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Of iOS 16 and watchOS 9, users can mirror their Apple Watch to their iPhone’s screen. We test how it works and in which applications it can be useful.
Billed as an accessibility feature, mirrored to your Apple Watch uses a modified version of AirPlay to cast your watch’s display to your iPhone’s screen. At the moment, it’s only available to developers beta testing Apple’s latest operating systems.
While it’s quite a niche feature, it has quite a few practical uses. We’ve been installing the betas for a while and had a chance to test this feature ourselves. This is how it works.
Mirror your Apple Watch
Once enabled, a model will appear at the bottom of the screen with an Apple Watch frame. After a few moments, your screen should appear.
When mirrored, you’ll see a blue outline around your watch face to let you know it’s being shared. A warning will also appear to inform you that your screen is mirrored and when it will end.
What you can do with a mirrored iPhone
Mirroring your Apple Watch doesn’t just show a live stream of your watch’s screen. It is also fully interactive.
Mirroring our Apple Watch to our iPhone
You can tap the screen of your iPhone to control your Apple Watch. You can open and use apps and scroll by swiping around, just like you would on your Apple Watch itself.
Not only the screen is interactive, the physical controls are also present. You can swipe the Digital Crown to scroll or tap it to simulate a press movement. The same goes for the side button.
A screenshot of our Apple Watch instructional video
This opens up a multitude of applications for this function. There are educational uses. While one person is looking at the screen or watch, someone else can demonstrate how to do something — even through a FaceTime call where you share your iPhone screen.
You can take a screenshot while mirroring your watch, which can make demonstrative videos easier. Hereby AppleInsiderwe produce numerous videos and articles about apple watch instruction and this could certainly improve their production.
We are sure that when iOS 16 and watchOS 9 are released, users will find even more uses for this feature.
Apple is expected to release these updates later this fall and a public beta sometime in July.