Cannot Access Apple Watch Control Center after 10.0.1 Update

Bob3415 wrote:

I’m experiencing the same problem. Cannot access my control center the side button previously we used to swipe up. That was very easy. Why you’re making things so complicated for everybody.

Tap the flat oval side button (see pit)

https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/control-center-apd06bc15da1/watchos

DO NOT hold the button, as that brings up the Emergency calling display.

As this is a user-to-user support forum, no one here was responsible for the change.

If you wish to tell Apple, then use this link

https://www.apple.com/feedback/watch

Bohlund wrote:

People have repeatedly posted that the side button press does NOT bring up te control Center, it brings up the app switcher. Please respond to the inquiry after reading the posts so you know what the problem is. I have scoured this thread and have not found an answer. If you have one please share it, but stop telling us to press the side button. Thas the problem not the solution.

A) this is a volunteer forum. You are not talking to Apple.

B) you appear to be talking about the Digital Crown, and not the flat oval side button.

The previous Control Center swipe-up has moved to a quick press and release of the flat oval side button

Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support

DO NOT hold the button, as that brings up Emergency services and the power off icon.

Control Center should then show you the iPhone ping icon (find my iPhone), Battery percentage, Flashlight, Water Lock, Airplane mode, Alarm silence, Theater mode, and all the other Control Center services.

An alternate way to get some of the Control Center services is:

“Hey Siri, find my iPhone”

“Hey Siri, Flashlight”

“Hey Siri, Battery”

“Hey Siri, Airplane mode”

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

Apple Watch -> Settings -> Accessibility -> Side Button Click Speed

After changing this I never accidentally get the Emergency Services display.

“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 press and release timing 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. And as I said, I do not accidentally get the wrong display.

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.

If the flat oval side button is giving you difficulties, then look at

Use AssistiveTouch on Apple Watch - Apple Support

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...

Hey there hpazak,

Thanks for reaching out to the Apple Support Communities.

To get started, we do want to make you aware that this is expected behavior. To open the Control Center on an Apple Watch running watchOS 10, you'd just want to press the side button once.

For more details, check out this link here: Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support

Open or close Control Center

* Open Control Center: Press the side button once.

* Close Control Center: With Control Center open, turn your wrist away from you or press the side button again.

We hope that's able to help.

Take care!

Make sure you are pressing the side button not the Digital Crown button. It is along the side below the Digital Crown.

Bluegras365 wrote:

I can not access my control center on my I watch. I never realized how much I relied on that until it was gone! Please help me get it back!!

Copied from Bob Harris's post two posts before yours:

Are you pressing the flat oval side button, or the round rotating Digital Crown? See picture:

Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support

It is a quick press and release to get the Control Center, and all the services that previously swipe up gave you.

DO NOT hold the button, as that brings up Emergency Services.

If you are having issues with the press/release timing, then play with:

Settings -> Accessibility -> Side Button Click Speed

Feel free to tell Apple about your experiences with this UI change. After all enough users send feedback about left/right swipe that it has been restored in watchOS 10.2

Feedback - Watch - Apple

Dan6708 wrote:

No matter what you do the side button does not bring up the Control Panel screen that you used to get when scrolling down on the screen. I love the diagrams to ensure we’re not pressing on the Crown button and the instructions to just click on the button once and quickly…. It still doesn’t work! So if someone can provide instructions on how to fix it or just tell me I’ll never see that screen again unless I choose to buy a more recent version, (…), I’d greatly appreciate it.

We cannot see your watch screen, so unless you tell us what you are seeing, we cannot provide solutions that should work for you.

I can think of 5 possibilities.

A) you are still on watchOS 9, and getting the Favorite apps display. watchOS 10 moved the Control Center to the flat oval side button.

B) you are holding the button too long, snd getting the Emergency services and power off display.

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.

C) Your flat oval side button is broken.

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

D) You have an Ultra, and are pressing the Apple Watch Ultra’s “Action” button on the opposite side from the Digital Crown.

E) You are pressing the round, rotating Digital Crown.

If you would provide more information, we could craft a better solution.

2402-TMP wrote:

Accessing control center for Iwatch Iwatch8/IOS 10.5 - utilizing side button not the crown is a solution but all previous noyes/info recommends DIFFERENT! Please update your support docs for I spent considerable personal time to arrive at subject forum & solutiob

You mean like Apple did in the Watch manual?

Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support

miwebb24 wrote:

This does not work. When I press side button once I get apps not control center. I have no access to control center no matter what I do.

Are you pressing the flat oval side button, or the round rotating Digital Crown? See picture:

Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support

It is a quick press and release to get the Control Center, and all the services that previously swipe up gave you.

DO NOT hold the button, as that brings up Emergency Services.

If you are having issues with the press/release timing, then play with:

Settings -> Accessibility -> Side Button Click Speed

Feel free to tell Apple about your experiences with this UI change. After all enough users send feedback about left/right swipe that it has been restored in watchOS 10.2

Feedback - Watch - Apple

CavalierMax wrote:

If you touch the side button quickly and lightly it accesses the Apple Watch Control Center. If you press too long or too hard you get the emergency screen. Inconvenient compared to the former simple swipe method.

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.

Changing this will make it very reliable that you get exactly what you are after. Control Center, Apple Pay/Apple Wallet, or Emergency services and power icon.

Thalhan73 wrote:

Same problem for my Apple Watch Series 7 also.

can’t swipe for control center

The previous Control Center swipe-up has moved to a quick press and release of the flat oval side button

Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support

DO NOT hold the button, as that brings up Emergency services and the power off icon.

Control Center should then show you the iPhone ping icon (find my iPhone), Battery percentage, Flashlight, Water Lock, Airplane mode, Alarm silence, Theater mode, and all the other Control Center services.

An alternate way to get some of the Control Center services is:

“Hey Siri, find my iPhone”

“Hey Siri, Flashlight”

“Hey Siri, Battery”

“Hey Siri, Airplane mode”

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

Press the ‘button’ on the side of the watch that is built into the side of the watch face. You can feel it rather than easily see it. It is on the same side as the button/wheel that is more like a traditional analogue watch.

Thank you for clarifying! This was really helpful. I was pressing and holding the side button too long. When I give it a quick press , I can now easily access the control centre.

Thank you for the solution! I had the same problem. I was HOLDING down the side button and that showed the emergency settings. Then I did a full restart (held down the digital crown button and side button at the same time) TWO full times. Then finally when I quickly tapped that same side button I got the control center.

I did see farther down on this thread a GOOD idea from Mtnmnn to customize the hand gestures under accessibility / assistive touch settings to have one gesture open the control center.

(Apple Watch SE / MYDP2LL/A, watchOS 10.2)

Bob3415 wrote:

where do we find the answer to this problem?

The answer to how to find the Control Center has been given repeatedly in this thread: tap the side button. The side button is a flat, oval button next to the Digital Crown.

If you have some other problem, please explain what you mean.

If you touch the side button quickly and lightly it accesses the Apple Watch Control Center. If you press too long or too hard you get the emergency screen. Inconvenient compared to the former simple swipe method.