Control center disappeared after updating my Apple Watch

Use the Control Center explains how to open it after installing watchOS 10:

"To open Control Center, press the side button (for watchOS 9 or earlier, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up). You can open Control Center from any screen."

instead of pressing the "digital crown" button (the middle of the big wheelie button), now you press the power button below it once lightly and you'll get the display like you used to before the update

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.

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.

It’s interesting that no one has noticed the new feature implemented with swiping up, that could not have been done as efficiently any other way, the Smart Stack. Or the fact that swiping up didn’t open the control center when you were using the screen for an app, but pushing the Side button will open the control center regardless of what is being displayed. watchOS 10 - Apple

Fike4ngu wrote:

Dumbest update

I rarely use the other apps

I want my control center readily available with almost no effort! Ugh! I reset my watch and repairing took over an hour and four tries.

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 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.

jsprat wrote:

💯agree! Had I known this was going to happened I never would have updated!! I don’t want to read the tips and review my calendar when I swipe up!!

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.

HOWEVER, the change is the same number of steps, except you start in a different location, plus there are other ways to easily get to Control Center or activate some of the Control Center features:

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

janitahess wrote:

Yup that is how it use to work. Doesn't anymore. Or they have completely changed the control center. I am looking to scroll up and ping phone. No icon for that anymore

After using the side button to open the Control Center, you can scroll as before. Rearrange/Add icons as desired by using "Edit" at the bottom of the screen.

GSPgirl wrote:

Now I read that you have to lightly push the button under the crown to get the control center. This is not very user friendly in my opinion and if you press it to hard, it starts the emergency call. Please return the control center to swipe up as it was before.

You have read incorrectly. You access the Control center by pressing the button next to the Digital Crown. It's a flat, oval button almost flush with the bezel. No matter how hard you press it, it wouldn't start an emergency call.

A real shame they changed the control from slide up to you having to press the side button! Thinking about switching to something else now. That was the best thing they had on there and I use it ALOTTT

Joeyalli wrote:

can’t access control center on Apple Watch after the latest update

They moved Control Center from swipe up to a quick press and release of the flat oval side button (see picture)

Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support

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

If you have issues getting the quick press and release right, then adjust the

Settings-> Accessibility-> Side Button Click Speed.

I like Slow. My Wife likes Slowest.

This will give you more leeway in how fast you need to press and release to always get the Control Center to display.

Changing the setting can also help getting Apple Pay to come up when you Double-Click the flat oval side button.

funkybeat wrote:

I use the Apple Watch control center a lot, especially the setting to remove water and silence my watch! I don’t like the new layout. Always fixing things that are not broken.

I assume you found the flat oval side button that now brings up Control Center (see picture)

Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support

A quick press and release

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

Settings -> Accessibility -> Side Button Click Speed

Will adjust the speed you need to press and release, so it always works for you. I like Slow. My Wife likes Slowest.

You can tell Apple what you would like to see in future user interface changes via

Feedback - Watch - Apple

The more users that send feedback, the more likely a decision maker will see it.

The swipe up has been repurposed, and I very much like the change, as it gives me access to more functions from the screen. And I like the single press on the side button to open the control center also; it’s much easier than fumbling in the dark of a theater to swipe up to turn on DND.

Okay, then you don't have the problem that people in this thread are having (access to the Control Center moved with watchOS 10). You should still be able to access the Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen:

Open Control Center: From the watch face, swipe up. From other screens, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up.

Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support

5232P wrote:

Thank you. I have a series 8 and this worked but it is a very small sweet spot. I have to touch right at the edge of the frame and top icon above the 12. My watch face is a traditional style.

Or you could do it the RIGHT way, as explained in the update link→watchOS 10 - Apple; Press the SIDE button (that’s the oblong button next to the digital crown):

DoubleWhitehouse wrote:

Agree. Need control center access

As explained over a hundred times in the thread you just posted to, press and release the button on the side of the phone next to the digital crown. Here’s more details→Control center disappeared after updating… - Apple Community