By <https://9to5mac.com/author/apollozac/> Zac Hall at:
https://9to5mac.com/2021/04/13/managing-apple-watch-notifications/
Apple Watch is at the top of its class, but it isn't a perfect product. The
hardware and design is space age compared to the competition, and the
software experience meets Apple's mark. It's also very personal because you
wear it. Apple has known this from the start, so it designs personalization
into the product. From watch colors and materials to strap choices and watch
faces, it's easy to make the Apple Watch uniquely yours.
How you use the <https://amzn.to/3wSOgnH> Apple Watch is even more
personal. The tech enthusiast in me wants to find a use for every Apple
Watch feature, but this can create an overwhelming experience if you're not
intentional about your approach. It's possible to want to reduce your
reliance on the iPhone through the Apple Watch, only to find yourself even
more annoyed by interruptions on your wrist.
Identifying utility from the Apple Watch while toning it down when the watch
becomes too much has been something I've been working through recently. I'll
share where I've landed as well as a few feature requests for managing the
experience for the better.
Start simple
My first suggestion applies regardless of how long you've been an Apple
Watch user: Start simple and build up. The Apple Watch becomes more capable
with every software update and hardware revision. This is great for finding
your use in the product, but more features inevitably adds to the
complexity.
This can be a number of things when considering how you use the Apple Watch.
From managing apps and alerts to changing watch behaviors, getting a handle
on these can go a long way. The first step is spending some time in the
Watch app on iPhone and discovering the preferences mentioned in this
article.
Let's start with three app tips:
* Install new apps manually
* Remove apps you've installed but never use
* Remove built-in apps you won't need
Opting out of having every possible app from your iPhone appear on your
watch can reduce distraction and improve clarity for what you want to get
out of your Apple Watch.
I currently have six apps from the App Store on my Apple Watch:
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/messenger/id454638411> Messenger,
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/things-3/id904237743> Things,
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fantastical-calendar-tasks/id718043190>
Fantastical, <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/broadcasts/id1469995354>
Broadcast,
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pillow-automatic-sleep-tracker/id878691772>
Pillow, and
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tempo-run-walk-workout-log/id1106746589>
Tempo. Each app brings a function to my Apple Watch that isn't included by
default without becoming tap targets I'll never need.
Apple also lets you remove some of the built-in watch apps that are
pre-installed like
<https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/cycle-tracking-apd26429adf0/watchos>
Cycles and
<https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/noise-apd00a43a9cb/watchos> Noise. I
would argue that Stocks and News are apps and complications I'll never want
on my watch, but there are a number of built-in apps that can't be removed
or hidden.
Buzz off
Apple Watch does a reasonable job at setup by asking you if you want to
install all apps or manage later. The process for managing alerts isn't
nearly as simple. Manually managing which apps can notify you and how on
your Apple Watch goes a long way in avoiding an overwhelming experience.
Here's how I use alerts:
* Notifications Indicator (the red dot) is turned off
* Mirror iPhone alerts from apps is turned off for all but five apps
* Alerts for each built-in app is set to off aside from a few like
Messages, Phone, and Reminders
The red dot indicator icon on the watch face lost its meaning for me as soon
as I realized I usually have an alert in Notification Center. If I don't see
the alert in real time on my wrist, I'll probably see it on Notification
Center on my iPhone instead.
I'm a bit surprised that there's no easy toggle for turning off mirroring
app notifications for iPhone apps that do not have Apple Watch apps. This
process requires toggling alert mirroring off for each app you install on
your iPhone even if you want five out of 60 apps to mirror notifications.
Where'd the time go?
There are a few apps that will take over your watch face to present you with
a quick glance at its data instead. This is true for any audio that comes
<https://9to5mac.com/2019/09/24/how-to-stop-now-playing-auto-launching-watch
/> through the Now Playing app as well as navigation with Maps. I recognize
the utility of having audio controls and navigation guidance prioritized
over the watch face when the data is relevant, but I also enjoy always
seeing my watch face when I glance or raise my wrist. Here are some settings
I prefer:
* Turn off auto-launch audio apps
* Turn off Driving with CarPlay alerts in Maps
* Turn off Raise to Speak for Siri
These three settings limit the number of times an app experience or an
accidental Siri will takeover my watch face. The Now Playing app can be
launched from the status indicator on the watch face if needed, and alerts
from Maps are redundant
<https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/25/carplay-apple-watch-turn-alerts/> when
driving with CarPlay. I'm also super comfortable with "Hey Siri" for
invoking Siri hands-free on the Apple Watch. I prefer this to accidental
interruptions from Siri thinking it heard a command when I raise my wrist.
Defining purpose
When Apple Watch was brand new, it was common to try everything before
finding the product's purpose for you. This is still true for brand-new
watch customers, but I think it's important to eventually define a purpose
for the Apple Watch. This helps you narrow down the feature set that applies
to you while toning down or tuning out the features that get in your way.
This is especially true with the health and fitness features on the Apple
Watch. These are often features that are brand new to you through the watch
and have no equivalent on the iPhone. This means they require separate
consideration and decision making from how you manage features and alerts on
your phone.
For example, I value stand reminders on the Apple Watch, but other fitness
notifications can be overwhelming for me. This changes from time to time,
but currently I have stand reminders and special challenges turned on, but
alerts for daily coaching, goal completions, and activity sharing
notifications turned off. I also disable
<https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/breathe-apd371dfe3d7/watchos>
Breathe app and Noise app notifications. I can always revisit this
configuration in the future if a feature or new need changes my mind.
Meanwhile, I turn on and keep alerts active for heart rate notifications
because these are rare but informative.
I've also toned down my Apple Watch by doing these steps:
* Choose one simple watch face with just the time shown, then adding
data like temperature and date when I realize I miss those
* Actively use Do Not Disturb and Theater Mode from
<https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206951> Control Center to pause
notifications and turn off the watch screen
* Set Siri voice feedback to "Control with silent mode" versus the
default "always" or alternative "headphones only"
Only after getting a grip on these controls for finding constraint have I
become comfortable with my Apple Watch again. I've actually gone from days
away from my watch to returning to enabling cellular data and leaving my
iPhone in the car occasionally.
Bonus
Lastly, I have two feature requests that I do not pitch lightly. Both of
these features are critical for me avoiding the feeling that the Apple Watch
is too much again.
Add a toggle in Control Center for enabling and disabling the always-on
display (Theater Mode is a workaround but admittedly a hack). Apple could
also associate the gesture of covering your watch face with your hand with
toggling always-on mode. Currently this silences your watch if it's muted
and an alert goes off, but it would be more practical for a lot of people if
it toggled always-on display mode back and forth.
Use a VIP or Favorites system for call and message alerts on Apple Watch.
For example, if a close friend or family member texts me, I want the alert
on my wrist. If a friend I casually chat with regularly messages me, I'll
just see it on the iPhone. You can mute individual threads, but you can't
opt out of message alerts and instead give notification privileges to
assigned contacts.
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/03/23/apple-watch-reviewed-in-2015-revisited-in-20
21/> I wrote in 2015 that I missed the ability to assign custom alert tones
to specific contacts when wearing an Apple Watch over just using an iPhone.
I would amend this in 2021 to request the ability to create custom tap
alerts for specific contacts instead. You can create custom vibration alerts
on iPhone thanks to the Taptic Engine which originated from the
<https://amzn.to/3wSOgnH> Apple Watch, but this feature isn't on the Apple
Watch yet.
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