You can use your Apple Watch for texting provided you’ve connected the watch to a cellular or Wi-Fi network. GPS only models require connection to iPhone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to send, receive, and reply to text messages.
The problem with texting on Apple Watch is the small screen. However, there are ways to make texting on the small display fun, especially if you don’t want to reach out for your iPhone.
9 Easy Tips to Text on Apple Watch
Below are 10 tips to text on Apple Watch Series 3 or later:
1. Set Up Text Notifications
First, enable text notifications on your Apple Watch to get instant alerts whenever there’s a new text message.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone. Tab My Watch tab and select Notifications. Select the Messages app, tap custom, and then choose “Allow Notifications”. You’ll get text messages notifications on your Apple Watch as soon as one comes to your iPhone.
To customize this even further:
- Enable notifications indicator to show a red dot at the top of the watch face if there’s an unread text message.
- Enable summary when locked to see a summary of your notification even when you’ve locked your Apple Watch.
2. View All Text Messages on Apple Watch
Because I don’t use my iPhone in public places, I like to scroll through messages on my Apple Watch just to make sure I don’t miss something important.
To do the same:
Tap the display to wake up the screen. Press the Digital Crown to access the apps screen. Tap the Message app, and scroll through messages to see if you might have missed something important.
3. Read a New Text Message
Tap the text alert that appears on your Apple Watch’s screen to read it.
The red dot will keep showing on the watch face to indicate that you have a message that you haven’t read if you have notification indicator enabled. In this case, swipe down on the watch and tap the unread text to read.
4. Let Siri Read Your Messages
Setup Siri and let it read out your messages for you whenever you get a new alert. For this to work, your iPhone should be running iOS 15 and your Apple Watch watchOS 10 or later. Additionally, you have to pair your Apple Watch with wireless earbuds, such as Beat Solo Pro, Airpods Max, and Beat Fit Pro.
To configure Siri to read messages on the watch:
- Press the Digital Crown to open menu.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap notifications
- Choose Announce Notifications
- Turn on for Messages.
Moving forward, Siri will read your messages for you whenever there is one.
5. Add a New Message Recipient
To choose a recipient to whom you would to send the new text messages open the Message app on your Apple Watch, tap New Message, and then tap Add Contact icon. Scroll through the list of your contacts and tap on a contact you wish to text message.
Tap the People icon to view your contact list and check whether the contact appears if you can’t find a person to text or the Microphone icon and say the name or phone number of a contact to message. Tap the dial pad icon and key in his or her number if the person isn’t in your contacts yet.
Check your Bluetooth or Wi-Fi settings to ensure they’re active if your Apple Watch can’t sync contacts right away.
6. Create and Send a Text Message
There are three ways to create a new message or respond to an ongoing conversation on your Apple Watch. You can:
- Tap the keyboard icon and use it to type your message.
- Use the speech to text microphone to dictate your message.
- Tap the A icon on the message screen, select the sound wave icon, speak your message, and tap done to send message as audio.
Using the Apple Watch keyboard isn’t the best option to type long texts because the smartwatch has a relatively small screen. The speech-to-text option is more appropriate in this case.
7. Add Emoji, Stickers, Reactions, or Sketches to Your Messages
Make your text messages more engaging with emoji, stickers, and sketches.
Tap the smiley icon to open the emoji page, choose what you want, and tap it to add to text.
You can leave a reaction if you don’t want to reply to text with a text. Simply press and hold down a message and choose a reaction image such as a heart, a thumps up, a question mark, or a thumbs down.
Tap the A icon in the iMessage field and then tap the magnifying glass icon to search for and send stickers and GIFs as part of your text.
8. Use Smart Replies to Respond to Texts
You don’t always have to write or dictate a text message. Use the smart replies feature build into your Apple Watch.
Open the Messages app. Tap a message to open it. Swipe all the way down to see smart replies. Choose a suggestion fit for the message you just received. Tap to send.
9. Use Scribble to Write Your Message
You’ll love this option because it’s more private especially in public places.
- Open the Messages app on your Apple Watch.
- Choose a message to reply to or create a new one.
- Scroll up from the button of the screen to access the Scribble option.
- Use your index finger to write letters, numbers, symbols, and punctuation letters.
To correct mistakes made by this form of texting on the Apple Watch, use the Digital Crown or the space bar button.
Note that you can scribble only one letter at a time, so this option is only suitable for short, quick replies to texts.
Can You Text on Apple Watch Without iPhone?
You can send text messages on your Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby as long as you’ve connected the watch to Wi-Fi. A cellular Apple Watch allow you to send and receive texts even if you’ve left your iPhone at home provided you have an active cellular plan.
Which Apple Watch has a QWERTY Keyboard?
Apple Watch Series 7, 8, 9, Ultra and Ultra 2 have the QWERTY keyboard built into them.
This keyboard option is the standard for laptops, smartphones, and true smartwatches. It supports multiple languages, including English, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Can I Switch Between Scribble and Keyboard on Apple Watch?
Yes, you can switch between Scribble and keyboard on your Apple Watch. Go to the Messages app, open a message to text, tap the text field, swipe up from the bottom, and tap the keyboard option.
To switch to Scribble, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, and select Scribble as your language option.
