On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), Samsung wants to highlight the accessibility of its Galaxy Watches through the Universal Gestures feature. This feature allows for navigation without the need to touch the screen or the spinning ring, making the watches suitable for everyone.
To enable the Universal Gestures feature, go to the Settings menu and select Accessibility. The two main gestures are “make a fist” and “squeeze,” which allow for selection, opening the Action menu, and activating Universal Gestures.
These gestures can be particularly useful for those without disabilities as well, and the Action menu displays different available actions depending on the active application or menu.
However, there is a limitation with Universal Gestures. If you have Google Wallet active on your Galaxy Watch, you cannot use the gestures as Google Pay requires a screen lock for security reasons.
It’s important to note that Universal Gestures are distinct from the gestures found in the Advanced Features menu, which allow you to answer calls, dismiss alerts, or launch an app with other hand gestures, even with the screen lock on.