How to Customize Apple Watch Notifications

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Open the Watch app settings

   Launch the Watch app on your paired iPhone. Navigate to the My Watch tab at the bottom left of the screen, then tap Notifications to access the global management menu.

2. 1 min

   Mirror or customize application alerts

   Scroll down to the list of apps under Mirror iPhone Alerts. To match your phone settings exactly, ensure the toggle is set to On. To create unique settings for a specific app, tap the app name and select Custom.

   Note: Selecting Custom allows you to toggle between Notifications On, Send to Notification Center, or Notifications Off.
3. 30 sec

   Manage notification privacy

   Return to the main Notifications menu to adjust notification indicators. Toggle Notification Privacy to ensure that alert details only appear on the display when you tap the screen.

4. 30 sec

   Enable or disable notification summaries

   Locate Notification Summary at the top of the menu. Toggle this setting to determine if non-urgent alerts are grouped and delivered at specific times rather than immediately.

5. 1 min

   Configure haptic feedback

   Open Settings on your Apple Watch, tap Sounds & Haptics, and scroll to Haptics. Choose between Default or Prominent to change the intensity of the physical tap you feel on your wrist when a notification arrives.

   Note: Prominent haptics provide an extra, more noticeable vibration before standard alerts.
6. 30 sec

   Use Focus filters for temporary silence

   Swipe down from the top of the watch face to open Control Center. Tap the Focus icon to enable Do Not Disturb or Sleep modes, which override individual app settings to mute all notifications instantly.

   Note: Focus status is shared across all devices signed into the same Apple ID.