{"id":419891,"date":"2026-05-01T09:49:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T09:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/419891\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T09:49:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T09:49:10","slug":"i-changed-this-one-setting-on-my-apple-watch-ultra-and-its-now-so-much-better-for-running","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/419891\/","title":{"rendered":"I changed this one setting on my Apple Watch Ultra \u2014 and it\u2019s now so much better for running"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"elk-855be23b-5db8-4fb1-9907-7e884d64616a\">As an avid runner who\u2019s used every model of the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-apple-watch\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-apple-watch\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-apple-watch\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Apple Watch<\/a> over the years, the day the Apple Watch Ultra launched was a very happy one, and there\u2019s one big, orange reason for that.<\/p>\n<p>The Action button meant it was finally easy to take laps, or &#8216;mark segments&#8217;, using the watch during runs, without having to use a tricky combination of two buttons or tapping the screen. I use the lap button regularly in my structured training, almost every day in fact, so the Apple Watch Ultra removed a minor but persistent frustration I had with the Series models.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-855be23b-5db8-4fb1-9907-7e884d64616a-2\">However, I still had one problem with the Action button, which is that in the standard orientation of the Apple Watch Ultra, with the Action button on the left, it felt somehow\u2026 wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Article continues below <\/p>\n<p>            You may like<\/p>\n<p>    <a id=\"elk-collectionwidget-afd3ab0cfce353214d326be7ce8f6678\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><a id=\"elk-0a451849-f86b-4467-995c-af016ad9dfd5\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-bd8c0b83-2a37-4509-b2e3-8c7207c981f2\">All of the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-running-watches\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-running-watches\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-running-watches\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best running watches<\/a> I\u2019ve tested have the lap button on the right side, and so I\u2019d automatically go to that side to take a lap.<\/p>\n<p>With the Apple Watch Ultra, you go left, and the natural way to press the button involves putting your finger and thumb on the watch, with the result I sometimes pressed the side button at the same time and paused my workout at the exact moment I started to speed up for a fast segment.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s my fault, of course, and over time you can get used to any watch\u2019s orientation, but the good thing with the Apple Watch Ultra is that you don\u2019t have to!<\/p>\n<p>I switched the orientation on my <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/apple-watch-ultra-3-review\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/apple-watch-ultra-3-review\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/wellness\/smartwatches\/apple-watch-ultra-3-review\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Apple Watch Ultra 3, <\/a>and now the Action button is on the right, making it easier to press the button without also hitting the side button.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-6ac0ea9a-6294-409f-969f-987e52454870\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/>How to change the Apple Watch Ultra\u2019s orientation<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.24%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/oSrsfLyhB7PWsCs3PFhRaa.jpg\" alt=\"Apple Watch Ultra 3\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/oSrsfLyhB7PWsCs3PFhRaa.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/oSrsfLyhB7PWsCs3PFhRaa.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c9bf37e4-a4fe-42fb-a52e-673b09a0a67a\">It takes seconds to switch up the Apple Watch Ultra\u2019s orientation, which you can do in the settings section of the watch.<\/p>\n<p>Open the Settings app and go to GeneralSelect OrientationTick the wrist you wear the watch onTick Left for the position of the Digital Crown<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-f8c32c6e-ed04-41a8-a741-a8acb84b3af6\">Your screen will then flip upside down and you\u2019ll have to switch your band around to wear the watch the right way up on your wrist, with the Action button now on the right side of the watch.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-293b695a-d5c4-4293-bb45-8af723adc02b\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/>Why I prefer this orientation on the Apple Watch Ultra 3<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.24%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FSsxoGSvatrymvsA6F4q9a.jpg\" alt=\"Apple Watch Ultra 3\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FSsxoGSvatrymvsA6F4q9a.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FSsxoGSvatrymvsA6F4q9a.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-bec9aa30-525e-436e-889f-3dd85a61945d\">Once you\u2019ve made the shift, it takes a day or two to get used to having the crown on the left for general use of the watch, and I found I used the touchscreen a lot more with my index finger.<\/p>\n<p>            What to read next<\/p>\n<p>The main benefit is having the Action\/lap button in the right place for me during workouts. No more errant pauses, and even when starting a workout with the Action button, it feels \u2018right\u2019 to have it on the right of the watch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.28%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/myPbfLwAEqFxhJH2acCe4a.jpg\" alt=\"Apple Watch Ultra 3\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/myPbfLwAEqFxhJH2acCe4a.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/myPbfLwAEqFxhJH2acCe4a.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-75f8a8ad-7be8-4ae7-968e-2584b3cfc532\">If you\u2019re making the move to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 from a Garmin or other sports watch, this will also make life easier, since muscle memory will have you going to the right of the watch to take a lap.<\/p>\n<p>One other benefit is that sometimes I would hit the digital crown of the watch with my wrist when it was on the right side of the watch, a problem that no longer exists with this new orientation.<\/p>\n<p>Once you make the move, I doubt you&#8217;ll go back to the classic Apple Watch Ultra orientation. It just makes life easier to have it set up this way.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" id=\"elk-734dab9a-7b4c-4870-8f04-ca24526fdd7d\" data-url=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:31.51%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/r3t8zZ5ve4GewFTeoCM3R6.jpg\" alt=\"Google News\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/r3t8zZ5ve4GewFTeoCM3R6.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/r3t8zZ5ve4GewFTeoCM3R6.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] pull-right\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-41cb32b0-5ab6-453e-91e3-7b626d6ae996\">Follow <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tom&#8217;s Guide on Google News<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tomsguide.com\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tomsguide.com\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. <\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-more-from-tom-s-guide\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/>More from Tom&#8217;s Guide<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As an avid runner who\u2019s used every model of the Apple Watch over the years, the day the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":419892,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[330,85,46,125],"class_list":["post-419891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-gadgets","tag-gadgets","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=419891"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419891\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/419892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=419891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=419891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=419891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}