00:00In this video, I'll take you through a simple game plan of how you're going to set up your new Apple Watch
00:05and some of the settings you're going to want to change first.
00:07Let's get into it.
00:08Setting up an Apple Watch might feel familiar if you've ever set up an Apple product before,
00:12meaning it's a pretty straightforward, step-by-step experience.
00:16The most important thing you'll need is your iPhone nearby,
00:19as you'll use it a lot during the Apple Watch setup process.
00:22If your phone recognizes a new Apple Watch nearby, you'll see a pop-up to initiate the process.
00:27But you can also go into the Watch app on iPhone and add a new watch here.
00:31You have two choices.
00:33Most people are going to set up for themselves.
00:35But note that you can set up an Apple Watch for a family member if you'd like.
00:39Otherwise, you're going to follow the prompts, assign the wrist orientation,
00:43agree to some terms and conditions, confirm your Apple health and activity ring settings,
00:48set up a passcode, add some payment methods if you'd like.
00:51So now your Apple Watch should be syncing with your phone.
00:54This would be a good time to run a software update, which you can check for in the general
00:58settings in the Watch app.
01:00Most new watches coming out of the box are probably an interim WatchOS update or two behind,
01:05so chances are you'll need to initiate the update.
01:08Going forward, you'll either want to enable automatic updates or just update your software
01:12regularly to ensure you're getting the best user experience.
01:16Before we move on, I'd like to say thanks to the returning viewers who have been following
01:20along with my Apple Watch videos on this channel over the years.
01:23But also, welcome to those who are here for the first time.
01:26This channel is all about helping you make the most of your tech, so make sure to subscribe
01:30so you never miss a new video.
01:32Back to how to set up your Apple Watch, there is a couple of settings I recommend enabling
01:36from the jump.
01:38First, fall detection doesn't come enabled, so do that.
01:41It's a great safety tool, one that you don't hope to need, but you will be glad to have
01:44it if you do.
01:45Next, if you skip this during setup, reconsider adding a passcode and payment information.
01:50It's still optional, of course, but note that you do need a passcode in order to use
01:55Apple Pay on your watch.
01:56Next, I'd suggest setting up noise alerts by going to Settings, Noise, and toggle on
02:01Environmental Sound Measurements to enable noise notifications that will alert you if
02:05your surroundings are dangerously loud.
02:07In a similar vein, you might also want to set up sleep tracking if you plan to wear your
02:11watch to bed.
02:12You can use the Watch app or Health app on iPhone to create a sleep schedule, set up
02:16sleep tracking, and if you have an Apple Watch Series 10 or Ultra 2, you can also set up sleep
02:22apnea detection.
02:23Again, these are all things that won't work unless you proactively enable them.
02:27Not saying you need them, but I want to help you make the most of your watch's features.
02:31Taking things a step further, there are some additional settings you can change to make your
02:35Apple Watch better suited for your needs.
02:37I suggest rearranging your smart stack that's accessed by turning the digital crown.
02:42If you press and hold on the screen, you can rearrange the order of which the widgets appear.
02:48Another thing to change is your text size.
02:50If it's too small, you can do that in Settings on your watch or on the Watch app on your iPhone
02:54in the Display and Brightness settings.
02:56While we're here, make sure you're happy with the App View.
02:58You can choose Grid View or List View.
03:00That's simply based on your preference.
03:02One of the biggest complaints I see from new users with Apple Watches is how many notifications
03:07you get.
03:08Right up top in Settings, you'll see Notification Settings.
03:11You can basically go app by app and decide which ones you want notifications for.
03:16If you don't mind the notifications but dislike the haptics, you can disable System Haptics in
03:21Sounds and Haptics settings.
03:23A big one here.
03:24If you go into the Activity Settings, you can change all of the movement-based goals that buzz
03:28throughout various points of the day.
03:29And just in general, in case you didn't know, you can silence all notifications in one swoop
03:35by enabling Do Not Disturb.
03:37Press the side button to open the Control Center to access it.
03:41Another thing new Apple Watch users should know is how to make your Apple Watch battery
03:45life last longer.
03:47There are a few settings you can enable.
03:48First is pretty straightforward.
03:50It's a low power mode that disables all of the most battery-draining features.
03:54This is also accessed through the Control Center.
03:57From there, you can further disable additional features.
03:59Such as sleep tracking, automatic app refreshes, the Listen for Siri feature, and finally make
04:05sure you are using optimized charging to maintain your Apple Watch's battery health long-term.
04:10I hope you either got the answers you were looking for or learned something new from watching
04:14this video.
04:15I'm thinking I might do a video on the first Apple Watch apps you should download, so let
04:19me know in the comments if that's something you'd want to see.
04:21Thanks for watching.
04:23I'll catch you next time.
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