11 tips for setting up your new Apple Watch

It may be small but your Apple Watch is nonetheless powerful and you will get a lot of use of it straight from the box. But, as with lots of similar technology, playing around with the settings can make your device even more useful, so let’s take a look at the things you should be doing once you’ve learned the basics of how to set up your Apple Watch.

Here we take a look at 11 simple tips that, as well as making your device look better, will also make it easier to navigate and ensure that it looks out for your health. Most of these tips will work via the Watch itself whereas some will need you to grab your iPhone. We’ve also looked at some features that are specific to watchOS 10.2.

If you have bought a brand new Apple Watch, you should find all of these tips will work. 

(Image: © Future)

While there are a range of Apple Watch faces available to you by default, you might want to personalize your watch a little more. Thankfully, learning how to use a photo as an Apple Watch face is easy. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and tap Face Gallery. Next tap Photos, then select a photo source and choose the photos you want to use. Go back to the My Watch tab and select your Photo. You can also use Portraits as faces. Instead of selecting Photos in the Face Gallery, select Portraits, then repeat the steps above.

(Image: © Future)

Siri works well on the Apple Watch because interacting directly with the small display can be cumbersome at times – issuing verbal commands is much easier. You can determine how Siri is activated, though, if you go to Settings and select Siri. You can choose your action words – either “Hey Siri” or plan “Siri” – and you can toggle Raise to Speak or Press Digital Crown if you would like these methods to call upon Siri too (raise to speak means Siri will start to listen if you bring your Watch close to your mouth).

(Image: © Future)

You may find that the tiny icons on the Apple Watch display are difficult to navigate or that you have big fingers and keep tapping the wrong ones. You can switch from the grid view as it's called to a list view. This shows the apps in a list in alphabetical order allowing you to scroll down and find what you’re after. To do this, open the Settings app and tap App View then select List View. If you don’t like this, then scroll to the bottom of the list and tap Grid View to go back to the previous look.

(Image: © Future)

One of the most frustrating features of the Apple Watch is how quickly the device returns to your watch face when you have an app open. By default, this is set to two minutes – which starts when your wrist is lowered or the Watch is idle. If you open the Settings app and select General then choose Return to Clock, you can alter this. Choose Always or select After 1 hour or scroll down and customize the clock setting for individual apps.

(Image: © Future)

If you're in a new location and are worried about getting lost, you needn't fear. When you know how to use the Apple Watch backtrack feature, you can leave a digital breadcrumb trail which will allow you to precisely retrace your steps using the Compass app. 

To do this, open the Compass app and tap the feet icon (bottom right) to start backtrack. Alternatively, you can start Backtrack instantly by simply long pressing the side button and sliding right along Compass Backtrack. Now go on an adventure and when ready, hit the pause button on the compass. Tap Retrace Steps and then follow the navigation guidance on the compass.

(Image: © Future)

Fall Detection is available to anyone over 18-years-old and it will automatically switch on if you are aged 55 and over and have entered your age when setting up your Apple Watch or the Health app. If you fear this doesn’t cover you, then turn on Fall Detection manually. For this, you will need to use the Watch app on your iPhone. Launch the Watch app and tap the My Watch tab. Then select Emergency SOS and turn Fall Detection on. You can set it so that it only works during workouts or is always on. If you are in trouble, an alert will sound and your Watch can also call the emergency services.

(Image: © Future)

In general, audio alerts on Apple Watch can become annoying so if you want to stop your wearable from constantly pinging then either lower the volume or switch to Silent Mode and rely on your watch vibrating instead. There are two main ways of doing this. First, you can press the side button to open the Control Center and tap the bell icon. Second, you can open the Settings app on your Apple Watch, select Sounds and Haptics and toggle Silent Mode on. If you then scroll down, you can make sure haptics are active.

(Image: © Future)

If you are taking medications, you can receive alerts on your Apple Watch as a reminder. To do this, learn how to set up Medications on your iPhone first, then open the Medications app on your Apple Watch. You can tap one of your meds and log it as having been taken or scroll and indicate that it has been skipped. With watchOS 10.2 or later installed, you can also say, “Hey Siri, log my [time] medications as taken”.

(Image: © Future)

If the Covid pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the need to at least keep our mitts clean. The general advice is that you wash your hands for 20 seconds to remove harmful germs but rather than count manually you can get your Watch to do the hard work for you. Simply launch the Settings app on your Apple Watch and tap Handwashing. Then turn on Handwashing Timer. Your wearable will work out when you are washing your hands and let you know when the 20 seconds is up.

(Image: © Future)

Your device can also detect sounds and alert you if the environment is too noisy and in danger of damaging your ears. It does so using the Apple Watch’s microphone and you can set the decibel threshold to suit your needs. Just launch the Settings app and select Noise then choose Environmental Sound Measurements. Now turn on Measure Soundsand go back to tap Noise Notifications. Set the decibel level from the list of options and you’re done.

(Image: © Future)

If you are struggling to see your Apple Watch screen, then you may want to enlarge the text. To do so, go to Settings and select Display & Brightness and tap Text Size. Turn the Digital Crown to make the text larger or smaller. If you then go back, you can also choose Bold Text. Words should be much easier to read now.

These aren't all the things you can do with your Apple Watch. We have a huge range or tutorials to help you get the most out of your wearable tech. Why not learn how to use the Apple Watch Double Tap gesture, how to control your Apple Watch with hand gestures and how to manually add a Fitness workout to your Apple Watch.

Today's best Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation deals

Instant access to the hottest deals available plus daily breaking news, reviews, helpful tips and more from the Tom's Guide team.

Why Does Apple Keep Charging Me? A Complete Guide + What To Do About It

12/28/23 •  10 min read

Does your credit card keep getting charged by Apple? Here’s how to deal with unwanted charges from Apple, check why you’re getting them, and stop them from happening.

Need more information about random charges on your account? Read on; this post covers all the main angles and provides actionable advice on how to tackle them.

Why does Apple keep charging me? It’s something a lot of people wonder when they see a charge come through from Apple on their credit or debit card – or, if you use it, your Apple Card.

These charges are usually for small amounts, perhaps $2.99 or even 0.99 cents. But they can be for much larger amounts, too, say, $9.99 or even more. And the charges may come weekly but are most likely to occur on a monthly basis.

Most apps and subscriptions for iPhones run on a monthly basis. Very few run on weekly billing schedules, so it is unlikely you’ll get weekly invoices from apple.com/bill in your bank account.

So what’s going on? Is Apple trying to rip you off? Thankfully, no. Apple isn’t a shady company that tries to get a few bucks from people with fraudulent charges, hoping they won’t notice. The answer as to why you are being charged is very simple (usually). Here’s why you likely keep seeing charges and what you can do about it.

When you check your bank or credit card statement, a sign that Apple charged you unexpectedly is seeing a line that says “apple.com bill” with the deducted amount.

This charge could be for a variety of reasons, such as a subscription renewal, an app or media purchase, or even an accidental in-app purchase.

It’s essential to regularly monitor your financial statements to catch any unexpected charges promptly. If you come across an “apple.com bill” that you don’t recognize, the first step is to cross-reference the charge with your recent purchases on the App Store, iTunes, or any other Apple service.

Apple provides a detailed transaction history that can help you identify the source of the charge.

If the charge remains unclear after reviewing your Apple transaction history, it’s advisable to contact Apple Support directly. They can provide insights into the specific transaction and assist in resolving any billing discrepancies.

Additionally, for future protection, consider setting up purchase confirmations or parental controls on your Apple devices to prevent unintended purchases. Remember, staying vigilant and proactive about your finances can save you from potential headaches down the line.

Apple uses apple.com bill as its email invoice service; when you order something – a phone, iCloud storage, or an app subscription, an invoice is generated by Apple and sent via apple.com bill.

If you get an invoice for something from apple.com bill, it means you HAVE bought something – and that something could be an app, an in-app purchase, a movie, a TV show, an e-book, or a subscription to an Apple service or a third-party service you subscribed to through iOS.

Seeing “apple.com/bill” on your bill isn’t a problem if you are expecting it. But what if you don’t expect it? A few things could be the issue. 

There are a few reasons why you are getting billed by Apple. Believe it or not, Apple usually isn’t at fault. So then, what is causing your unknown bills from Apple? These are the likely culprits:

These are some things you can do if you’re getting unknown charging from Apple:

Let’s review each of these. 

Take a moment to review your email. This serves as the initial and simplest step in solving the mystery. Apple consistently provides a comprehensive invoice for each charge associated with apple.com/bill or itunes.com/bill on your account. Access the email connected to your Apple ID, and conduct a search using the charge date, the sender (Apple), or simply the keyword “invoice.”

It’s important to mention that Apple has recently introduced the option to opt out of receiving subscription renewal emails. You might have accidentally changed this setting, causing the notifications to stop. 

To ensure the continuance of renewal emails, navigate to “Settings,” go to Apple ID > Subscriptions, and activate the toggle switch next to “Renewal Receipts” if it happens to be deactivated.

Make sure no one in your household is charging things to your Apple account. This could likely be the case if you are sharing a Family Plan. This is also the likeliest case if the charges are irregular (which suggests in-app purchases in games).

If you’re an Organizer of a joined account, keep an eye out for charges from fellow members. If you spot an Apple iTunes com bill charge that seems unfamiliar, check in with your family to see if they can identify it. For families with little ones, consider activating the Ask to Buy feature to ensure permission is granted before any purchases are made.

The third thing you should do is check your current Apple subscriptions. This will show subscriptions from Apple (such as Apple Arcade or Apple TV+) and will also show you third-party subscriptions, like those you signed up for via an app. 

To check your subscriptions on your iPhone or iPad:

For Mac users wanting to inspect their Apple subscriptions, follow these steps:

If you received an unexpected bill from Apple, which has been known to happen but is pretty rare these days, one of the quickest ways to confirm whether or not you did sign up and/or buy the item is to check your iPhone – or iPad’s – purchase history. 

Here’s how to check your purchase history on iPhone (and iPad):

To review your media purchases on a Mac or PC, follow these simple steps:

Inside here, you’ll be able to see all of your purchases. If you don’t see the app or service you’re being billed for, it means Apple has made a mistake and charged you for something you didn’t buy. If it is there, but you don’t recall buying it, perhaps someone else in your home did? Your spouse or children, perhaps?

If the initial steps don’t resolve your issue, the next course of action is to reach out to Apple support. They can pinpoint the charge in question, explain its origin, and are equipped to cancel it.

Here’s what you can try:

It might be possible that someone made a purchase using your card. If you think your card is in trouble, contact your bank to stop the card and cancel any suspicious purchases. But do this as a last step, after checking your account statements and Apple Store history.

As you can see, there are many reasons why Apple is unexpectedly charging your credit card. If you have more than one Apple device or use different services, it’s easy to lose track of your Apple bill charges. It’s common to feel confused and lose count in such cases.

Overall, check if you’ve forgotten some subscriptions or if someone in your Family is unknowingly using some service you’re unaware of. Also, consider contacting Apple’s customer support. 

If everything else falls short, reach out to your credit card company, but consider this as your final option after completing the earlier steps. If you didn’t buy the service but someone else did, your next step is to cancel the subscription and – if you think you have grounds – put a claim into Apple to get a refund.

Michael Grothaus is an American author and journalist with a flair for exploring the intersection of technology, creativity, and digital culture. With a background in film, journalism, and creative writing, he brings a unique perspective to the world of mobile technology. His work has been featured in renowned publications like Fast Company, The Guardian, and Engadget. At KnowYourMobile, Michael leverages his extensive knowledge to guide readers through the complexities of mobile devices, helping them make informed choices in the fast-paced tech landscape.

$16B: How Much Apple Suppliers Have Reportedly Spent To Cut Chinese Dependence