Hands-on With the Apple Watch’s New Double Tap Gesture

I tried the new double tap movement after donning the 45mm Apple Watch Series 9. It’s intuitive but requires exaggerated gesturing to get it going. You kick off the command by raising your arm and then pinching twice, forcefully, with your index finger and thumb. It took me a few tries to figure it out. Double tap works as a toggle button, though it only controls the primary button in a watch app. It works best for things like answering a call or snoozing an alarm, though you can also use it to cycle through widgets in a Smart Stack.

I was sold on the double tap gesture when Apple debuted it in its keynote because I’ve been in a one-handed bind many times—carrying a kid, cooking, even just drinking coffee. I have used other parts of my body to try and answer a call from my watch, like my nose, only to remain unsuccessful.