How to Access Control Center and Notification Center from Inside Apps on Apple Watch in watchOS 5

BY Khamosh Pathak

Published 8 Sep 2018

Access Control Center Inside Apps watchOS 5 Featured

watchOS 5 update for Apple Watch is filled with new subtle features. Features that will make your Apple Watch experience a lot less annoying. Where watchOS 4 threw roadblocks, watchOS 5 holds your hand. It’s apparent in the new Siri features and new notification features.

watchOS 5 puts an end to another big frustration of mine. You can now access Notification Center and Control Center no matter where you are. Previously, you’d also have to get back to the Home screen to check notifications or to access the flashlight from Control Center.

But while this feature is new, it’s not at all intuitive.

Read morewatchOS 5: All the New and Hidden watchOS 5 Features

How to Access Notification Center and Control Center from Anywhere on Apple Watch in watchOS 5

If you’re in an app and you simply swipe down from the top like you would on the Home screen, you’ll notice that nothing happened. That’s because there’s a whole new gesture.

watchOS 5 Control Center Inside Apps 2

Gently put a finger on the top edge of the Apple Watch display. And just as gently, a little preview of the Notification Center will show up. Now, while keeping the finger on the screen, just swipe down and you’re in the Notification Center.

To access Control Center, do the same thing in the opposite direction!

watchOS 5 Control Center Inside Apps 1

Once you use the gesture often, it will become muscle memory. Yes, you need to wait a split second more but it’s a way better option compared to watchOS 4. And Apple’s reasoning for putting an extra step here makes sense. Apple Watch screen is quite small and there’s not enough screen to distinguish between a short swipe up gesture and a scrolling gesture (like the iPhone X).

Your Favorite Apple Watch Features

What is something you enjoy the most about using your Apple Watch? Is it the fitness tracking or the notification management? Share with us in the comments below.