All. The. Time.

WeatherGraph, iCatcher, workout app, navigation, CalZones, Geneva Moon, AllTrails, ApplePay…

I have ADHD and severe anxiety/PTSD. I always need to have my phone. Even if I’m not on it or using it. It just needs to be near me. BUT because of my ADHD, I always misplace my phone around the house. I also have a toddler who’s going through a stage I can only describe as “semi feral” and I literally got one just so I could find my phone. Oh and easier access to the time.

Unfortunately most of the native apps require my phone to be nearby so it kinda defeats the purpose.

I have SiriusXM, but the app is basically just a remote for the phone app. It can’t stream over cellular or even Wifi on its own.

I’d love to listen to Spotify with my watch, but they hide that beyond Spotify premium.

So pretty much the only apps that get any use on my watch are native Apple apps. I use Podcasts/Weather/Timers the most.

I find the rings have been addictive – to make me want to close them, meaning I get more exercise.

I have my watch face showing the weather, so I look at that pretty often.

And I use it to monitor sleep and record exercises.

I sometimes use it to send a quick text message rather than digging my phone out of my pocket or from the other room.

And having the heart monitor is kinda cool.

Literally the only things I use my watch for a) time/date/temp, b) text notifications, and c) step counting. I don’t use any of the exercise stuff at all, I just count my steps and it’s nice not having to carry my phone with me at all times

I have not found any 3rd party app to be useful at all.

About the only app I really use is the timer app. Other than the temp and date and sunset/sunrise, there really isn’t much I do in the watch. I still west it every day and not a new one every two years. The apps are limited in functionality as you know.

Almost forgot, I use Apple Pay to pay for gas at the pump.

I run so invaluable to me for the workout stats and music app. Old days used to have to have my phone while running.

Literally only HR, ECG and Exercise (when it prompts to record a session).

I use the workout app to track my cycling and swimming.

I text with it a lot.

Phone sometimes, when I leave the phone behind while cycling.

Stream music why cycling.

Adding reminders.

Flashlight.

Controlling music remotely.

Leaving the phone behind.

Weather.

I have a fantastic AWU2 and with all the screen, battery and power, I’m still left disappointed when I open most (if not all) my apps. ESPN, Radar, Spotify…the list of highly limited apps goes on… I’m always left wanting them to do more, have deeper menus and be able to expand their functionality. With the exception of Health tracking and Siri voice functionality (in setting timers, adding appointments and voice reminders), my watch has become an expensive iOS notification device (which it excels at!).

To me most apps are a bit of a gimmick. Fun at first use or to show somebody what you can do with your watch, but not really useful in real life situations.

What I use often:

Spotify, to control volume or skip to next song. Light Play a sound on iPhone to find my iPhone Alarm, timers and stopwatch.

Sometimes:

Calculator Heart Rate Weather Agenda

People that ask this question don’t understand the work flow of the Watch. It’s not the phone. It’s an accessory to the phone that has emerged as a health device. The complications and notifications that the apps bring is the secret sauce.

Not much. Have most notifications turned off across the watch and the interface is often too small for my old fingers.

Though, I do have a few installed for complications and notifications. The only one I actively use outside or heart rate, ecg, and workout is OurGroceries. However it is nicer to get my Forticlient VPN key on the watch over the phone. And the Stand Up app notifications are much more recognizable than Apple’s default notification. I do use ECG, Heart Rate, oxygen levels, and mindfulness on a daily basis.

Mostly I just use my phone still. Don’t think I would be able to leave it at home. Many apps like reminders, calendar, home, phone, and messages are really only useful to me on the phone.

I’m like a lot of others here. I use some first-party apps and widgets, but not a lot. What I use, though, is great to have. It’s easy to miss messages when my phone is in a pocket, but not with the watch. I like having media controls on my wrist. Overcast is wonderful. I like having calendar and weather data immediately accessible, and the watchOS calendar interface is quicker to scroll through if I just need to see what’s happening today and tomorrow. I use the Workout app at least twice per day, and have my fitness rings on every watch face.

At first, I wasn’t sure what I’d do with an Apple Watch. But I’m one of those people for whom gamifying life is a huge motivator. Hitting my daily goals is why I’m in decent shape, and have improved over the years. It’s motivating to keep my move streak going. Even stand reminders get me up and away from the computer for a few minutes, which I take as an excuse to jog the stairs once or twice to help my other goals along. You can change the goals. If you’re hoping to become more active, try setting goals you can hit relatively easily and see if the watch helps motivate you to increase your activity level. If you’re not into that at all, the watch can still be useful. As some have said, though, it focuses a lot on fitness and wellness.