WatchOS 10’s Side Button Change Ruined My Apple Watch
WatchOS 10's Side Button Change Ruined My Apple Watch
Apple Watch Side Button: A Comedy of Errors
The side button on my Apple Watch SE, which no longer functions. Mike Sorrentino/CNET
I was eagerly awaiting the new features promised by WatchOS 10 for my first-generation Apple Watch SE. Little did I know that this update would turn my once-beloved device into a useless piece of junk. It all started when a tutorial popped up on my screen, instructing me to double-tap the side button, a button I rarely ever used. But when I tried, nothing happened. That’s when I realized that the side button was stuck, and it had probably been broken for months without me even knowing it.
The side button on the Apple Watch has had two functions over the years: swapping between apps with a single tap and turning the watch off by pressing and holding the button. Honestly, I never really needed these features. I rarely switched between apps on my watch, and when I wanted to power it down, I used the settings menu. But WatchOS 10 changed everything by moving the Control Center to the side button, rendering it useless for those of us whose buttons were stuck or broken.
The Control Center houses essential tools like Do Not Disturb, Airplane Mode, and Theater Mode. Previously, accessing the Control Center was as simple as swiping up from the bottom of the screen. But WatchOS 10 introduced a new Smart Stack widget list and moved the Control Center to the side button. This meant that I couldn’t access any of the tools I frequently used on my Apple Watch because my button was broken. I’m not alone in my frustration—others on social media have also voiced their concerns about this change.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on the Apple Watch side button. Screenshot of Twitter/X
Apple had the opportunity to assign the Smart Stack list to the Digital Crown, which would have allowed users to continue accessing the Control Center by swiping up on the screen. But instead, they opted to limit the functionality of the side button, leaving many users frustrated.
I am hopeful that future WatchOS updates will address this issue. It would be fantastic if Apple made the side button customizable, like the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. This would open up a world of possibilities, allowing users to assign shortcuts or even start workouts with a single press. However, it seems that for now, Apple reserves this convenience for its high-end devices.
Fortunately, I was able to get my Apple Watch replaced under my AppleCare plan, but only because I extended the coverage past the initial two-year period. Without the plan, I would have had to shell out $249 for a replacement, essentially the price of a new watch. Apple doesn’t offer much flexibility when it comes to repairs and often requires a full replacement rather than a fix. This, coupled with exorbitant repair costs, leaves many users with no choice but to make do without certain features or buy a new watch altogether.
The Apple Watch Series 9. Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
On the brighter side, it’s perfectly fine to avoid WatchOS 10 if it doesn’t suit your needs. In fact, I wish I had known about the issues with the side button before updating. In the past, I had skipped a software update for my iPhone SE because I didn’t like the convoluted Control Center design. Apple eventually fixed the issue in iOS 11, but until then, I stubbornly refused to update. Thankfully, Apple continues to provide important security updates for devices that haven’t yet updated to WatchOS 10.
So, if you find yourself in a similar predicament with a broken side button on your Apple Watch, don’t despair. Reach out to Apple’s customer support and see if they can help. And in the meantime, let’s hope that Apple’s next software update brings better customization options, allowing us to navigate our devices the way we want to. After all, we’re the ones wearing the watches on our wrists, so shouldn’t we have a say in how they function?
This article originally appeared on CNET and has been modified for clarity and coherence.
