Apple Watch Ultra’s customizable action button can launch shortcuts and much more

Later this week, Apple will launch the Apple Watch Ultra, a tougher, more capable smartwatch for explorers, adventurers, and athletes. One of the many unique features of the $799 watch is the addition of a third button called the action button. This article previews what you can do with it.

Position of the action button

Colored International Orange, the indented pill-shaped action button is located next to the display on the left side of the Apple Watch Ultra’s titanium case, between the two speakers and the siren.

Siren activation

Pressing and holding the action button activates the built-in 86 decibel siren, which can be heard from up to 180 meters away and is used to attract help in an emergency.

Custom Actions

The action button is also customizable, meaning it can perform any function that the user configures for it. Apple Watch Ultra users can choose an initial action button function when setting up their device. Later, they can adjust this choice in Settings, where a new section lists apps that support the button.

Apple’s examples of what the button can be configured to do include launching Backtrack (which uses GPS data to create a path of where you’ve been so you can retrace your steps), launching a workout, and beginning a dive .

The action button can also be assigned system-level functions, such as B. turning the flashlight on and off, marking a compass waypoint or starting the stopwatch. In addition, Apple Watch Ultra users can pause the current function by pressing the action and side buttons at the same time.

Assign shortcuts

Because the action button is powered by the new App Intents APIs that Apple released at WWDC in June, Apple Watch Ultra users can also assign shortcuts to it, bringing with it tremendous potential for customization, e.g. B. the ability to control smart home accessories.

Assigning a dedicated shortcut to the action button could also pave the way for additional, adaptive features. For example, shortcuts to location or time-based actions could allow the action button to perform different functions throughout the day.

Multifunctional use with subsequent presses

Depending on the app used to control the action button, in some cases Apple Watch Ultra users can select additional actions for subsequent presses.

Apple envisions people using the action key without looking at the screen, so a subsequent keypress should logically depend on the first press while also making sense in the current context.

For example, an exercise app could allow the user to start a triathlon with the first press of a button and switch to a different segment with another press.

However, it’s worth noting that apps can’t assign functions to a long-press of the action button, as watchOS 9 reserves this interaction for the emergency SOS feature.

Final Thoughts

Apple’s decision to add a third physical control to the “Apple Watch Ultra” in the form of the action button not only allows quick access to a number of functions provided by the system. There’s also a new tool for third-party developers to provide users with key app features at the touch of a button.

Whether Apple intends to include the Action button in its more affordable Apple Watch lineup in the future is an intriguing question, the answer to which may depend on how versatile and indispensable it proves to be in the hands of Ultra users.

The ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ costs $799 and comes in a single 49mm size with Trail, Ocean, and Alpine band options. The new smartwatch is available to pre-order now and will launch next Friday, September 23 alongside the second-gen AirPods Pro. For more on the design and features of the Apple Watch Ultra, see our dedicated roundup.