Step-by-step

Ensure the time always appears

1 Play some music

When your Apple Watch plays music, the Now Playing screen will automatically appear when the screen is woken. If you don’t like this, press the Digital Crown.

2 Select Settings

This will take you to the home screen of your Apple Watch. You can now go ahead and tap the Settings icon which is where the ability to prevent auto-launching is located.

3 Begin to stir

We’re now on our way to ensuring that the time rather than Now Playing appears upon waking. Scroll down the Settings screen until you are about halfway and tap ‘General’.

4 Tap Wake Screen

Within the General settings screen, you should see an option marked Wake Screen (it is three entries down). Tap this and you will be taken to a list of related options.

5 Check auto-launch

You will notice the button next to Autolaunch Audio Apps is green which means Now Playing will appear when you raise your wrist if music or a podcast has been selected.

6 Toggle the switch

To prevent this – and to ensure the time will display instead of Now Playing – toggle the button so that it is greyed out. You can now press the Digital Crown to exit.