One of the new features launched to Apple Watch in watchOS 10 was Smart Stack.
A riposte to the more glanceable titbits of data found on Wear OS – and a callback to watchOS of old, Smart Stack shows off information from your apps and widgets.
Here are five tips for making Smart Stack even, well, smarter.
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Use Automatic Stacking
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The Smart Stack uses information like time, location, and activity to prioritize widgets throughout the day. For instance, the weather widget might appear first thing in the morning, while Maps might take over when you're out and about. Keep an eye out for differences in the stack to see if this is working for you. If not, you can take some of the steps below.
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Add a New Widget
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The Smart Stack isn't limited to Apple's default options. You can add widgets from many of your favorite apps, making the information you see most relevant to you. Just hold down on a widget and then press the + icon when it materializes. Then you can choose from a list of compatible apps to have the widget added to the stack.
Remove a Widget
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If there’s a widget you’re always skipping past, then banish it forever. Don’t be told what you have to glance at. Press and hold on a Smart Stack widget and hit the delete button to have it banished.
Pin Your Favorites
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While the Smart Stack prioritizes widgets it thinks you’ll want to see, you can also take control. Use the pinning feature to lock your most-used widgets at the top of the stack for easy access. Press and hold on a widget and tap the (tiny) yellow pin. Repeat to unpin it.
Use the Gesture
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If you want to check your Smart Stack ‘hands-free’, then use the new gesture feature, which is available on Series 9 and Ultra 2. Look at the watch to wake the home screen and then double-tap your thumb and forefinger. The Smart Stack will now display. Double-tap again, and you can cycle through your Smart Stack widgets.
Tip: Keep it concise. The Smart Stack is designed for quick glances. Avoid cluttering it with too many widgets, or it will devalue the feature. Choose the ones that provide the most relevant information you need throughout the day.
How we test
James is the co-founder of Wareable, and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.
He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found Wareable in 2014.
James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.