Apple Watch: Adjust screen brightness and text size

We all have very different eyes in terms of what we can easily see when using the Apple Watch. For some folks the default text size setting works beautifully, while others may need to make text larger (or smaller) for their own comfort. And sometimes it’s also necessary to adjust the brightness level of the Apple Watch’s screen to make it easier to view in certain conditions.

In this tip I’ll show you how to quickly and easily change the size of text, and also the brightness level of your Apple Watch.

How to change the size of text on the Apple Watch

Follow these simple steps to change the size of text on the Apple Watch:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap on Brightness & Text Size.

3. Tap on Text Size.

4. Use the Digital Crown to make the text larger or smaller (or tap on the smaller or larger letter A). The text on the screen will adjust as you do this so it’s easy to find a comfortable setting.

5. To turn on Bold Text, tap on Text Size at the top of the screen to go back to the Brightness & Text Size menu. Then toggle the Bold Text switch to the On position.

6. Note that if you turn on Bold Text, your Apple Watch will need to restart.

How to change the screen brightness of the Apple Watch

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap on Brightness & Text Size.

3. Tap on the larger or smaller brightness icons to adjust the brightness of your Apple Watch.

Brightness and text size: The 38mmm Apple Watch vs. the 42mm

I’m using the 42mm Stainless Steel with Classic Buckle Apple Watch (I switched from the 38mm) and so far I’ve found the default settings for text size to be fine for me. I can easily read text on my watch, regardless of which apps I use on it. The larger screen of the 42mm Apple Watch definitely makes text easier to see for me.

But when I had the 38mm Apple Watch, I had to make the text larger so I could see it more easily. Unfortunately, this also meant less text on the screen and a bit more scrolling as I used my Apple Watch. That’s definitely one of the disadvantages of the 38mm watch if you need larger text like I do.

As far as brightness goes, I opted to leave it at the default setting. That works perfectly well for me, and it still leaves me with great battery life on both watches. If you are going to be outdoors in bright sunlight though, you may find that you need to raise the brightness level to more easily see your Apple Watch’s screen.

It’s definitely worth checking out the settings for text size and brightness on your Apple Watch. It only takes a minute or two, and you might find that using your watch will be much more comfortable once you’ve customized the text size and brightness setting to your own preference.

Did you miss a post? Check the Eye On Apple home page to get caught up with the latest news, discussions and rumors about Apple.