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Apple Watch Symbols

Apple Watch Symbols

To put it simply, Apple Watches have quite a lot of symbols which have different meanings. These include the red dot symbol (shows unread notifications), the water lock icon (signaling whether water lock is on or not), the theater mode icon. Apart from these, there’s also the charging icon, the airplane mode icon etc.

The Apple Watch uses an array of symbols and icons to inform users what it is doing, apps active, or communications received. It is important to recognize each icon and understand what signs and symbols the Watch is trying to show.

Since the Apple Watchs screen is smaller than that of an iPhone, Apple decided to designate icons and symbols that indicate the features and functions of the Watch rather than using text, which would consume more space. To accommodate features within the available space, Apple has designated icons and symbols to do so.

Given the current updates to WatchOS, and its roster of icons and symbols, we wanted to get to know these better. Some of the many icons are pretty clear, but others are not that obvious, so we will detail one-by-one what each does. I am going to remove the mystery from understanding the various icons, and help you understand these important communications tools.

If you are using Apple Maps, you will see an icon resembling the apps logo. This icon is typically visible if you are using a fitness app on the watch. This icon can normally be seen when you are being heard by one of the various features.

Sometimes, this function will automatically turn on while playing sound from another Apple device, so this may cause confusion. This icon indicates audio is currently playing through a plugged-in or paired device, like CarPlay or your AirPods.

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Watch to learn everything about the Apple Watch

The Now Playing icon appears on top of your screen when playing audio on your Apple Watch or your iPhone through the Music and Podcasts app. The Cellular Signal Strength icon appears anytime you are playing music, whether using the iPhone or Apple Watch. These lines make a triangular shape, similar to the Play button on many devices, so it makes sense for that icon to be the Now Playing icon.

If you are seeing this red cross icon on your screen, that means that your Apple Watch and iPhone devices are disconnected. This icon appears in your Watchs control center any time your Apple Watch is connected to your WiFi network, not to your iPhones connection.

If the icon is red, and a diagonal line runs across the icon, then your phone is disconnected. This icon will always appear as it does, even when your iPhone is disconnected. If that half-moon icon is visible, that means calls and other notifications are not going to buzz, and they are not going to illuminate the home screen of the Apple Watch.

A single red dot means the user has notifications, and the blob icon shows that waterlock is enabled, and that Apple Watch displays will not respond to tapping. When you see that small droplet appear on your Watchs screen, that means that Water Lock is on and the screen will not respond to taps. When you enable Water Lock, you can still see the face of the watch, but cannot turn on anything.

NameMeaning
MenuThis symbol is the menu icon, which is used to access the app grid, settings, and other features on the Apple Watch.
WatchThis symbol indicates that the device is an Apple Watch. It may also appear on watch faces to show the time in a digital format.
MessagesThis symbol represents the Messages app, which allows you to send and receive texts, emojis, and voice messages from your watch.
PhoneThis symbol represents the Phone app, which lets you make and receive calls from your watch when it’s connected to your iPhone.
MusicThis symbol represents the Music app, which allows you to control playback on your iPhone or stream music directly from your watch.
WorkoutThis symbol represents the Workout app, which tracks your fitness activities, such as running, cycling, and swimming.
Apple Watch Symbols

To deactivate this mode, you need to rotate the crown, and when it does, you will hear the watchs speaker make a sound to push out any water that might get in through the holes.

This button appears only when Automatic Lock is turned off, this is the way the Apple smartwatch is configured by default. Tapping this button will send a notification to the iPhone that is plugged in, helping you to locate/find it if you lose track. Tapping on the I icon will launch Activity App, which is now available on the iPhone as well.

Tapping this icon will give additional info on your Apple Watch, and show extra features such as Find my Apple Watch if you have misplaced it, and the ability to detach your Watch from the iPhone. Identifying means the apps home screen icon should be unique enough that you can tell apps on your Apple Watch apart from other apps, and highly identifiable.

The Home Screen icon is the same size on the 38mm and 42mm watches, meaning that a single asset can be used across both watches. The above illustration shows the sizes of the Menu images on 38mm and 42mm watches, respectively.

The following table details the recommended Apple line weights for various design scenarios, with varying values for the 38mm and 42mm watches. Apples Human Interface Guidelines suggest three different line weights depending on icon complexity.

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According to Apples Human Interface Guidelines (HIG), if your WatchKit app mirrors functionality from an iOS app, then the icon should stay basically the same as an iOS icon.

All of your apps icons will have the same design, presented at a variety of sizes for various viewing scenarios. The app icons are shown in four sizes, with a few small differences in size for 38mm and 42mm watches. The icons appearing in the Short Look notifications are respectively 172 pixels across the 38mm watch and 196 pixels across the 42mm watch.

An icon resembling an incomplete circle emanating from the device is an audio out button which can be used to switch from one audio device to another, arrowheads pointing in the upper-right indicate the Apple Watch has used location services, and bed indicates that the watch is in Sleep Mode, where users can monitor their sleeping patterns. The Apple Watch displays a variety of different status icons on top of the screen, including — a mysterious red dot icon — for giving users basic info right from the watch face.

This icon will show up in Watch Face when using Siri, dictating, or calling someone. To remove this icon from your screen, consider holding Apple Watch near an iPhone, or checking if Airplane Mode is turned on. If you touch and hold on this icon, it makes noises and blinks lights so that your iPhone is easier to locate in the dark.

Where are the icons on Apple Watch?

Your Apple Watch displays icons for some open apps at the top of your watch face with watchOS 8 and earlier. When you tap most of these app icons, the app launches. These running apps show up at the top of the Dock rather than the watch face if you have watchOS 9 or later. The app for working out is open.

What are the icons on Apple Watch Control?

You can see the status of popular Watch settings using the icons at the top of the Control Center. For instance, a collection of tiny indicators may show that your iPhone and Apple Watch are synced, Airplane mode is activated, and an app has requested your location.

How do I fix my Apple Watch stuck on a green lightning bolt and time?

The bolt flashes green when I place it on the charger to show that it is charging, then goes red when I remove it. To restart, press both buttons simultaneously. Most likely, your Apple Watch is on Power Reserve. To get it to automatically restart in its default mode, you must charge it for a short period.

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