Apple Watch · Display & Sound
Control which notifications reach your wrist
Apple Watch mirrors iPhone notifications by default, but each app's alert behavior can be customized independently on the watch — including which apps notify you at all and whether alerts show a preview.
How to open Notifications
- Open the Watch app on iPhone and go to My Watch → Notifications.
- Tap an app and choose Mirror my iPhone, Custom, or turn notifications off entirely.
- For Custom, choose whether alerts show as banners, play a sound, or are sent silently to Notification Center.
What you should know
- By default, the watch mirrors iPhone notification settings the first time each app sends an alert.
- Settings → Notifications on the watch, or the Watch app's Notifications tab, lets you override mirroring per app.
- Notification Center is accessed by swiping down from the watch face to review missed alerts.
Why it matters
Unmanaged notifications are the number one reason people find their Apple Watch distracting — tuning which apps can buzz your wrist keeps the watch useful without constant interruptions.
Best practices
- Turn off mirroring for high-volume apps (games, social media) and keep it on for calls, messages, and calendar.
- Use Do Not Disturb or a Focus during meetings so the watch stays silent without turning off notifications entirely.
Common problems and fixes
- Getting duplicate notifications on both iPhone and watch
- This is expected when both are unlocked and active — the watch suppresses duplicates automatically when the iPhone is locked or the watch is off-wrist.
- Not receiving notifications at all
- Check Do Not Disturb/Focus isn't enabled, and confirm the app is allowed to send notifications in Settings → Notifications on the watch.
Tips and tricks
- Cover the watch face with your palm for a few seconds to silence an incoming alert instantly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get watch notifications without my iPhone nearby?
Yes, on cellular models with an active plan or when connected to Wi-Fi — the watch can receive notifications independently.
Related settings
- Sound & HapticsSound & Haptics settings control how loud alerts play, how strong the Taptic Engine's tap feels, and whether the watch stays silent. These are available both on the watch and in the Watch app.
- Watch FacesWatch faces are the customizable home screen of Apple Watch, each supporting different complications — small widgets like weather, activity rings, or calendar events. Faces can be edited, added, and swapped from the watch or the Watch app.
More Display & Sound guides for Apple Watch
- Display & BrightnessApple Watch lets you control screen brightness, text size, and how the display wakes when you raise your wrist or tap it. These settings live in the Watch app under Display & Brightness, or directly on the watch in Settings.
- Always-On DisplayAlways-On Display, available on Apple Watch Series 5 and later (excluding SE models), keeps a dimmed version of the watch face and complications visible at all times instead of the screen going black when you lower your wrist.