Turn Off Stand Reminders on Apple Watch - Easy Guide

Disabling Stand Reminders on Your Apple Watch

Many Apple Watch users find the frequent stand reminders disruptive. If you're among those who prefer not to be prompted to stand, adjustments can be made to silence these notifications.

It’s important to understand that disabling stand reminders doesn't halt the tracking of your daily standing activity. The Apple Watch will continue to monitor and record your standing hours.

How to Turn Off Stand Reminders

The process for disabling these reminders is straightforward and can be completed directly on your watch. Follow these steps to customize your experience.

• Open the Activity app on your Apple Watch.
• Scroll down and tap on “Stand.”
• Toggle the “Reminders” switch to the off position.

With the “Reminders” feature disabled, you will no longer receive hourly prompts to stand. You can still view your daily standing progress within the Activity app.

This adjustment allows for a more personalized experience, enabling you to maintain activity tracking without the interruption of frequent notifications.

The Motivation Behind Adjusting Apple Watch Stand Reminders

Apple introduced the "Time to stand!" notification on the Apple Watch with the aim of promoting better health. Numerous studies highlight the risks associated with prolonged periods of sitting, and resources like an infographic from The Washington Post and an article in the Wall Street Journal detail these concerns.

Related: A Guide to Swapping Your Apple Watch Bands (Economically)

While acknowledging the health benefits and Apple’s positive intent, the execution of this feature can sometimes be disruptive. Users often seek to disable the reminder, particularly when standing is impractical or after a physically demanding day.

Receiving a reminder to purchase groceries is one matter, but persistent prompts to stand throughout the day can become excessive. Before exploring how to disable the feature, let’s briefly examine its functionality.

It’s important to note that disabling the standing reminder does not compromise the Apple Watch’s fitness tracking capabilities. Your standing and sedentary data will continue to be monitored, even if the notifications are silenced.

Understanding the Functionality of the Apple Watch Stand Reminder

A common source of frustration for many Apple Watch users is the "Time to stand!" reminder, and the underlying process that triggers it isn't always obvious. Apple’s implementation of this feature is quite direct, though not readily apparent to users. The core idea is that prolonged periods of sitting can be detrimental to health.

This is a premise supported by extensive research. Consequently, the Apple Watch prompts the wearer to stand and engage in at least one minute of movement each hour, specifically after detecting 50 minutes of inactivity.

Limitations of the Current System

The current system doesn't consider the user’s overall daily activity levels. It doesn't differentiate between a day spent largely sedentary and one filled with vigorous exercise like hiking or cycling.

Furthermore, the watch doesn't recognize incidental movement. For example, it will still issue the stand reminder while you are driving, even though you are not truly inactive.

• The reminder is triggered after 50 minutes of detected inactivity.
• It prompts a minimum of one minute of movement.
• It doesn't account for prior activity or current motion.

Given these limitations, individuals who are generally active but occasionally spend time seated – whether for work, gaming, or travel – might benefit from disabling the reminder. This can prevent unwanted interruptions, such as being prompted to stand while operating a vehicle.

Deactivating Stand Reminders

The stand reminder on your Apple Watch can be disabled in a couple of different ways. You have the option to disable the reminder for the current day, encompassing both stand reminders and other fitness-related notifications. This temporary deactivation is useful when anticipating extended periods of sitting, such as during travel or focused work.

Alternatively, as this guide details, you can choose to permanently disable the feature. This is accomplished through the paired iPhone, as adjustments cannot be made directly on the Apple Watch itself.

Accessing the Activity Settings

Begin by opening the Watch app on your iPhone. Scroll down the menu until you locate and tap the "Activity" option. This will lead you to the settings related to your fitness tracking.

Within the Activity settings, you'll find the control for stand reminders.