Silence notifications for extended periods on Apple Watch

When you don’t want to get alerts and notifications for an extended period, you can turn on Silent Mode, Theater Mode, or Do Not Disturb. You can also use a Focus that you can customize with a schedule, allowable notifications, and more.

To immediately silence something such as a phone call or alarm, see Quickly mute notifications with gestures on Apple Watch.

Choose a mode for extended silencing

	Silent Mode	Theater Mode	Do Not Disturb	Focus
Sounds	Off	Off	Off	Off (with exceptions you set)
Haptics	On (if you allow)	On (if you allow)	Off	Off (with exceptions you set)
Visual notifications	On	Off	Off	Off (with exceptions you set)
Display	On	Off	On	On (except for customizable modes like Sleep)
Options	—	—	Can turn on for 1 hour, until you leave location, until event ends, or indefinitely	Can set schedules and customize allowed notifications
Good for	Quiet environments where you want to see and feel notifications	Dark venues like theaters and movies	Meetings, appointments, and instances when you want to prevent all notifications	Sleep, work, and other activities with specific notification needs
Learn More	Turn on Silent Mode	Turn on Theater Mode	Turn on Do Not Disturb	Turn on Focus

Turn on Silent Mode

Use Silent Mode to mute all alerts, notifications, and sound effects. You still receive haptic notifications.

Note: While Apple Watch is charging, alarms and timers still sound, even in Silent Mode.

Press the side button to open Control Center on Apple Watch.
Tap .

You can also go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Sounds & Haptics, then turn on Silent Mode.

Turn on Theater Mode

Theater Mode prevents the Apple Watch display from turning on when you raise your wrist, so it stays dark. Theater Mode also turns on Silent Mode and makes your Walkie-Talkie status unavailable, but you still receive haptic notifications.