Gestures & device / The visual dictionary
Rotary input.
Input produced by turning a crown, bezel, dial, or similar control.
Also calledrotating bezeldial input
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UI illustrationSee it in context
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What it is
Input produced by turning a crown, bezel, dial, or similar control. Map rotation to the current scrollable or adjustable target and show which target receives it.
When to use it
Use it for small wearables where direct touch can obscure content.
Know the difference
Rotary input is the general mechanism; Digital Crown is one branded physical control.
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Across platforms
watchOSWear OS
watchOS · Wear OS
Wear OS hardware varies; some watches have no rotary control, so touch and accessibility alternatives remain necessary.
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Go to the source
Primary documentation for the pattern and its platform conventions.