Apple designed a zoom feature on the Apple Watch for users with compromised vision or other visual impairments. But sometimes, the feature may seem to activate itself without your knowledge. So, why does this happen, and what can you do to fix it?
If your Apple Watch is zoomed in, you most likely triggered the zoom feature accidentally. To adjust the zoom feature, go to Settings > Accessibility and tap ‘Zoom.’ You can disable the zoom feature entirely or adjust it to your preference.
You know you’ve activated the zoom feature if the icons are too big, and you can only see parts of the screen. Let’s take a closer look at how to disable this feature. We’ll also take a look at some other accessibility settings you probably didn’t know existed.
Why Does Your Apple Watch Zoom In?
There are a couple reasons why the zoom feature might activate on its own:
- Your Apple Watch has a case or screen protector that triggers the setting. Remove the case to fix this.
- There might be a bug with your phone. Try restarting your watch as follows:
Press the Side button and Digital Crown. Next, slide the Power Off slider to the right to turn off the watch. To turn it on, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. If that doesn’t work, try factory resetting your watch.
How to Zoom Out
Zooming out your Apple Watch is very simple. There are two ways to do it:
- Use two fingers and double tap your watch’s screen.
- Click the Digital Crown of your watch three times in quick succession.
Either of these methods should work, depending on what you have set as the trigger for zooming in your accessibility settings.
Here’s how to disable the accessibility shortcut setting:
- On your iPhone, go to the Watch App and tap My Watch. You can also use your Apple Watch and select Settings.
- Tap Accessibility and then Accessibility Shortcut.
- Tap Zoom. Deselect to turn it off.
How to Turn Off the Zoom Setting on an Apple Watch
Not all users find the zoom feature convenient. If this sounds like you, here’s how to turn off the zoom setting:
- On your Apple Watch, go to Settings.
- Scroll down and select Accessibility.
- Tap Zoom.
- Toggle off the Zoom setting. The button will appear gray when disabled and green when enabled. A prompt may also appear with the text Zoom Disabled.
How to Disable Apple Watch Zoom from Your iPhone
You can also use your iPhone to disable the zoom feature. Here’s how to do it.
- On your iPhone, open the Watch App.
- Go to the My Watch tab and select Accessibility.
- Tap Zoom.
- Toggle off the Zoom setting.
You can also choose the level of zoom you want on your watch. Do this by adjusting the zoom level slider:
- On your iPhone, go to the Watch App and tap My Watch.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Select Zoom.
- Look for the Maximum Zoom Level slider and drag it to adjust.
Accessibility Shortcuts on Your Apple Watch
The zoom feature is an accessibility setting that magnifies your watch’s display. It helps users with visual impairments be able to read their watch screens. An accessibility feature is a setting that makes Apple technology less challenging for those with disabilities.
Apart from Zoom, Apple Watch has other incredible accessibility features. Here are a few that you might find useful.
Accessibility for Visual Impairments
These settings help those with vision problems. To access them, go to Settings > Accessibility > Vision.
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a built-in screen reader to help those who can’t see what’s happening with their watches. It supports all native apps (Messages, Mail, Calendar, Maps, etc.) and is available in 37 different languages.
Triple-click the Digital Crown during the initial setup to activate VoiceOver on Apple Watch.
Screen Curtain With VoiceOver
Screen Curtain supports VoiceOver and adds to its security and privacy. It turns off the display while the VoiceOver remains active. The feature is useful when accessing private information (e.g., a bank account), and you don’t want to share it with the public.
Grayscale and On/Off Labels
The On/Off switches help show whether a setting is on or off. For those with impaired visibility, you can also turn on grayscale mode.
Bold Text and Text Size
You can bold your texts so that they appear darker. You can also adjust the size of texts in any app to make them bigger. Here’s how to activate this setting:
- On your Apple Watch, go to Settings.
- Select Brightness & Text Size.
If you’re using your iPhone:
- Open the Apple Watch App.
- Go to the My Watch tab and select Brightness & Text Size.
Other settings to help those with visual impairments include X-Large watch face, Reduce Motion and Reduce Transparency.
Hearing Problems
Mono Audio
You may miss out on some audio when using Bluetooth headphones if you’re deaf or have hearing problems. You can play the audio channel in both ears and adjust the balance. The result is a higher volume in both ears.
Other accessibility settings to help those with hearing aids include Scribble, the Taptic Engine, and Prominent Haptic.
Physical & Motor Skills
Wheelchair-Specific Workouts
Apple equipped its watch with sensors and fitness algorithms to help wheelchair users track their activities more accurately. When the wheelchair-specific workout is on, Apple Watch will track pushes instead of steps.
Here’s how to enable the wheelchair-specific workouts:
- Go to the Apple Watch App and select Health.
- Tap Edit in the upper right corner and select Wheelchair.
- Tap Yes and then Done.
Zoom In, Zoom Out
While the zoom feature is excellent for users with visual impairments, it can be annoying if you don’t need it. Use the steps provided to disable it and uncheck it as an accessibility shortcut. You can always enable it again in the future if you’re having problems reading your watch’s screen.