How to enable the double-tap gesture on any Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 9 was launched earlier this year, and while the Watch’s design doesn’t really pick up any changes since last year, it did pick up a few under-the-hood performance improvements thanks to a new chipset. One of the major changes is the new Double-Tap gesture that comes to both the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The gesture allows Apple Watch users to simply tap their thumb and index finger against each other twice in quick succession to trigger an action or an app. This is really convenient when your other hand is occupied, and you have to do something like receive a call. However, did you know you can replicate the gesture in most other Apple Watch versions? In fact, there are two ways to achieve this. Here’s how.

How to enable double-tap gesture in any Apple Watch

The first method is using Apple’s Quick Actions. Open up the Watch app on your paired iPhone and navigate to the Accessibility option. You can now scroll down and tap on Quick Actions (under the Motor section) and turn the feature on.

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Now whenever a quick action is available, Apple Watch users will also see a prompt to set the same on the double tap gesture. Once set, users can use the double tap gesture to do things like answer a call, play music or click a photo via an iPhone.

There is also another method to do this – via AssistiveTouch. Open the Watch app on your iPhone and select the Accessibility option. Find the AssistiveTouch option and turn it on. On the same page, navigate to the Hand Gestures section and you will be able configure gestures like pinch, double pinch, clench and double clench. You can set any of these to any of the supported actions.

There you go! You now have the signature Apple Watch Series 9 gesture enabled on your own Apple Watch!