Control center disappeared after updating my Apple Watch

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

I had the same issue. The article linked is correct. Now instead of swiping up for the control center, you press the side button.

Selfhelp3691 wrote:

I experienced the same problem as everyone else. Write to Apple & let them know to give us back the swipe. I did. The more dissatisfied users they hear from the more likely they will make the change.

Yes, I love the way the controls have been re-arranged. The swipe up gives access to many different features that were harder to access in earlier versions. And pressing the Side button is a much more positive action than trying to swipe up in a dark theater to turn on Do Not Disturb. I have used the feedback link (Product Feedback - Apple) to thank Apple for this improvement.

pixied2 wrote:

I think it should be put back like it was. Was so much more convenient. Leave good enough alone

I don’t. Back like it was you could only view the Control Center from a watch face display. Using the Side button you can open the Control Center from any app display. It is exactly the same number of steps as swiping up, and sometimes if I wasn’t careful swiping up in the exact center I launched a Complication instead of opening the Control Center. So IMO this is a MUCH improved feature.

You just have to lightly press the button on the side under the crown/dial….

I too spent ages unpairing & repairing my watch yesterday after the last update, because I heavily rely on the swipe up feature for quick controls…then came across a comment which said to lightly press the button under the crown and the control centre still comes up as normal…

How is that a helpful update? Used to be I could just swipe up--easy. Also easy to see if I accidentally put the watch on Silent Mode. Now I have to press the power button on the side which maybe doesn't seem like a big deal, but when you have arthritis in your fingers, you Don't want to press buttons. WHY do programmers think they have to change things just for the sake of changing? Update security. Leave the rest of my stuff alone. Or at least give me a choice--do I want certain parts of the updates or not. Can I remove updates I don't want. QUIT CONTROLING MY DEVICES!!!!!

StFlossie wrote:

How is that a helpful update? Used to be I could just swipe up--easy. Also easy to see if I accidentally put the watch on Silent Mode. Now I have to press the power button on the side which maybe doesn't seem like a big deal, but when you have arthritis in your fingers, you Don't want to press buttons. WHY do programmers think they have to change things just for the sake of changing? Update security. Leave the rest of my stuff alone. Or at least give me a choice--do I want certain parts of the updates or not. Can I remove updates I don't want. QUIT CONTROLING MY DEVICES!!!!!

You have to tell Apple, not your fellow users in this user-to-user technical support forum.

Feedback - Watch - Apple

The more users that send feedback, the more likely ir will reach a decision maker.

cristinaalcaide wrote:

100% agreed! I’m ******!

Must be tough being an asterisk in a human world.

If asterisks have fingers, it's easy to access the Control Center by tapping the side button once. The side button is the flat, oval button next to the Digital Crown.

Lawrence Finch wrote:

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.

I am very much looking forward to seeing how the Smart Stack evolves.

marionyurgo wrote:

I have an older watch (Series 3) and it works just fine. However, with the new update, I can't even use the bottom button to get the control center. When I press that button, I see my recently used apps. Is there any way to get the control center on the older watches? This update is ridiculous!

It's sounds as if you're double-tapping the Digital Crown. That will certainly not get you to the Control Center. You need to tap (not press and hold) the side button. It's the flat oval button next to the Digital Crown.

Lightly push the side button. A longer/stronger push will activate the SOS feature.

Press the on/off button under the wheel and the control centre pops up. That’s where you’ll find your find mobile image and all the others

After latest update on Apple Watch, the control center was gone. I use the ping option often if I forget where I left my phone. This is very frustrating. 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.

Bumble333 wrote:

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

Tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

Nanadragon19 wrote:

At lest now I know how to get control centre back. , i need to check battery. Thank you nk2311 for the amswer. I do not need to see tips. I just want to see my battery level.

Apple has significantly improved the overall user interface with this change, using swipe up to view the Stack, and moving the Control Center to a physical button to free the swipe up. This is so much an improvement that I have submitted feedback to Apple thanking them for this change.