Handwashing's sensor and timer no longer available on iWatch Series 12

Well, personally, I don’t need an app to tell me how to wash my hands, and I do not know a single person who uses it (including several medical professionals in my neighborhood), but you can offer feedback to Apple here: Product Feedback - Apple

You can also check the app store.

Kilgore-Trout wrote:

It is known that feature appears to have been retired, or at the very least temporarily repressed. Apple has made no formal statement on this matter. I suspect it is gone because it is rarely used.

Granted I’m a survey of 1, but I use the handwashing timer several times a day. It is hands free and very convenient.

And yes, I submitted feedback.

pds0604 wrote:

The handwash sensor and timer aren't available on my brand-new Apple Watch Series 12. Why is that? That's been very helpful since COVID. I'm very sure it's changed lives and saved lives.

Although the handwashing function is still supported by Apple under OS 27, the new watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models are not in the supported hardware list for it:

Set up Handwashing on Apple Watch - Apple Support (PH)

This has led to some speculation that the new hardware (which has been significantly changed from the earlier Ultra 3 and Series 11 models that do support the handwashing) is not compatible, hence the new models are excluded from the supported hardware list.

There are also some Apple aficionado sites that have some posts from users who believe that the new Apple Intelligence "listening" features have displaced the type of "listening" that was necessary for the handwashing functions. Not sure that makes sense to me.

I was totally unaware of this handwashing app until I read complaints in Apple Discussions from users (there have been several) who complained about its absence from the new models. It should work on my Series 11 watch but I don't think it will be useful for me due to me being the main cleaner of pots and pans after my gourmet cook wife has finished one of her elaborate meals (I have the water running for some ~ minutes to clean that all up). And also when I am working outside around the house in the yard or washing the cars and turn on water bibs and hoses. I suspect it will be beeping me constantly. When I wash my hands, I sing the "Happy Birthday" song slowly, twice, and I think that should be long enough. The idea of a watch telling me how to wash my hands strikes me as odd, but I would not deny it to people who find it useful.

A) You should try it for a few days. It is not as annoying as you imagine.

B) I also do post dinner clean up. It is not just running water that triggers the handwashing notice. You have to actively be moving your Apple Watch wrist in motions typically involved with handwashing. Running the garden hose, washing the car, etc… is not going to trigger it.

Again, do not imagine what it is like, try it and then give an informed opinion. You can turn it back off at any time.

BobHarris wrote:

B) I also do post dinner clean up. It is not just running water that triggers the handwashing notice. You have to actively be moving your Apple Watch wrist in motions typically involved with handwashing. Running the garden hose, washing the car, etc… is not going to trigger it.

Doing dishes by hand was far more likely to trigger it for me than actual handwashing. Yes, that got annoying.

pds0604 wrote:

Thanks for sharing wheee to send product feedback. Maybe don’t be so dismissive about something that impacts personal and public health. Thanks.

And you can provide actual data to support that?

pds0604 wrote:

Thanks for sharing wheee to send product feedback. Maybe don’t be so dismissive about something that impacts personal and public health.

Hum "Happy Birthday" twice. No batteries required.

BobHarris wrote:

B) I also do post dinner clean up. It is not just running water that triggers the handwashing notice. You have to actively be moving your Apple Watch wrist in motions typically involved with handwashing. Running the garden hose, washing the car, etc… is not going to trigger it.

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Doing dishes by hand was far more likely to trigger it for me than actual handwashing. Yes, that got annoying.

That is an informed comment, and valuable input for others.

That, combined with the fact that the automatic faucets at work always seemed to have a mind of their own when it came to how long the water would stay on, made the whole thing far less useful than I had hoped. I think it did, at least, bring the notion of handwashing to the attention of people who might have otherwise given it short shrift.

Kilgore-Trout wrote:

pds0604 wrote:

Thanks for sharing wheee to send product feedback. Maybe don’t be so dismissive about something that impacts personal and public health. Thanks.

And you can provide actual data to support that?

<crickets>

It is known that feature appears to have been retired, or at the very least temporarily repressed. Apple has made no formal statement on this matter. I suspect it is gone because it is rarely used.

Thanks. I turned on the feature when it was first available and kept it on ever since. I think it should be restored. It’s not just about Covid. It’s about our personal health and public health.

Thanks for sharing wheee to send product feedback. Maybe don’t be so dismissive about something that impacts personal and public health. Thanks.

Yes, you are a survey of one.

Thanks for your thoughtful and expansive answer.