Did you know? Barring the Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, running watchOS 9 and later, paired with an iPhone running iOS 16 and later, can be mirrored on the iPhone for easier navigation.
As compared to the smaller display that the Apple Watch’s form factor typically delivers, this is a game-changer. Whether you want your parents to have a bigger screen to control their Apple Watch or simply for yourself, here’s how to mirror your Apple Watch on your iPhone:
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Mirror Your Apple Watch on Your iPhone
From Settings
Step 1: Head to Settings on the iPhone.
Step 2: Tap on Accessibility
Step 3: Scroll down to Apple Watch Mirroring and toggle it on.
Your iPhone will then display an image of the Apple Watch mirroring yours. This can be controlled by using gestures. I use it how I normally would use my Apple Watch- apps, checking my steps, or temperature from my watch face, checking heart rate, and much more.
Even Siri works the same way on the mirrored Apple Watch.
From Control Center
It’s not exactly the easiest to mirror your Apple Watch on your iPhone, especially if an older person is attempting it. Having to go into settings every time we want to mirror our Apple Watches is a task.
Luckily, there is a workaround by adding this as an accessibility shortcut. It can either be accessed directly by triple-clicking the side button on the iPhone or simply adding it to the Control Center.
Step 1: Head to Settings on the iPhone.
Step 2: Tap on Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut in the General section.
Step 3: Tap on Apple Watch Mirroring. You can now access this when you triple-click the side button on the iPhone.
You can leave this here or follow these steps to add this shortcut to the Control Center.
Step 4: Scroll down from the top right corner to access the Control Center.
Step 5: Tap the plus + sign in the upper left corner to add controls.
Step 6: Tap Add a Control at the bottom of the screen and scroll to find Accessibility.
Step 7: Tap Accessibility Shortcuts.
Now, the accessibility shortcut will be available right at the Control Center. Simply tap on it, then tap Apple Watch Mirroring to start mirroring your Apple Watch to your iPhone.
Use Gestures to Control Your Apple Watch from Your iPhone
| Gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Scroll | Swipe up or down the display. |
| Swipe | Swipe left or right on the display. |
| Digital Crown | Click the Digital Crown on the display. |
| Side Button | Click the Side button on the display. |
| Action Button | Click the Action button on the left side of the display. (available on Apple Watch Ultra models) |
| Siri | Touch and hold the Digital Crown on the display to activate Siri. |
Wrap Up
Even though the Apple Watch mirroring is a really cool feature, especially for those who need a bigger display than the one on the Apple Watch, I have found adding the Accessibility Shortcut to my Control Center a much easier alternative.
The triple click works wonders, but I often forget that as a gesture; therefore, the Control Center works great for me and my parents. Since the mirroring works on AirPlay, just make sure both your devices- the iPhone and the Apple Watch are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, Bluetooth is enabled, and they are in close proximity to each other for a seamless connection.
