Digital watches can help you keep track of time, and additional features commonly found on digital watches, like alarms and chronographs, make digital watches all the more helpful. Learning to operate your digital watch is simple, leaving you time for the more exciting things in life. While each individual watch could have different functions and a unique layout, many of the instructions apply broadly to most models.
Using the "Mode" Button
Video of the Day
Pressing the "Mode" button will allow you to access all the settings pages on your digital watch. This is ordinarily located in the bottom left of a four-button digital watch, but you can check the manual for your specific watch or look for a label beside the button.
Video of the Day
Press the "Mode" button repeatedly to access the "Daily Alarm," Day Alarm," "Time Zone" and "Chronograph" modes on your watch. If your watch has additional modes, you will cycle through these with the same button.
Using the "Start/Stop" and "Split/Reset" Buttons
Use the "Start/Stop" button to increase increments when setting the time or alarms on your digital watch. Use "Split/Reset" button to decrease increments when setting the time or alarms on your digital watch. On a standard four-button digital watch, these are the upper right and lower right buttons, respectively. Again, you can check your watch's manual or look for labels on the buttons if you aren't sure.
You need to press the "Mode" button (possibly multiple times) to go to the appropriate mode before using these keys as described above. For some watches, the "Start/Stop" button will advance the currently selected value and the "Split/Reset" button will move to the next value.
Setting the Time and Date
To set the time and date on your digital watch, press the "Mode" button repeatedly to access the "Time and Date" display. Press the button multiple times until the "Time" digits begin to flash, noting that on some models you need to hold the button down to access this feature. Use the "Start/Stop" and "Split/Reset" buttons to set your digital watch to the correct hour and minute increments, as described in the previous section.
Press "Mode" to display the "Date" setting screen, or alternatively, use the "Split/Reset" button to advance after setting the time to move to the required screen. Use the "Stop/Start" and "Split/Reset" buttons to set the correct day and month. Press the "Mode" button again to save your "Time and Date" settings (or the "Split/Reset" button to advance, depending on model).
Setting a Daily Alarm
To set a repeating alarm on your digital watch, press the "Mode" button until the "AL" screen is displayed. On some models, you'll use the "Split/Reset" (i.e. bottom right) button to access the alarm screen. You'll need to press or hold the appropriate button so that alarm time starts to flash and can be adjusted.
Use the "Start/Stop" and "Split/Reset" buttons to set the correct time for your daily alarm. When you're finished, press the button you originally used to move to the alarm screen to confirm your settings. This alarm will repeat every 24 hours unless you choose to deactivate it. When the alarm sounds, you can silence it by pressing any button.
Setting a One-Time Alarm
To set a one-time alarm on your digital watch, press the "Mode" button (or "Split/Reset," depending on model) until the "DA" screen is displayed. Press and hold the appropriate button until the time digits begin flashing. Use the "Start/Stop" and "Split/Reset" buttons to set your alarm. Press the "Mode" (or "Split/Reset) button to save your one-time alarm. Press any button on the digital watch to silence the alarm.
Using the Chronograph Feature
To use the chronograph feature on your digital watch, begin by pressing the "Mode" button until the "SP" screen is displayed. Press the "Split/Reset" button and select either the "Split" or "Lap" option, then press the "Start/Stop" button to start. To record your split or lap time, press the "Split/Reset" button. To display your running time, press the "Split/Reset" button. When you are ready to reset the chronograph, press the "Start/Stop" button, followed by the "Split/Reset" button.