Apple Watch stand reminders tap your wrist near the end of each hour if you have not stood up and moved for at least a minute. They are great for breaking up long periods of sitting, but they can be annoying during meetings, flights, movies, or if you use a wheelchair (in which case the watch can track rolls instead). This guide shows how to turn stand reminders off on the watch or iPhone, how to silence them temporarily, and related Activity settings.
Quick Answer
On your iPhone, open the Watch app, tap My Watch > Activity, and turn off Stand Reminders. Or on the watch, open Settings > Activity and turn off Stand Reminders.
Turn Off Stand Reminders on iPhone
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap the My Watch tab.
- Scroll down and tap Activity.
- Turn off Stand Reminders.
Turn Off Stand Reminders on Apple Watch
- Press the Digital Crown and open Settings.
- Tap Activity.
- Turn off Stand Reminders.
Silence Reminders Temporarily
- Mute for today: when a stand reminder appears, scroll down and tap Mute for Today, or in Settings > Activity, turn on Mute Reminders for Today on some watchOS versions.
- Do Not Disturb or a Focus: turn on Do Not Disturb from Control Center to silence all notifications.
- Theater Mode: keeps the screen dark and turns on Silent Mode during movies and shows.
- Sleep Focus: reminders are silenced while Sleep Focus is on.
Other Activity Notifications
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Daily Coaching | Encouraging messages about your progress |
| Goal Completions | Alerts when you close a ring |
| Special Challenges | Monthly and special award challenges |
| Activity Sharing Notifications | Updates from friends you share activity with |
Change Your Stand Goal Instead
On watchOS 7 and later, you can change your stand goal. Open the Activity app on the watch, scroll down, tap Change Goals, and adjust the Stand Goal (for example, fewer hours per day). This keeps reminders but makes the ring easier to close.
Using a Wheelchair
If you use a wheelchair, set Wheelchair to Yes in Watch app > My Watch > Health > Health Details. The Stand ring becomes a Roll ring, and reminders change to "Time to Roll".
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off reminders affect my Stand ring?
No. The watch still tracks standing hours; you just will not get reminders.
Why do reminders come at 50 minutes past the hour?
They arrive about ten minutes before the hour so you have time to stand and earn credit for that hour.
Can I turn off stand reminders for certain hours?
Not directly. Use a scheduled Focus, such as Work or Sleep, to silence notifications during set times.
Summary
- Open Watch app > My Watch > Activity and turn off Stand Reminders.
- Or on the watch, use Settings > Activity.
- Use Mute for Today, Do Not Disturb, or Theater Mode for temporary silence.
- Lower your stand goal if you want gentler reminders.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.