• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

AppleToolBox

Tools and Fixes for Mac, iPad, iPhone & iPod

Search posts

  • About
  • Contact

CONNECT WITH US

CATEGORIES

';
  • All
  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Mac/MacBook
  • Apple Watch
  • How-To’s
  • Reviews

SITE

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise

Search posts

You are here: Home / Apple Watch / How to View Web content and clear it on Apple Watch

How to View Web content and clear it on Apple Watch

By Andrew Myrick 0 comments Last updated June 23, 2018

Unless you have a Series 0 Apple Watch, there is a lot to be excited about when it comes to watchOS 5. The latest software to come to the Watch includes a slew of new features, including the ability to view web content.


Contents

    • 0.1 Related Reading
  • 1 How to view Web Content on Apple Watch
    • 1.1 Use WebKit to search Google
  • 2 How to Clear Web Data on Apple Watch
  • 3 Conclusion
    • 3.1 Related Posts:

Related Reading

  • Here’s everything coming to watchOS 5 
  • 10 Hidden features in watchOS 5
  • Why I’m excited that the Podcasts app is coming to Apple Watch

That’s right, Apple introduced WebKit for the Apple Watch during the WWDC 2018 Keynote. This means that you will be able to view some web content from your wrist without opening your phone.

The catch with this new WebKit API is that you are limited to being able to use it with select apps. Mainly, these apps include Apple’s Messages or Apple Mail. This may be a bit of a disappointment, but it should not be surprising.

How to view Web Content on Apple Watch

Now as we mentioned above, you can only view web content on your Apple Watch when using Messages or Mail. So in order for this to work, you’ll want to follow these steps:

  1. Press the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch
  2. Open either Messages or Mail
  3. Find a message that contains a website link
  4. Tap the preview link

After you have tapped the preview link for the web address, you will be taken into WebKit on your Watch. If you want to interact with this page, here are some different actions you can perform.



Outside of scrolling up and down with your finger or the Digital Crown, you will be able to interact with these web pages. In order to activate the extra options, Force Touch your Apple Watch on the page you are viewing.

These are the options that will be shown:

  • Back
  • Forward
  • Reader
  • Reload

Reader Mode is used by default on your wrist due to fact that the display is so small. However, if you want to use the full-view option, you can do so by using these hidden controls. It’s important to note that this mode will show ads on your wrist, but you will not be able to view embedded videos.

Use WebKit to search Google

If you read the sub-heading and thought that this is impossible, you would be wrong. With the inclusion of WebKit in watchOS 5, you can even perform Google searches from your wrist, leaving Siri behind.

The steps for doing so are pretty simple, as you will need to text or email yourself a link to google.com. Then just open either Messages or Mail and tap the attached Google link on your Watch. Then you can use the Reader Mode view of Google Search on your wrist and use Scribble or Dictation to perform searches.

How to Clear Web Data on Apple Watch

This version of WebKit is extremely early and may not even make it to the final version of watchOS 5. However, for those who already have the latest watchOS, you may run into some issues with loading web pages.

It’s highly likely that this is because some websites don’t properly render on the tiny display of the Watch. So if you begin running into problems when attempting to access links, then you’ll want to clear the website data.

Here are the steps to clear web data from your Apple Watch:

  1. Press the Digital Crown to go to the Home Screen
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Select General
  4. Scroll and tap Website Data
  5. Tap Clear Website Data
  6. Confirm by selecting Clear Data

Once you tap Clear Data, all of the web content histories will be removed. However, the following pieces of information will also be removed:

  • Website Cookies
  • Saved passwords
  • Other browsing data

Conclusion

So what do you think about WebKit on the Apple Watch? Could you see yourself taking advantage of this? Or do you think it’s more of a novelty that will never really have any real use?

Sound off in the comments below and let us know what you think. If you have any questions, be sure to let us know and we’ll be more than happy to respond to help walk through any problems.

Andrew Myrick

Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.

He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.

Related Posts:

  • iOS 13 or iPadOS problems and how to fix them - Troubleshooting GuideiOS 13 or iPadOS problems and how to fix them -…
  • iMessage Not Working iOS 12? Fix Message App ProblemsiMessage Not Working iOS 12? Fix Message App Problems
  • iMessage not working iOS 13 or iPadOS? Fix it todayiMessage not working iOS 13 or iPadOS? Fix it today
  • How to open a Keynote (.key) file in Powerpoint on your PC (Windows & Office)How to open a Keynote (.key) file in Powerpoint on…
  • New Podcasts App on macOS Catalina, here's what you should knowNew Podcasts App on macOS Catalina, here's what you…
  • How-to customize and use Apple's Podcast app in iOS 13-11 and iPadOSHow-to customize and use Apple's Podcast app in iOS…
  • How to use Books in iOS 13 & 12 and iPadOS, essential tipsHow to use Books in iOS 13 & 12 and iPadOS, essential tips
  • How To Fix Messages and iMessage Problems in iOS 11How To Fix Messages and iMessage Problems in iOS 11
  • AirPods Pro---The Complete GuideAirPods Pro---The Complete Guide

Reader Interactions

Write a Comment Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Popular Posts

  • How To Calibrate Your Apple Watch
  • How To Use Apple’s Breathe App For Meditation
  • Close up of Safari browser icon on iPhone screen Comparing the Best Web Browsers for iPhone or iPad
  • Brydge Pro+ Review_2918 (1) Brydge Pro+ Review: A Wonderful Keyboard Ruined by an Awful Trackpad
  • How to export Messages from the Mac and save them into a readable format Hero How to Export Messages From the Mac and Save Them Into a Readable Format

Connect with us

Recent Comments

  • Ahmed on Mac user account disappeared? Here’s how to get it back without losing any data: “You are a life-saver. Thanks.”
  • Allan Burnett on Apple Watch Competitions: Understand Your Activity Score: “Just to be clear, the maximum points you can get is 600, BUT you can get more than 200% on…”
  • bob schaefer on What is iPhone Haptic Feedback? Enable or Disable?: “I do not like this feature , especially the fact that I can’t turn it off . I drive 100…”
  • Ian on iPhone Favorite Contacts not working? Fix it!: “Too complicated, still got no favourites”

Footer

ABOUT

  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

DEVICES

  • iPhone
  • Mac & MacBook
  • Apple Watch
  • iPad
  • AirPods
  • Apple TV
  • iPod Touch

GUIDES

  • iOS 13 & iPadOS
  • Apple ID
  • iCloud
  • App Store
  • iTunes
  • FaceTime
  • iMessage
  • Siri
  • Books and iBooks
  • Game Center
  • AirPlay

CONNECT

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • FeedBurner
  • YouTube

© Copyright 2010-2021 AppleToolBox · All Rights Reserved

This site and its content are in no way affiliated or endorsed by Apple, Inc. · Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited