The Apple Watch Series 7 comes with an Always-On Retina display, a feature that keeps your watch face visible at all times. While this feature is convenient for quick glances, it can also drain the battery faster. Whether you want to conserve battery life or prefer a more discreet watch face, turning off the Always-On display is a straightforward process. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide a step-by-step breakdown of how to disable the Always-On display on your Apple Watch Series 7, along with additional tips and insights for optimizing your device’s performance.
The Always-On display is one of the standout features of the Apple Watch Series 7. It allows you to see the time and other essential information without raising your wrist or tapping the screen. However, there are various reasons you might want to turn off this feature, such as preserving battery life, enhancing privacy, or simply preferring the traditional watch experience where the display remains off until activated.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of disabling the Always-On display on your Apple Watch Series 7. We will cover the steps in detail, along with additional settings you can adjust to customize your watch experience further. Whether you’re new to the Apple Watch or a seasoned user, this guide will provide all the information you need.
Understanding the Always-On Display Feature
Before diving into the steps to turn off the Always-On display, it’s essential to understand what this feature does and how it impacts your Apple Watch’s performance. The Always-On display keeps your watch face visible, albeit in a dimmed state, even when your wrist is down. This feature utilizes advanced LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) technology to dynamically adjust the refresh rate and save battery life.
Benefits of Always-On Display
Convenience: You can check the time and notifications at a glance.
Aesthetic: The watch face is always visible, enhancing the watch’s appearance.
Drawbacks of Always-On Display
Battery Consumption: The display being on continuously can reduce battery life.
Privacy Concerns: Information on the watch face is always visible to others.
How to Turn Off Always-On Display on Apple Watch Series 7
1. Accessing the Settings App
To turn off the Always-On display, start by accessing the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Here’s how to do it:
Wake up your Apple Watch: Raise your wrist or tap the screen to wake up the display.
Navigate to the App Grid or List View: Press the Digital Crown to bring up the app view. You can either see the apps in a grid or list format, depending on your settings.
Open the Settings app: Look for the gear icon labeled “Settings” and tap on it to open.
2. Navigating to Display & Brightness
Once you’re in the Settings app, follow these steps to find the Always-On display settings:
Scroll down: Use your finger or the Digital Crown to scroll down through the list of options.
Select Display & Brightness: Tap on “Display & Brightness” to access the display settings.
3. Disabling the Always-On Display
Now that you’re in the Display & Brightness settings, you can turn off the Always-On display:
Locate the Always-On toggle: Scroll down until you find the “Always On” option.
Turn off Always-On display: Tap on the toggle switch next to “Always On.” The switch will move to the left and turn gray, indicating that the Always-On display is now off.
See Also: How To Turn Off Zoom On Apple Watch Series 7
Additional Settings and Customizations
Turning off the Always-On display is just one way to customize your Apple Watch experience. Here are some additional settings and customizations you can explore:
1. Adjusting Wake Screen Settings
You can further customize how your Apple Watch screen wakes up. This includes settings like the wake duration and whether tapping the screen or raising your wrist wakes it. To adjust these settings:
- Navigate to the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
- Select Display & Brightness.
- Tap on Wake Screen.
From here, you can choose the wake duration (15 seconds, 70 seconds) and enable or disable the “Wake on Wrist Raise” and “Wake on Crown Up” options.
2. Optimizing Battery Life
Turning off the Always-On display can significantly improve your watch’s battery life. However, there are other ways to optimize battery performance:
Reduce Screen Brightness: In the Display & Brightness settings, lower the screen brightness.
Enable Power Reserve Mode: Access the Control Center and tap on the battery percentage to enable Power Reserve Mode, which turns off all features except the time.
Disable Unnecessary Notifications: Go to the Watch app on your iPhone and customize which notifications you receive on your watch.
3. Customizing Watch Faces
The Apple Watch Series 7 offers a wide range of customizable watch faces. You can choose different complications, colors, and styles. To customize your watch face:
- Press firmly on the watch face until it enters customization mode.
- Swipe left or right to select a watch face.
- Tap Customize to change the complications, colors, and other elements.
4. Managing Privacy Settings
If privacy is a concern, you can manage how information is displayed on your Apple Watch. For example, you can hide notification previews when the watch is locked. To do this:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to the My Watch tab.
- Select Notifications.
- Toggle off Show Summary when Locked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Does turning off the Always-On display save battery life?
Yes, turning off the Always-On display can help extend your Apple Watch’s battery life. The display consumes power even when dimmed, so disabling it can result in noticeable battery savings.
Q2: Can I still see the time with Always-On display turned off?
Yes, you can still see the time by raising your wrist or tapping the screen. The watch face will not be visible when your wrist is down, but these actions will wake the display.
Q3: How do I know if the Always-On display is off?
If the Always-On display is turned off, your watch face will not be visible when your wrist is down. Additionally, the toggle switch in the Always-On settings will be gray and positioned to the left.
Q4: Will turning off the Always-On display affect other features?
Turning off the Always-On display will not affect other features of your Apple Watch. You will still receive notifications, use apps, and track your fitness data as usual.
Q5: Can I customize what information is shown on the Always-On display?
When the Always-On display is enabled, the watch face dims and essential information remains visible. You can customize what is shown by selecting different complications on your watch face.
Conclusion
Disabling the Always-On display on your Apple Watch Series 7 is a simple yet effective way to conserve battery life and enhance privacy. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily turn off this feature and explore additional settings to optimize your watch experience. Whether you’re looking to extend your watch’s battery life, customize its appearance, or manage notifications, the Apple Watch offers a range of options to suit your needs.
