Find My iPhone button on my Apple Watch is gone

Terry690 wrote:

Simply push the recessed button on the side of the watch. It does not come up on first couple of trys,

It always comes up the first time for me. Perhaps there is something wrong with your watch.

I don't think Apple hid anything, I think we just didn't look. The information was given. Thank goodness we have this forum with proactive contributors like Bob Harris who reads the update advisories and then shares the information here, diagrams and all, with us.

I didn't like the side-button push to access "Find my Phone" at first. Now I prefer it. My watch/phone work perfectly with it, it's as fast as the former method plus it stays on until I click it off. Unlike before where after you swiped up -- it would disappear after a second or two.

Maybe that's not the case for others. Maybe Apple will provide another option for those who do not like this change, as it did with the watch's clock faces -- returning the option to swipe to change them rather than the updated pressing/hold to edit, etc. , method.

I’m in my 70s, too. I was upset with the update at first but as soon as I saw (here) how one can access the Find My Phone icon and all those other settings, I’m good with it. I honestly don’t understand why everyone is having such a hard time simply pressing that side button, versus swiping up on the screen. Six and one half dozen to me in ease. Plus once you press that side button, the screen and icon stay on longer than before when you had to keep swiping up until you found your phone.

If this had been the setting all along, I doubt you’d think twice about it.

tsacco4 wrote:

I have briefly pressed the flat oval button to bring up the "find my Iphone" feature yet no icon pops up on the screen as before. please advise as the information above in this thread isn't working

“Hey Siri, find my iPhone”

Are you using watchOS 10.2 ?

Settings -> General -> About

If on watchOS 9 or older, then it was a swipe-up on the screen.

ellibotz wrote:

I agree it is such a pain now

“Hey Siri, find my iPhone”

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.

inez169 wrote:

I tried the oval side button, but I do not see a find my iPhone option??

Do you see this?

Does the display even look similar to this?

If it does look similar, but the iPhone ping is missing, then scroll to the end, and tap “Edit”

If it does not look similar to the above screenshots, then please describe what you are seeing, as we can only go by your descriptions and screenshots you provide.

Rubyfin wrote:

How do I change it back to the original availability?

There is no going back (at least at the moment). But you can tell Apple via

Feedback - Watch - Apple

And if enough users send feedback asking for the same thing, it is mor likely it will reach a decision maker.

If no one sends any feedback, then it is almost certain that nothing will change.

I would try shutting the watch down and then turning it back on. Rebooting it, in other words.

Be sure to just quickly press the side button once. It should show up.

I have two watches, Series 4 and Series 7, and it appears on both.

If that doesn't work... hmmm, I don't know. It should work. You might try resetting it.

Or you can have Siri find your iPhone… “Hey Siri find my iPhone”.

Golfn247 wrote:

Please change it back to the original availability

Tell Apple. Your fellow users in this user-to-user forum do not have the ability to change the code.

send your feedback to

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

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

The side button now brings up the Control Center instead of the bottom-up swipe, but the side button is not very tactile and may prove difficult for those with mobility issues. I feel this was a poor decision on Apple's part and should be changed back to the original.

“Hey Siri, find my iPhone”

That should put the cat out of a job 🙀

If you are accidentally calling Emergency services, try this:

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.

Jerbearswife wrote:

I HATE it. I couldn’t find my phone this and couldn’t use the widget, it just kept saying button

This button

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

DO NOT hold the button, as that brings up the Emergency calling display. Just a single tap and release.

You can Tell Apple your feelings about the move from a swipe up to a button press via

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

applewatchsejm wrote:

Thanks Bob,

Maybe you could review the function of some of the nonintuitive icons in the control center???? I'm going to google these but do most folks already know their function???? walkie-talkie, the crescent moon, connect a device............... Also , maybe you could clarify how texts and notifications work????

thanks

Maybe this would be helpful

Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support

The page goes through all the Control Center icons, what they are, with links to more details.

Nanato12 wrote:

Use this iPhone feature daily. At 77, I can't remember all the time where I 'parked' my phone and saves me steps wondering around the house to find it! I always use to check if cell in my purse when leaving the house...just one of the most handy features ever developed and the two-step process for old hands isn't that easy to do!!! Please return this helpful feature to a swipe-only feature. Thanks!

Easier than using your hands is “Hey Siri, ping my iPhone”

And since Apple is not reading these user-to-user technical support forums for ideas, also send Apple your Feedback

Feedback - Watch - Apple