The aroma of freshly brewed chai barely had time to register before my Apple Watch buzzed again. Not a WhatsApp, not a call, but a persistent little bar at the top, telling me my evening biryani was ‘5 minutes away.’ While seemingly helpful, this constant stream from Apple’s Live Activities had turned my wrist into a digital billboard, and frankly, I was over it. What started as a promising feature for instant updates had gradually morphed into a source of low-level irritation, subtly eroding my digital peace. For months, I tolerated it, assuming it was an unavoidable byproduct of a connected life. That was until a moment of sheer frustration led me to discover a surprisingly simple fix, one that I believe many fellow Indian Apple Watch users will find invaluable.
The Promise and the Persistent Buzz of Real-time Updates
Apple Watch Live Activities are designed to keep you informed at a glance. Mirroring the functionality introduced on the iPhone’s Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, these real-time notifications offer dynamic updates for ongoing events. Think tracking your Ola ride, monitoring the live score of an IPL match, or, most commonly in an Indian context, keeping tabs on your Swiggy or Zomato delivery. On paper, it sounds incredibly convenient. No need to unlock your phone or even tap your watch; the information is just there, appearing at the top of your watch face.
However, the reality often diverges from the ideal. On the compact screen of an Apple Watch, these persistent banners can feel intrusive. What begins as a helpful nudge quickly becomes a constant visual presence. During an important meeting, while catching up with family, or even just trying to enjoy a quiet moment, the watch face would invariably display a delivery status or a cricket score. It wasn’t just the sheer frequency; it was the feeling of being perpetually connected, even when my intent was to minimise screen time. In a country like India, where life often moves at a frenetic pace, the last thing many of us need is another digital distraction vying for our limited attention, especially from a device strapped to our wrist.
My Search for Serenity: Digging into the Watch App
My breaking point came during a particularly engrossing movie night. Every few minutes, my wrist would light up, not with a notification I cared about, but with the evolving status of a pizza order I’d placed hours ago for a friend. That night, I decided enough was enough. I knew Live Activities could be managed on the iPhone, but I suspected there had to be a way to control their behaviour specifically on the Watch, independent of my phone’s settings.
My search led me, as most Apple Watch customisations do, to the Watch app on my iPhone. It’s often the unsung hero for fine-tuning our wearable experience, yet many users, myself included, don’t delve deep enough into its myriad settings. Here’s the simple path I discovered:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Navigate to the My Watch tab at the bottom.
- Scroll down and tap on Notifications.
- Under the ‘Include’ section, you’ll see a list of apps. Scroll down to find the specific app that’s bothering you with Live Activities (e.g., Zomato, Swiggy, Ola).
- Tap on the app.
- Inside that app’s notification settings, you’ll find an option clearly labeled Live Activities.
- Crucially, toggle this setting OFF.
The relief was immediate. I repeated this for a couple of other apps that were frequent offenders. The watch face felt cleaner, less cluttered, and more importantly, my wrist stopped buzzing with updates I hadn’t explicitly requested to see in real-time on such a prominent display. As Mrs. Sharma, a retired tech educator from Bengaluru, wisely put it during a recent TrendLyric panel, “Technology should serve us, not enslave us. True smartness lies in knowing when to disconnect, even if just partially.”
Reclaiming My Wrist and My Focus
Turning off Live Activities for specific apps on my Apple Watch was a small change with a significant impact on my daily digital well-being. It wasn’t about shutting down all notifications; it was about regaining control over what information gets immediate, prominent placement on my wrist. I still receive crucial alerts, but the incessant, often redundant, real-time updates no longer hijack my attention.
This simple fix transformed my Apple Watch experience from one of mild annoyance to genuine utility. It allowed me to appreciate the device for its core strengths—fitness tracking, quick communication, and timely, relevant notifications—without the cognitive overhead of constant, glanceable clutter. If you’ve found yourself exasperated by the persistent presence of Live Activities on your Apple Watch, take a few minutes to explore the Watch app. Reclaiming your digital focus might be just a few taps away.
—
