How to use Wrist Flick on Apple Watch to dismiss notifications

Notifications are useful, but they can also become a constant distraction—especially when you’re working out, carrying groceries, or in the middle of something. That’s where Wrist Flick comes in. Introduced in watchOS 26, this handy gesture lets you dismiss notifications, silence incoming calls, and stop timers with a quick wrist movement, without touching the display.

In watchOS 27, Wrist Flick remains a convenient way to control your Apple Watch hands-free. Here’s how to use the gesture in everyday life.

What is Wrist Flick on Apple Watch?

Wrist Flick is a one-handed gesture that lets you interact with your Apple Watch without tapping or swiping the screen. It uses the watch’s motion sensors and gesture recognition to detect a quick wrist turn. And when the watch recognizes the gesture, it dismisses the current notification or alert and returns you to the watch face.

Think of it as brushing away a distraction. It’s particularly useful when your other hand is occupied or when touching the screen isn’t convenient.

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Wrist Flick debuted in watchOS 26, and Apple continues to support it in watchOS 27. It works alongside other hands-free features, including Double Tap and the newer single-tap gesture introduced in watchOS 27.

What can you do with Wrist Flick?

Once enabled, Wrist Flick lets you handle several common interruptions without touching your Apple Watch.

• Dismiss notifications: Clear incoming messages, reminders, weather alerts, and other notifications from the screen.
• Mute incoming calls: Silence an incoming call without reaching for the display.
• Stop timers and silence alarms: Quickly dismiss timer and alarm alerts.
• Return to the watch face: Clear the current screen and get back to your watch face.
• Dismiss other alerts: Handle supported system alerts with the same quick wrist movement.

Wrist Flick is designed to make interacting with your watch easier, not to replace every on-screen control. Dismissing a notification doesn’t delete the underlying message or other content from its app. You can still open the relevant app to review information later.

Likewise, silencing an incoming call doesn’t mean you’ve answered it. You can still decide whether to answer or decline the call.

Compatible Apple Watch Models

Wrist Flick is supported on Apple Watch models with the required hardware and software.

Compatible models include:

• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Series 10
• Apple Watch Series 11
• Apple Watch Series 12
• Apple Watch Ultra 2
• Apple Watch Ultra 3
• Apple Watch Ultra 4
• Apple Watch SE 3

Wrist Flick requires a compatible watch running watchOS 26 or later. For the latest models, including the Series 12 and Ultra 4, watchOS 27 is the relevant software version.

Older models, such as Apple Watch Series 8 and the original Apple Watch Ultra, aren’t supported for Wrist Flick. Although these watches offer other ways to silence alerts, they don’t support this particular gesture.

How to use Wrist Flick on Apple Watch

Wrist Flick is enabled by default on compatible Apple Watch models. If it isn’t working as expected, check its setting before trying the gesture again.

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
2. Go to Gestures.
3. Toggle Wrist Flick on or off.
   
   

Perform the Wrist Flick gesture

1. Wait for a notification, incoming call, timer, or other supported alert.
2. Quickly turn your wrist away from you.
3. Bring your wrist back toward you in one smooth movement.
4. Wait for the watch to recognize the gesture and dismiss the alert.

You don’t need to make an exaggerated movement. A quick, deliberate wrist turn is usually enough. If the gesture doesn’t register, try again with a slightly more distinct movement and make sure the watch is fitted securely on your wrist.

With a little practice, Wrist Flick can become second nature, allowing you to manage interruptions without breaking your stride.

Here’s a quick video on how to use it:

Wrist Flick vs. Double Tap and the New Tap Gesture

Apple offers several gestures to make Apple Watch easier to use with one hand. Although Wrist Flick, Double Tap, and the new single-tap gesture all reduce the need to touch the screen, they serve different purposes.

• Wrist Flick is primarily for dismissing notifications, silencing incoming calls, stopping timers, and returning to the watch face.
• Double Tap involves tapping your index finger and thumb together twice. It supports actions such as answering calls, replying to messages, scrolling through the Smart Stack, and interacting with compatible apps.
• The new Tap gesture in watchOS 27 involves bringing your index finger and thumb together once. It lets you select a highlighted Smart Stack widget and quickly access relevant information when your other hand is occupied.

These gestures complement one another.

Another useful option is Cover to Mute. Simply rest your palm over the watch display for at least three seconds to silence an alert. Unlike Wrist Flick, this gesture is primarily designed to mute an alert temporarily.

More useful features in watchOS 27

Wrist Flick is just one part of the Apple Watch experience. watchOS 27 also introduces refinements and features designed to make everyday interactions more convenient.

• New Siri AI: A more capable Siri experience, with advanced Apple Intelligence integration for on-screen awareness, personal context, and cross-app actions.
• A dedicated Siri app: Revisit conversations with Siri in one place.
• A new Tap gesture: Select a highlighted Smart Stack widget with a single finger-and-thumb tap.
• Smarter Smart Stack suggestions: Get more relevant widgets and contextual suggestions based on your routines and activities.
• A dynamic app grid: Find and open apps through an updated app-launching experience.
• Improved everyday interactions: Refinements across watchOS make it easier to access useful information and interact with your watch.

If you’re upgrading from watchOS 26, Wrist Flick itself won’t feel entirely new. The main benefit is that you can keep using this familiar gesture while taking advantage of other watchOS 27 improvements.

A small gesture that makes a big difference

Wrist Flick isn’t the flashiest Apple Watch feature, but it’s a practical example of how small software improvements can make a wearable easier to use. Instead of interrupting what you’re doing to tap away a notification or silence a call, you can handle it with a quick movement of your wrist.

On the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, Wrist Flick remains a simple, effective way to reduce distractions and interact with your watch hands-free. It’s easy to learn, enabled by default, and useful whenever your hands are busy.

If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a go. Once you get used to the movement, you’ll have one more convenient way to keep your attention where it belongs.