Inside iOS 9.3: 'Auto Switch' lets you use multiple Apple Watches with one iPhone

Upon installing iOS 9.3 and watchOS 2.2, users can take advantage of a new feature Apple has dubbed "Auto Switch," allowing users to own multiple styles of Apple Watch and swap them out with ease.

The new Auto Switch feature can be enabled in the Apple Watch app in the first developer beta of iOS 9.3. It requires that all connected Apple Watches be running the first beta of watchOS 2.2.

Once enabled, Auto Switch will automatically connect to any paired Apple Watch, once the user puts it on and raises their wrist.

Within the Apple Watch app, users can see all of the watches that have been connected to their iPhone. The currently active one will be marked with a green check to the left side.

Apple also includes an image of the user's Apple Watch, complete with their style, color, and even the watch face and complications they have enabled. This will make it easier for users to distinguish between their connected watches.

The ability to pair multiple watches with a single iPhone will allow Apple Watch owners to purchase multiple styles and swap them out as needed. For example, fashion-conscious consumers might own different styles and colors to fit their current attire or activity.

Auto Switch should also make it easier for developers to test their apps on multiple devices, such as comparing the 38- and 42-millimeter screen sizes, or using both first- and second-generation Apple Watches, if and when Apple updates its wearable device.

16 Comments

mac_128 3452 comments · 12 Years

About 8 years ago

AppleInsider said:

For example, fashion-conscious consumers might own different styles and colors to fit their current attire or activity.

Or those wishing to have a "nice" watch they want to keep clean and pristine, while they have another watch they work out in, and use for activities that might result in more dings and scratches. Or my personal favorite -- having two watches so a person can wear their watch at work all day, come home, switch to their "gym" watch which will be fully charged and can be worn through a shower, and worn overnight to monitor sleep, then through the shower again, before being swapped out for a fully charged watch. no fiddling with bands, just pick one up up, put one down.

It was obvious this would happen since they introduced the watch, especially for anyone who is a watch person, and already owns multiple watches. Especially when they introduced the new case colors and the Hermes. But even before, with the Edition and stainless. Gold is nice but it doesn't go with everything. We might even see a Platinum or white gold watch Edition with the next gen.

Rayz2016 6957 comments · 8 Years

About 8 years ago

Maybe other other offshoot lines, like a swim-proof Apple Watch Shuffle.

richdatswho 38 comments · 8 Years

About 8 years ago

I wish it were the other way. I have a personal phone and a work phone so it would be ideal for me to get updates from both phones on a single watch

mac_128 3452 comments · 12 Years

About 8 years ago

richdatswho said:

I wish it were the other way. I have a personal phone and a work phone so it would be ideal for me to get updates from both phones on a single watch

Except that's not in Apple's best interest. You should buy one watch for each phone. ;-)

The good news is, then you can use whichever watch you want with whichever phone.

I fully expect once the watch is more autonomous (and it's darn close now), that Apple will allow people to pair with iPads, iPods (if they're still around), and Macs. Once that happens, then Apple may be open to allowing pairings among multiple devices. I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be possible, since there's not really anything stored on the watch anyway, and all the Apple devices will share the information anyway.