Learn how to mute sounds and silence notifications on your Apple Watch for peace and quiet during meetings, school, the library, or similar situations.
Adjust the sound directly on Apple Watch
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and select Sounds & Haptics.
- Tap the volume buttons under the “Ringtone and Alerts” heading to adjust the volume.
You can also tap the volume slider to select it, then turn the Digital Crown to increase or decrease the volume. Using the Digital Crown is much quicker, so I recommend using that.
If you’d prefer to adjust the sound from your paired iPhone, open the Watch app > Sounds & Haptics, and then use the slider there to adjust the volume.
Mute your Apple Watch
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Sounds & Haptics.
- Turn on Silent Mode.
You can also press the side button to reveal watchOS Control Center, and tap the silent mode bell icon to mute your Apple Watch. If you’re watching a movie in a theater, use Theater Mode instead to blackout the screen as well.
Finally, if you’d like to mute the sound from your paired iPhone, open the Watch app > Sounds & Haptics, and then turn on the Silent Mode switch.
It’s also possible to mute a new alert and/or notification sound by placing your palm on the display of the Apple Watch for three seconds. After enough time has elapsed, you’ll feel a tap to confirm that mute is enabled. In order to use this feature, you need to ensure that Cover to Mute is enabled in either the Apple Watch app on your iPhone or Settings on your Watch.
It’s probably a good idea to become familiar with the sound and mute settings on the Apple Watch as soon as possible. The last thing you want is a loud ringer or alert going off at an inopportune time. What do you think?