10 Ways to Fix Apple Watch Always On Display Not Working

If you’re a watch purist who reluctantly started using the Apple Watch – an empty dial on your wrist, unless you’re looking at it, won’t make much sense to you. Watches are meant to show information whether you’re looking at it or not. Thankfully, the Apple Watch has an Always On display feature, but it isn’t entirely flawless. If Always On Display is not working on your Apple Watch, you are in the right place.

In this article, we want to show you ten effective methods to fix the problem and get the Always On display feature up and running again. But first, let us understand more about the problem and why it occurs in the first place.

Also Read: How to create a custom Apple Watch Face

Why Is the Apple Watch Always On Display Not Working

Here are some reasons why the Always On display is not working on your Apple Watch.

• Your Apple Watch does not support Always On display.
• You have disabled Always On display in Settings.
• A bug is affecting the Always On feature in watchOS.
• Your watch face has sensitive complications, and you have hidden them.

We’ll elaborate on the above reasons and help you fix the problem on your Apple Watch.

How to Fix if You Can’t Use the Always On Feature

Here are ten ways to bring back the Always On display on your Apple Watch. Let’s begin by checking if your Apple Watch supports it in the first place.

1. Check Apple Watch Compatibility

Here are all the Apple Watch editions that support Always On Display:

• Apple Watch Series 5
• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Apple Watch Ultra 2nd Gen

Unfortunately, both the first-gen and the second-gen Apple Watch SE miss out on the Always-On display. However, even if your edition supports it, you can only use Always On if enabled in Settings. To check the same, move to the following fix.

Also Read: Apple Watch 9 vs. Apple Watch 8: Which should you buy

2. Enable Always On in Settings

If you’ve turned off the Always On display on your Apple Watch, or if you haven’t enabled it in the first place, here’s how to turn it on.

Step 1: Press the Digital Crown and tap on the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on ‘Display & Brightness’.

Step 3: Tap on Always On.

Step 4: Turn on the toggle for Always On.

3. Always On Showing Time Only: Enable Complications, Notifications, and App Data

If the Always On display is showing only time on your Apple Watch, you may have accidentally disabled complications, notifications, and app data from being shown. Here’s how you can turn them back on.

Step 1: Tap on the digital crown to launch the app library.

Step 2: Open the Settings app.

Step 3: Tap on ‘Display and Brightness’.

Step 4: Tap on Always on.

Step 5: Scroll down to find various settings to modify Always On.

Here’s what each of the three options do :

• Select ‘Show Complication Data’ > turn off Complication Data: If you do not want to see it while your wrist is down. However, you can also turn off Complication Data for specific apps.

• Select ‘Show Notifications’ > turn off Notifications: If you do not want to see it while your wrist is down. However, you can also turn off Notifications for specific apps.

• Select ‘Show Apps’ > turn off the toggle: To hide all apps from the Always On display. However, you can also show specific apps on your watch face while your wrist is down.

4. Disable Low Power Mode

The Always On display on your Apple Watch will not work without enabling the Low Power Mode. Here’s how you can turn it off.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Battery.

Step 3: Turn off the toggle for ‘Low Power Mode’.

5. Turn Off Automatic Wrist Detection

If there is an issue with wrist detection, your Apple Watch may not recognize that you are wearing the watch and, thus, may not show the Always On display feature. Therefore, turn off automatic wrist detection to try and fix the problem.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Passcode.

Step 3: Scroll down, and turn off the toggle for wrist detection.

6. Disable Cinema or Theater Mode

The Cinema Mode or Theater Mode on the Apple Watch dims the screen, and if the Always On display is not visible, try turning off the theatre mode. Here’s how you can do it.

All you need to do is swipe up to access the Control Center and tap on the double mask icon to turn off the Cinema Mode.

7. Restart the Apple Watch

Shutting down your Apple Watch closes all the processes, including the bugs, if any. So, if a bug is affecting the Always On display feature, restarting your Apple Watch can help fix the issue.

Step 1: Press the Digital Crown once to open the home screen and go to Settings.

Step 2: Tap on General.

Step 3: Tap on Shut Down. This turns off your Apple Watch.

Step 4: Now, press and hold the side button to power on your Apple Watch.

8. Change Watch Face

A bug on your Apple Watch might be affecting a particular watch face. Therefore, try changing the watch face on your Apple Watch to check if the Always On display feature is working.

Long-tap on your current watch face. Now, swipe and select a new watch face.

9. Update Apple Watch

If many users face problems with the Always On display on Apple Watch, Apple will release an update to fix it sooner or later. Therefore, ensure you are running the latest version of watchOS on your Apple Watch.

Here’s how to update your Apple Watch. 

Step 1: Open the Watch app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on General.

Step 3: Tap on Software Update.

Step 4: Download and install a new update, if available.

Your Apple Watch must have at least 50% of battery level and be on charging as you install the update.

10. Reset Apple Watch

If none of the above methods work, reset your Apple Watch. This should fix the software-related issue. However, doing this will erase all the data on your Apple Watch, including your workout data. And unless you have a backup, you can’t restore them.

If you still want to go ahead, follow the below steps.

Step 1: Press the Digital Crown once to open the home screen and go to Settings.

Step 2: Tap on General.

Step 3: Tap on Reset.

Step 4: Tap on ‘Erase All Content and Settings’ to proceed. If prompted, confirm the deletion.

That wraps up all the possible solutions to follow if Always On display is not working on your Apple Watch. However, if you are not a fan of this feature, here’s how to disable the Always On display on Apple Watch.

If you have any further questions, look at the FAQ section below.

FAQs on Always On Display Not Working on Apple Watch

Access the Apple Watch Instantly

We hope this article helps you fix the problem and use the Always On display on your Apple Watch. We’re a fan of the muted, subtle watch face on the Always On display, but some people also prefer a more minimal one, which shows the time. What is your preference? Let us know in the comment section below.