What is AssistiveTouch on your Apple Watch and when should you use it?

AssistiveTouch is an accessibility feature, but you can actually use it to control your Apple Watch without even touching the screen.

By Filipe Espósito Nov. 1, 2026 11:00 am EST Apple Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

The Apple Watch has an interface that's very easy to understand, and for the most part, it involves tapping the screen and rotating the Digital Crown. But there's another way to control it without even touching the screen, thanks to AssistiveTouch. Although it's an accessibility feature designed to help people with motor disabilities navigate the interface, it also unlocks some cool features for everyone. For instance, you can control the system just by moving your fingers and hand — no special hardware required. If you have an Apple Watch running the latest version of watchOS, it has AssistiveTouch built in.