The new full-size keyboard integrated in watchOS is not supported on Apple Watch Series 6 and earlier, as well as all Watch SEs, due to their smaller case size. Instead, there are third-party keyboard options to work with, in addition to doodling and dictation features.
How to use the keyboard on Apple Watch Series 7 and later
In watchOS 8, Apple introduced a true QWERTY keyboard, which is decidedly more efficient and faster than dictating or doodling. However, this full-size keyboard is compatible with watches with larger screens, from the Watch Series 7 to the Watch Series 8 (test) and the Watch Ultra (test).
If you’re already using the latest version of watchOS, the keyboard will automatically appear when you need to enter text or create a reply to a message or email. The keyboard also features QuickPath, or swipe functionality, which allows text to be entered by swiping letters without tapping each character individually.
Also, the keyboard only supports a few languages. They are English, German, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese and French. To change the keyboard language, follow these steps:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone
- Enter GeneralThen language and region
- to touch personalise and select your preferred language
To change the Apple Watch keyboard language, go to the Watch app and select General, then Language. You can add or select the languages you want to use. / © kwgeek
How to use the keyboard on Apple Watch SE, Watch Series 6, and older models
doodle with finger
There are several ways to enter text on older Apple Watch and SE models. The first method we recommend is scribbling, where you tap on the screen with your finger. This approach usually works well for simple, short answers.
Here’s how to access Doodles on Apple Watch.
- Reply to an email or message, or compose a new
- touchDoodle icons
- Swipe your finger across the screen to write letters or form words
- Use the Digital Crown to navigate to the letter or word you want to edit
- Touch any word to see word suggestions while scrolling the crown to the option you want
- Click the send button when done
voice dictation
Another notable way to enter text is dictation. Similar to Doodles, it can be accessed when replying to a message or email, and when creating a new entry. To enable dictation, follow these steps:
- go to applications post or e-mail
- Reply or write a new message.
- choosemicrophone icon or If you’re on a keyboard, swipe up
- Start talking immediately after pressing the button
- You can use punctuation by adding them to your dictation
- Tap Done when you’re done talking
Smart Reply and Emoji
In addition to using your voice or your finger, the Apple Watch has Smart Reply, which lets you use default replies instead of typing.
You’ll find default replies under the entry selection view in your messaging app or when you select a reply. As for emoji, it’s easy to access when using Dictation, Scribble, or the QWERTY keyboard.
The QWERTY keyboard on Apple Watch offers shortcuts for emoji and dictation. /next pit
Third-party keyboards to install
If you want a full keyboard on the Watch SE or earlier, or even access to the official keyboard, FlickType and WatchKey are two recommended keyboards. Both are free versions that offer full-size keyboards, but you’ll need to buy them to use all the features these apps offer.
What’s your favorite way to enter text on Apple Watch? What do you recommend?
