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How to allow or silence notifications for a Focus on iPad

by Dave Johnson

When you set up a Focus, you can select people and apps you want to receive notifications from. For example, set up a Work Focus and allow only notifications from your coworkers and the apps you use for work.

You can also silence specific people or apps, and allow repeated calls, which are two or more calls from the same person within 3 minutes.

Here’s how to allow or silence notifications for a Focus on iPad.

Allow or silence notifications from specific people during a Focus

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Focus. Then choose a Focus—for example, Do Not Disturb, Personal, Sleep, or Work.
  3. Tap People (or Choose People) and then do any of the following:

    • Allow specific people: Tap Allow Notifications From, tap the Add People button, and then select from your contacts.

      You can also turn on options to allow calls from certain groups of people and allow repeated calls (two or more calls from the same person within 3 minutes).

    • Silence specific people: Tap Silence Notifications From and tap the Add People button. Select from your contacts.

      You can also turn on Allow Calls From Silenced People.

Note: Regardless of your Focus settings, you can allow calls from your emergency contacts to come through. See Allow calls from emergency contacts when notifications are silenced, below.

When Intelligent Breakthrough & Silencing is on, Apple Intelligence lets important notifications interrupt you and silences those it decides aren’t important. See our article, Summarize notifications and reduce interruptions with Apple Intelligence.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.

Allow or silence notifications from specific apps during a Focus

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Focus. Then choose a Focus—for example, Do Not Disturb, Personal, Sleep, or Work.
  3. Tap Apps (or tap Choose Apps) and then do one of the following:

    • Allow specific apps: Tap Allow Notifications From and tap the Add Apps button. Select apps.
    • Silence specific apps: Tap Silence Notifications From, tap the Add Apps button, and select apps.

    Note: You can allow or silence notifications from specific web apps you’ve added to your Home Screen. (See Add a website icon to your Home Screen.)

There’s also Time Sensitive Notifications, which you can turn on so all apps can send time-sensitive notifications immediately.

Share your Focus status

A Focus limits the notifications you get from people and apps, based on the settings you chose when you set up the Focus.

If others try to contact you while you’re using a Focus with Focus Status turned on, they may see that your notifications are silenced. But the name of your Focus stays hidden.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Focus and tap Focus Status.
  3. Turn on Share Focus Status. Then select the Focus options you want to share your Focus status from.

Control what Focus Status you share

You can decide whether to share your Focus status for each Focus option you set up (Personal, Work, Do Not Disturb, and so on). If Focus status is on for the Focus you’re using, people who try to reach you (in Messages, for example) may see that you have “notifications silenced.”

You can prevent messages about your Focus status from appearing in apps.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Focus, then Focus Status.
  3. Turn off Share Focus Status.

    Alternatively, you can turn off the Focus options you don’t want to share your Focus status from (below Share From).

Allow calls from emergency contacts when notifications are silenced

Sounds from emergency contacts can still come through when your iPad or notifications are silenced, if you allow it.

  1. Open Contacts.
  2. Select a contact, then tap Edit.
  3. Tap Ringtone or Text Tone. Then turn on Emergency Bypass.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

Tags: Focus, Notifications
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How to get ringtones, text tones, and alert tones in the iTunes Store on iPad

by Abigail Shilets

In the iTunes Store app, you can purchase ringtones, text tones, and other alert tones for clock alarms and more.

Tones you bought on another device can be downloaded again with your Apple Account, and you also have the option to permanently download them to a compatible device.

Redownload tones purchased with your Apple Account

If you bought tones on another device, you can download them again.

  1. Open Settings and then tap Sounds.
  2. Below Sounds, tap Ringtone.
  3. Tap Download All Purchased Tones. You might not see this option if you already downloaded all the tones that you purchased or if you haven’t purchased any tones.

When you purchase access to movies, TV shows, music, music videos, ebooks, audiobooks, or ringtones from Apple, you also have the option to permanently download these items to a compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC. Apple cannot revoke your downloaded content, and you can always access your downloaded content without an internet connection.

See also

Tag: Notifications
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How to set email notifications on iPad

by Chris Smith

You can change your Mail notification settings and choose which mailboxes and email threads to receive notifications from.

Busy threads can be muted so they stop interrupting you, and you choose what happens to muted messages in Mail settings. You can also get notified about replies to an email or thread, and add the Mute button to the Mail toolbar. Notifications can also let you know when email arrives in your favorite mailboxes or from your VIPs.

Here’s how to set email notifications on iPad.

Mute email notifications

To cut down on interruptions from busy email threads, mute notifications from messages in a conversation.

  1. Go to the Mail app on your iPad.
  2. Open a message in the conversation.
  3. Tap the More Actions button in the bottom-right corner and then tap Mute.

To specify what you want done with email messages you muted, go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Muted Thread Action, then select an option.

Quick tip: For easier access to the Mute button, add it to the Mail toolbar. Read our guide, Customize the Mail toolbar.

Receive notifications about replies to an email or thread

Mail notifications can let you know when email messages arrive in your favorite mailboxes or from your VIPs.

  1. Start the Mail app on your iPad.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • When reading a message: Tap the More Actions button in the bottom-right corner and tap Notify Me.
    • When writing a message: Tap the Subject field and tap the Notify Me button in the Subject field. Tap Notify Me.

To change how notifications appear, go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Notifications.

Change your Mail notifications

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps and then tap Mail.
  3. Tap Notifications and then make sure that Allow Notifications is on.
  4. Tap Customize Notifications. Tap the email account you want to make changes to.
  5. Select the settings you want, like Alerts or Badges. When you turn on Alerts, you have the option to customize your sounds by changing the alert tone or ringtone.

You can set times for allowing notifications from the Mail app; see our guide, Change notification settings.

See also

Tags: Mail, Notifications
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How to flash the iPad screen or indicator light for notifications

by Abigail Shilets

On an iPad with an indicator light, you can set the LED Flash, screen, or both to blink when you receive a notification. That can be useful if you can’t hear the sounds that announce incoming calls or other alerts, or if you might miss them in a noisy environment. The indicator light is the LED on the back of iPad, next to the camera lens. You can have the indicator light flash even when iPad is unlocked or in Silent mode.

Note: Flash for Alerts is available for iPad Pro (9.7-inch), iPad Pro (10.5-inch), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) and later, iPad Pro 11-inch (all models), and iPad mini (6th generation).

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Accessibility, tap Audio & Visual and tap Flash for Alerts. Then turn on Flash for Alerts.
  3. Select any of the following:
    • LED Flash: The indicator light on the back of the iPad flashes.
    • Screen: The iPad screen flashes.
    • Both: Both the iPad indicator light and the iPad screen flash.
  4. Turn any of the following on or off:
    • Flash While Unlocked: The indicator light flashes even when iPad is unlocked.
    • Flash in Silent Mode: The indicator light flashes even when iPad is in Silent mode.

See also

Tag: Notifications
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How to stop, mute, and change message notifications on iPad

by Stacey Butler

You can change whether or not you’re notified about text messages you receive, and how the notifications appear or sound. For example, you can turn off message notifications so you aren’t distracted when you’re in a meeting, or assign a special sound for certain contacts so you know when you get a message from them.

With notifications off, you still receive messages, and senders see a note that you have notifications silenced. You can also stop sharing your Focus status with one person, and mute the sounds for sent and received messages.

Here’s how to stop, mute, and change message notifications on iPad.

Messages Notification settings in Settings.

Stop all notifications

Notifications about activity in the Messages app can stop without stopping the messages themselves. When you’re ready, open Messages to read the texts you missed while notifications were off and catch up on messages you missed.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications, then tap Messages.
  3. Turn off Allow Notifications.

Note: Senders receive a note indicating that you have notifications silenced.

You can turn on read receipts so people know you’ve read their messages.

Turn on Allow Notifications when you want to get notified again. To hear them too, the Ring/Silent switch can’t be in Silent mode, and your volume needs to be audible.

It’s also possible to stop notifications from other Apple apps and third-party apps. Read our guide, Change notification settings.

Stop sharing your Focus Status with one person

If a Focus pauses your notifications, the Messages app shows your status so people know you’re not receiving messages, though you can turn this off in one-to-one conversations.

  1. Open the Messages app on your iPad.
  2. Tap a conversation, then tap the contact icon at the top of the conversation.
  3. Turn off Share Focus Status.

Mute sounds for sent and received messages

By default, a swoosh sound plays when you send a message, and a tone plays when you receive one. If you don’t want to hear these sounds, set your text tone to None.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications, then tap Messages.
  3. Tap Sounds, then tap None (below Alert Tones).

Or put the Ring/Silent switch in Silent mode.

Note: The None setting and the Ring/Silent switch setting each affect incoming and outgoing sounds alike, so you can’t mute only one.

See also Flash the indicator light for notifications.

Change the sound for notifications

For alerts, you can set the sound volume and choose between a tone or sound.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Sounds.
  3. Do any of the following:

    • Make notifications quieter or louder: Adjust the volume with the slider.
    • Choose a tone or sound: Tap Text Tone. Then tap a sound below Alert Tones (or tap Tone Store to download one).

    Tip: The tone you choose applies to both the Messages app and other apps that have notifications on, such as Mail, Phone, and other Apple or third-party apps. To change it just for the Messages app, go to Settings > Notifications > Messages, then tap Sounds.

You can set how many times to repeat a notification (from Never to 10 Times) in Settings > Notifications > Messages > Customize Notifications.

Change the notification sound for certain people

A message from one specific contact can play a specific sound you’ve chosen.

  1. Open the Messages app on your iPad.
  2. In a conversation with one person, tap the contact icon at the top of the conversation.
  3. Tap Info, tap Edit and tap Edit Contact Info. Then tap Text Tone.

    If you don’t see Edit, tap Create New Contact or Add to Existing Contact.

  4. Do any of the following:

    • Specify a tone or sound: Tap a sound below Alert Tones (or tap Tone Store to download one).
    • Mute the sound: Tap None below Alert Tones.
    • Mute notifications for this conversation: Tap None below both Haptics and Alert Tones.

Emergency Bypass lets this contact override a Focus so their important messages can get through. It’s something you might turn on for a family member, caretaker, or colleague.

Mute one conversation

You can stop a conversation’s notifications while you continue to receive its messages.

  1. Open the Messages app on your iPad.
  2. In the conversation list, do one of the following:
    • Swipe left on a conversation, then tap the Mute button.
    • Tap a conversation, tap the contact or icon at the top of the conversation, then turn on Hide Alerts.

Note: Senders receive a note indicating that you have notifications silenced.

If you want to completely stop getting messages for one conversation, block a specific person or number or leave a group conversation.

Announce messages

Siri can announce messages on your iPad speaker or supported headphones.

To hear incoming messages on MFi hearing devices, read our guide, Announce calls and notifications for specific apps.

See also

Tags: Messages, Notifications
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How to change notification settings on iPad

by Dave Johnson

Your notification settings let you choose when and how notifications appear, which apps can send them, and what sounds they make, and you can also set up location-based alerts.

Many notification settings apply to all app notifications, while others can be customized for individual apps. You can decide where an app’s notifications show up, from the Lock Screen to banners, and allow time-sensitive notifications. If an app supports it, you can choose its notification sound, too.

Here’s how to change notification settings on iPad.

Customize notifications for an app

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications, then tap an app below Notification Style.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Turn off notifications for the app: Turn off Allow Notifications.
    • Allow time-sensitive notifications: If the app supports it, turn on Time Sensitive Notifications.
    • Choose where notifications appear: Under Alerts, choose whether notifications appear on the Lock Screen, in Notification Center, or as banners.
    • Choose a notification sound: If the app supports it, tap Sounds and then select a sound.
    • Show a badge on the app icon: Turn on Badges.
    • Customize the Lock Screen appearance: Under Lock Screen Appearance, set how previews appear and how notifications are grouped.
    • Prioritize notifications from the app: If you use Priority Notifications, turn Prioritize Notifications on or off under Lock Screen Appearance. See Summarize notifications and reduce interruptions with Apple Intelligence on iPad.
    • Choose when notifications are delivered: If you use Scheduled Summary, under Notification Delivery choose Immediate Delivery or Scheduled Summary.
    • Customize notification types: If the app supports it, tap Customize Notifications to choose which types of notifications to receive from the app.
    • Change notification settings in the app: For some apps, tap App Name Notification Settings at the bottom of the screen to open the app’s own notification settings.

Change the appearance of notifications

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications and choose how you want notifications displayed on the Lock Screen:

    • View just the number of notifications: Tap Count.
    • View the notifications grouped into stacks by app: Tap Stack.
    • View the notifications in a list: Tap List.

    When notifications arrive, you can change the layout by pinching the notifications on the Lock Screen.

Change the frequency of notifications

To cut down on interruptions throughout the day, schedule a notification summary covering several apps at once.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications, tap Scheduled Summary, turn on Scheduled Summary, and tap Continue (if it appears).
  3. Schedule times for the notification summary.
  4. Tap A to Z, turn on the apps you want to appear in your Scheduled Summary, and tap the Back button at the top of the screen.
  5. To choose when you want notification previews to appear, tap Show Previews, select an option, and tap the Back button at the top of the screen.

    Previews can include things like text (from Messages and Mail) and invitation details (from Calendar). You can override this setting for individual apps.

Focus delays notifications on iPad to prevent interruptions, and you can schedule a time to receive a summary of the ones you missed. Check out our article, Schedule a Focus to turn on or off, to see how.

Prevent notification previews from appearing on the Lock Screen

You can choose when to have notification previews from an app appear on your Lock Screen.

Note: Not all apps support notification previews.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications, then tap an app below Notification Style.
  3. Scroll down, tap Show Previews, and select one of the following:
    • Always
    • When Unlocked
    • Never

Show or hide notifications during screen sharing

Notifications are allowed by default when you share your screen using SharePlay or Screen Mirroring. If you’d rather they not appear, you can turn them off.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications, then tap Screen Sharing.
  3. Turn Allow Notifications on or off.

Use Apple Intelligence to summarize notifications and prioritize time-sensitive ones

Apple Intelligence can summarize long or stacked notifications so they’re easier to understand at a glance, and it can prioritize time-sensitive notifications to help you catch up on what you may have missed. Read our guide, Summarize notifications and reduce interruptions with Apple Intelligence, to find out more.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

Turn off location-based alerts

Some apps send relevant alerts based on where you are, using your location. The Weather app might do this, for example.

If you don’t want to see these types of alerts, you can turn them off.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Privacy & Security and tap Location Services. Turn on Location Services.
  3. Tap an app (if any appear in the list) and choose whether you want to share your location while using that app.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

Tag: Notifications
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How to summarize notifications and reduce interruptions with Apple Intelligence on iPad

by Emily Long

With its deep understanding of language, Apple Intelligence can help condense the information most important to you. Notifications are summarized so you can scan them for key details, such as when a group chat is particularly active.

Your iPad can also determine which notifications have priority over others, and those appear at the top of the stack. And the Reduce Interruptions Focus shows you only the notifications that might need immediate attention, like a text about an early pickup from daycare, while it silences the ones that are less important.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

Customize notification summaries

Long or stacked notifications are easier to understand at a glance when your iPad summarizes them.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Tap Summarize Notifications, turn on Summarize Notifications, and then tap Choose Notifications to Summarize.
  4. Tap the notifications you want to summarize and tap Summarize Selected Notifications.

To change which notifications you want to summarize, tap the button next to an app.

Turn notification summaries on or off

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Tap Summarize Notifications. Turn Summarize Notifications on or off.

Turn priority notifications on

Your iPad can determine which notifications have priority over others, and those priority notifications appear at the top of the stack to help you catch up on what you may have missed.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Tap Prioritize Notifications, then turn Prioritize Notifications on.

    To turn off priority notifications, turn Prioritize Notifications off.

To change which notifications you want to prioritize, tap the button next to an app.

You can also change settings when you get a priority notification on the Lock Screen. When one appears, do one of the following:

  • Turn off Priority Notifications for a specific app: Swipe left, tap Options, then tap Turn Off All [app] Notifications.
  • Turn off all Priority Notifications: Swipe left, tap Options, then tap Turn Off Prioritization.

Use the Reduce Interruptions Focus

Because it understands the content of your notifications, the Reduce Interruptions Focus shows you the most important ones and silences notifications that are less important.

You can customize a Reduce Interruptions Focus.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Focus.
  3. Tap the Add button at the top right. Then tap Reduce Interruptions.
  4. Tap Customize Focus and tap People or Apps.

Note: Once you turn on Intelligent Breakthrough & Silencing for any Focus, any notifications you’ve specifically allowed or silenced keep being allowed or silenced.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

Tags: Apple Intelligence, Notifications
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How to view and respond to notifications on iPad

by Abigail Shilets

Notifications help you keep track of what’s new—they let you know if you missed a call, if the date of an event moved, and more. You can customize your notifications so you see only what’s important to you.

Unless you have notifications silenced with a Focus, iPad displays them as they arrive, and they roll in from the bottom of the screen to minimize distraction. On the Lock Screen, you can view them in an expanded list view, stacked view, or count view. You can also respond to notifications, and view, dismiss, clear, or mute them.

Note: While you use an app, it might ask how you want to receive its notifications: immediately, not at all, or in a scheduled summary. To change this setting later, open the Settings app and tap Notifications.

Find your notifications in Notification Center

Do any of the following to see your notifications in Notification Center:

  • On the Lock Screen: Swipe up from the middle of the screen.
  • On other screens: Swipe down from the top-left corner. Then you can scroll up to see older notifications, if there are any.

To close Notification Center, swipe up from the bottom with one finger, or press the Home button (on supported models).

Respond to notifications

Multiple notifications in Notification Center or on the Lock Screen are grouped by app, making them easier to view and manage, and some apps may also group notifications by organizing features within the app, like topic or thread. Each group appears as a small stack, with the most recent notification on top.

With notifications grouped, you can do any of the following:

  • To expand a group of notifications to see them individually: Tap the group. To close the group, tap Show Less.
  • To view a notification and perform quick actions if the app offers them: Touch and hold the notification.
  • To open a notification’s app: Tap the notification, then tap Open.
  • To respond to a notification when iPad is locked: Touch and hold the notification.

View, dismiss, clear, and mute notifications

You can do any of the following when notifications appear on your iPad:

  • Handle a notification you receive while using another app: Pull it down to view it, then swipe up to dismiss it.
  • Clear notifications: Swipe left on a notification or group of notifications, then tap Clear or Clear All.
  • Mute notifications for an app: Swipe left on the notification or group of notifications, tap Options, then tap an option to mute the app’s notifications for an hour or a day. This sends them directly to Notification Center and prevents them from appearing on the Lock Screen, playing a sound, lighting up the screen, or presenting a banner.

    To see and hear these notifications again, swipe left on a notification in Notification Center, tap Options, then tap Unmute.

  • Turn off notifications for an app or notification group: Swipe left on a notification or group of notifications, tap Options, then tap Turn Off.
  • Change how an app displays notifications: Swipe left on a notification, tap Options, then tap View Settings. See Change notification settings to learn about the settings you can change.
  • Clear all your notifications in Notification Center: Go to Notification Center, tap the Clear Notifications button, then tap Clear.

When an app hasn’t been used for a while, you may get a suggestion to turn off notifications for that app.

Show recent notifications on the Lock Screen

You can allow access to Notification Center on the Lock Screen.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Depending on your model, tap one of the following:
    • Face ID & Passcode
    • Touch ID & Passcode
    • Passcode
  3. Enter your passcode.
  4. Turn on Notification Center (below Allow Access When Locked).

See also

Tag: Notifications
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How to listen and respond to incoming notifications with AirPods and Beats headphones on Apple Watch

by Stacey Butler

Siri can read out incoming notifications from many apps without having to unlock your iPhone when you’re using supported AirPods and Beats headphones. Siri avoids interrupting you and listens after reading notifications so you can reply without saying “Hey Siri.”

You can choose the apps that are allowed to announce notifications, and temporarily turn the feature off. Siri can also read your unread notifications in Notification Center through the Apple Watch speaker.

Turn on Announce Notifications

  1. Put your paired headphones in or on your ears, depending on the kind of headphones you have.
  2. Pair them with Apple Watch.
  3. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  4. Go to Siri and tap Announce Notifications. Turn on Announce Notifications.

You can also go to the Settings app on your iPhone, go to Notifications > Announce Notifications, then turn on Announce Notifications.

Quick tip: To hear your unread notifications from Notification Center, just say “Read my notifications.” Siri reads them through the Apple Watch speaker or Bluetooth headphones.

Choose apps for notifications

You can choose the apps that are allowed to announce notifications.

  1. Put your paired headphones in or on your ears, depending on the kind of headphones you have.
  2. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  3. Go to Siri, tap Announce Notifications, scroll down, and then tap the apps you want audio notifications from.

Temporarily turn off Announce Notifications

  1. Press the side button to open Control Center.
  2. Tap the Announce Notifications button.

    Tap the Announce Notifications button again to turn it on.

Note: The Announce Notifications button is disabled when you remove AirPods.

Reply to a message

Say something like “Reply that’s great news.”

Siri repeats what you said, then asks for confirmation before sending your reply. (To send replies without waiting for confirmation, go to the Settings app on your Apple Watch, go to Siri > Announce Notifications, scroll to the bottom, then turn on Reply without Confirmation.)

Stop Siri from reading a notification

You can stop Siri from reading a notification in any of these ways:

  • Say something like “Stop” or “Cancel.”
  • Press the Digital Crown (AirPods Max).

    Note: While listening to a notification, you can turn the Digital Crown to change the volume.

  • Press either Force Sensor (AirPods Pro and AirPods 3).
  • Double-tap either of your AirPods 2.
  • Remove one of your AirPods (AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, and AirPods 3).

If you didn’t turn on Announce Notifications when you set up your AirPods, go to the Settings app on your Apple Watch, go to Siri > Announce Notifications, then turn on Announce Notifications.

See also

Tags: Notifications, Siri
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How to see and respond to notifications on Apple Watch

by Stacey Butler

Apps can send notifications to keep you informed—meeting invitations, messages, noise alerts, and Activity reminders are just a few examples. Apple Watch can display notifications as they arrive, but if you don’t read one right away, it’s saved so you can check it later.

A notification looks different depending on whether the display is active or idle. When you have unread notifications, a red dot appears at the top of your watch face, and they wait for you in Notification Center.

WARNING: For important information about avoiding distractions that could lead to dangerous situations, see Important safety information for Apple Watch.

Respond to a notification when it arrives

  1. If you hear or feel a notification, raise your wrist to view it.

    How the notification looks depends on whether the display is active or idle.

    • Active display: A small banner appears at the top of the display.
    • Idle display: A full screen notification appears.
  2. Tap the notification to read it.
  3. To clear a notification, swipe down on it. Or scroll to the bottom of the notification and tap Dismiss.

See notifications you haven’t read

Notification Center saves any notification you don’t read when it arrives, and a red dot at the top of your watch face means you have unread notifications.

A red dot at the top center of the watch face, indicating unread notifications.

  1. From the watch face, swipe down to open Notification Center. From other screens, touch and hold the top of the screen. Swipe down.

    Note: You can’t open Notification Center when viewing the Home Screen on Apple Watch. Instead, press the Digital Crown to go to the watch face or open an app, then open Notification Center.

  2. Swipe up or down or turn the Digital Crown to scroll the notifications list.
  3. Tap the notification to read or respond to it.

Quick tip: Siri can read your Notification Center notifications aloud, through the Apple Watch speaker or Bluetooth headphones, as soon as you say “Read my notifications.”

To clear a notification from Notification Center without reading it, swipe it to the left, then tap the Delete button. To clear all notifications, scroll to the top of the screen, then tap Clear All.

If you use group notifications, tap a group to open it, then tap a notification.

Quick tip: To keep the red dot off the watch face, go to the Settings app on your Apple Watch, tap Notifications, and turn off Notifications Indicator.

See also

Tag: Notifications
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