Does Apple Watch Work When Not On Wrist?

Some occupations do not allow employees to wear wristwatches. For example, I worked as a waiter in a hotel where wearing anything below the elbow was criminalized. Reason? That it is unhygienic. These accessories may carry and drop health hazards on the customers’ meals. However, there is no wrong way of wearing the Apple Watch. 

You can wear the Apple Watch on other parts of your body apart from the wrist. The Watch will still work, but the health and fitness tracking accuracy may not be accurate or reliable. If your occupation does not allow wristwatches, you can use the ActionSleeve band for Apple Watch to wear the smartwatch on your bicep or ankles.

Some people also ask if they can wear Apple Watch on their ankles. This is possible, but I don’t recommend it. If you don’t have both wrists, you can wear Apple Watch on your ankles or chest. However, there is a high risk of damage to the Apple Watch on your ankles than on your wrist. You’d also need earbuds or AirPods to listen to music and take calls.

Read: Can You Wear a Fitness Tracker on Your Ankle?

What is the best way to wear an Apple Watch?

The best way to wear an Apple Watch is on your right or left wrist. You can change the Watch’s orientation to position the digital crown to the lower left or upper right. Choose the orientation that is convenient for you in the Apple Watch settings. If the sensors are not reading anything, the band might be loose.

Apple Watch can work when it is not on your wrist. As long as the Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone, the smartwatch will show all your notifications. In other words, if you get a call on your iPhone, the Apple Watch will also ring if it is within your phone’s Bluetooth range. You can also wear the Apple Watch on your bicep, ankle, or chest area.

However, I am firmly against wearing the Apple Watch on your ankle. You will be subjecting it to nicks and dings, but it won’t hold on to your skin tightly and more consistently. If you are an Apple Watch user whose work description restricts wrist placement, you can wear it on your bicep or ankle. If you are wearing the Apple Watch on any part other than your wrist, use the ActionSleeve band for Apple Watch. The band squeezes the Apple Watch tight enough on your bicep or ankle for improved heart rate tracking. ActionSleeve also protects your watch from any dents or gouges you might come across while exercising.

Why some people do not wear Apple Watch on the Wrist

Here are some reasons why a person may not wear the Apple Watch on the wrist:

Occupation

Some occupations do not allow employees to have wristwatches on. For example, I worked as a waiter in a hotel where wearing anything below the elbow was criminalized. Reason? That it is unhygienic. 

These accessories may carry and drop health hazards on the customers’ meals. Surgeons also don’t wear watches to the theatre for hygiene reasons and professionalism, I think. 

Disabilities

It is also important not to overlook people with disabilities. Some people cannot wear wristwatches because they have no arms or are medically challenged. It would also not make sense for low-income earners to walk around with wristwatches. 

Stereotypes

There is an untold dogma about wristwatches. If you have it, people consider you an upper-class citizen. To avoid such stereotypes, some people choose not to wear wristwatches. Although the Apple Watch is designed primarily for the wrist, you can use the ActionSleeve band to wear it on any part of your body. 

However, the Apple Watch will not be as accurate on your ankle as it could on your wrist. The Apple Watch has optical sensors for monitoring your health and fitness from your wrist. But research shows that you can measure heart rate variation accurately in the upper body, particularly the chest region since the sensors will be much closer to your heart.

If you can find a creative way of strapping the Apple Watch on your chest, you will get pretty accurate health and fitness tracking results regardless of the existing limitations. 

Read: 10 Best Ankle Fitness Trackers