable by changing:

Settings -> Accessibility -> Side Button Click Speed

“Side Button Click Speed” can adjust the press and release timing, so you get the Control Center display every time. Adjusting The "Side Button Click Speed" is also useful for Apple Pay’s double press and release. There is “Default” (sub second timing of needed), “Slow” (up to a second between press and release), and “Slowest” (up to 2 seconds between press and release). I like the “Slow” setting.

NOTE: Slow and Slowest settings do not mean you have to wait a full second or 2 seconds between press and release. It just means you do not need to be super fast.

Apple Watch -> Settings -> Accessibility -> AssistiveTouch can be used to access things like:

o Control Center

o Apple Pay

o Emergency Services and the Power Off icon (labeled "Hold Side Button")

o and many other things...

Use AssistiveTouch on Apple Watch - Apple Support

Apple does not read this user-to-user technical support forum for feedback.

But you can send Apple feedback via:

Feedback - Watch - Apple

If enough users send feedback, it is more likely a decision maker will see it, and maybe take action.

SaumilAher wrote:

Apple really needs to rethink the strategy with watch OS 10 update it was horrible mistake to interchange buttons, and should go back the side button fuction to app switch.

You need to tell Apple.

Feedback - Watch - Apple

Tin foil hat jokes aside, this is not how the Action Button works on the Apple Watch Ultra. It only allows you to select the following options for assigning to the action button; The main distinction is that we are looking for access to "Favorite Apps" and the quote you posted mentions "Favorite Features".

Unfortunately this removal was done by watchOS 10, not the model of watch you own.

I'm so sad they did this. I can't find a fix for it and I liked my apple watch for my heart issues. I may switch to a Garmin instead at this point.

Apple really needs to rethink the strategy with watch OS 10 update it was horrible mistake to interchange buttons, and should go back the side button fuction to app switch.

Still not as simple as click once on the side button under the crown. Why not make the double click crown the silent/airplane mode action? I get that one crown click is similar to two crown clicks in result (full list vs recent) but that big fat one-click easy access Ultra side button is the place for recent items, as it was before.

At this time the behaviour has changed and there is no way to reprogram the Side Button.

It's a shame that such a handy feature was discontinued.

TY

Thanks for the link. I sent them a note.