Why can't I find the star (*) button on my Apple Watch keypad

Apple Watch's approach to input is minimal and optimized for quick interactions on a small screen. The watch primarily supports calls, messaging (via dictation, scribble, and a limited keyboard), and some third-party apps, but it does not replicate all phone keypad features. The keypad on the watch is primarily numeric for dialing numbers and selecting call menu options.

Specifically, for automated phone systems that require input via pressing a star (*) key or other special characters, the Apple Watch does not provide a dedicated star (*) button on its keypad. Instead, users typically have to navigate additional options to enter special characters during calls, or they may find that certain automated menus don't respond correctly when using the watch alone, especially when the star key or pound (#) key input is necessary.

The absence of the star (*) button is partly because the Apple Watch's call interface is simplified and does not include all keypad characters by default. To access special characters on calls, users often must tap on a "- - - " (more options) button during the call, which can bring up the keypad with additional symbols including star (*) and pound (#). However, if the user tries to use the limited on-screen keypad while making calls, the star (*) might not always be immediately visible or readily accessible. This limitation is a known issue for those relying heavily on automated phone systems during calls on the Apple Watch.

For messaging, the Apple Watch offers different input methods depending on the model and watchOS version. In recent versions, some Apple Watch models support a QWERTY keyboard which can be used for texting, but certain keys, especially special characters like the star (*), may be accessed differently or might be absent in some contexts depending on the language or keyboard layout selected on the paired iPhone. If a user does not see a keyboard option or certain characters on the watch, it might be attributable to language settings or the particular watch model's capabilities.

For example, users have found that the Apple Watch keyboard is only available in certain languages such as English, and if the watch is set to a language without keyboard support (only dictation or scribble), the keyboard and its characters won't appear. Adding an English keyboard on the paired iPhone usually enables the keyboard on the watch and should grant access to a fuller character set, though this still may not fully replicate phone keypad symbols like star (*) in all contexts.

In summary, the missing star (*) button on the Apple Watch keypad is due to the device's design prioritizing simplicity and limited input options on a small screen. The star (*) key is not included on the default call keypad, and special character input requires accessing additional options during calls. The keyboard options for messaging vary by language and device support, and star (*) availability depends on keyboard settings and app context.

This design reflects Apple's focus on streamlined usability for the Apple Watch, but it can cause difficulties in scenarios where traditional phone keypad characters like star (*) are essential, such as navigating automated phone menus. Users facing this issue may be advised to use their iPhone for tasks requiring full keypad functionality or seek workarounds like invoking the extended keypad through call options on the watch.