Change the audio and notification settings on your Apple Watch

Find out how to set your watch's volume, mute your watch or turn on Do Not Disturb. You can also adjust the strength of the taps and vibrations that your Apple Watch uses for alerts and notifications.

Adjust the volume for media playback in Control Centre

1. Press the side button to open Control Centre.

2. Tap the volume button.

3. Drag the slider to adjust the volume level.

Adjust the volume for ringtones and alerts

1. On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down, then tap Sounds & Haptics.

3. Tap the volume down button to decrease the volume or tap the volume up button to increase it. You can also tap the slider, then turn the Digital Crown.

   

Mute your Apple Watch

1. To open Control Centre, press the side button (for watchOS 9 or earlier, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up).

2. Tap the Silent Mode button. This will turn on Silent Mode. You can still receive haptic notifications.

   

To silence an alert or notification when it makes a sound, rest your palm on the display for at least three seconds or until you feel a tap. If it doesn’t work, make sure the Cover to Mute setting is on: On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app, then tap Gestures.

Adjust notifications and alerts

Find out how to manage notifications and alerts. You can change when and how you receive alerts and how loud the alert is.

Manage Apple Watch Haptic Alerts

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics > Haptics.

3. Choose Off, Default or Prominent. Prominent adds an additional haptic tap that pre-announces some of your other haptic alerts.

   

You can also change the settings for specific apps from your iPhone. On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, go to the My Watch tab, then tap Sounds & Haptics.

For the best haptic results, the back of your Apple Watch needs skin contact. Use a snug, but comfortable fit. If you’re wearing your Apple Watch and you don’t feel a tap as expected, you may need a service. Get service.

Turn on Crown Haptics for the Apple Watch Digital Crown

1. On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app.

2. Tap Sound & Haptics, then turn Crown Haptics on or off.

   

The Crown Haptics setting is available only on Apple Watch Series 4 or later.

Turn on Taptic Chimes

Your Apple Watch can chime at different intervals, making it easy to track time without looking.

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.

3. Scroll down and tap Chimes.

4. Turn Chimes on.

5. Tap Schedule and set the chimes to play on the hour or every 30 or 15 minutes.

6. Tap Sounds and change the chime to Birds or Bells.

You can also adjust these settings from your iPhone. On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, go to the My Watch tab, tap Accessibility, then tap Chimes.

Turn on Do Not Disturb

1. To open Control Centre, press the side button (for watchOS 9 or earlier, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up).

2. Tap the Do Not Disturb button, then choose an option. You can manually turn off Do Not Disturb or set it for a period of time so that it automatically turns off.

   

Do Not Disturb prevents calls and alerts (except for alarms) from making a sound or lighting up the screen. When enabled, the Do Not Disturb icon appears at the top of the screen.

Change settings from your iPhone

On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, go to the My Watch tab, then tap Sounds & Haptics.