Best Smartwatch Settings You Should Change Right Away

A new smartwatch can do much more than show the time. From notifications and health tracking to GPS, sleep monitoring and contactless features, the right settings can make your watch more useful and easier to live with every day.

However, leaving every option at its default setting may result in unnecessary notifications, higher battery consumption or features that do not match how you actually use your watch.

Here are some of the most important smartwatch settings you should check and customize right away.

1. Customize Your Notifications

Receiving every phone notification on your wrist can quickly become distracting.

Open the notification settings on your smartwatch or its companion phone app and decide which apps are actually important enough to reach your wrist.

You may want to keep calls, messages, calendar reminders and important apps enabled while disabling less useful alerts from games, shopping apps and social networks.

2. Adjust the Always-On Display

Many modern smartwatches offer an Always-On Display that keeps basic information visible even when you are not actively using the watch.

It is convenient, but it can also increase battery consumption.

If battery life matters more than having the screen visible all the time, try disabling Always-On Display or using scheduling options when available.

3. Set the Right Screen Brightness

Maximum brightness is useful outdoors, but you usually do not need it all day.

Automatic brightness is a good starting point on watches that support it because the display can adapt to surrounding light.

If your watch uses manual brightness controls, choose a comfortable level that remains readable without keeping the screen unnecessarily bright.

4. Change the Screen Timeout

Check how long your smartwatch display remains active after you wake it.

A long screen timeout can consume additional battery power. For most people, a shorter timeout is enough to check the time, read a notification or start an app.

5. Review Raise-to-Wake

Raise-to-wake automatically activates the display when you lift your wrist.

It is useful, but accidental wrist movements can sometimes wake the screen when you do not need it.

If you notice the display turning on too frequently, try disabling the feature temporarily and see whether battery life improves.

6. Configure Health and Activity Tracking

Smartwatches can track a wide range of activity and wellness information, but available features vary significantly between brands and models.

Review your watch's health settings and enable only the measurements and reminders that are useful to you.

Also check the permissions for any health-related information and decide which apps are allowed to access it.

7. Set Up Sleep Mode

If you wear your smartwatch at night, configure its sleep or bedtime mode.

This can reduce unnecessary screen activations and notifications while you are sleeping.

Some watches also let you create a sleep schedule so the mode activates automatically at a chosen time.

8. Configure Do Not Disturb

Do Not Disturb is useful during school, meetings, movies, gaming sessions or any other time when you do not want your wrist constantly vibrating.

Many watches allow Do Not Disturb settings to synchronize with the connected phone, although the exact behavior depends on the device ecosystem.

9. Review GPS and Location Settings

GPS is extremely useful for outdoor workouts and navigation, but continuous location use can increase power consumption.

Review which apps have permission to use your location and whether they need access all the time.

For workout tracking, keep the location features you actually need while restricting unnecessary background access where your watch allows it.

10. Customize Your Watch Face

Your watch face is more than decoration.

A useful watch face can display information such as battery level, weather, calendar events, activity progress and shortcuts to frequently used apps.

Choose a layout that gives you useful information without making the screen overcrowded.

11. Customize Buttons and Gestures

Some smartwatches allow you to customize physical buttons, double presses or gestures.

You may be able to create shortcuts for features such as workouts, payments, your favorite app, voice assistants or recent applications.

Setting these shortcuts early can make everyday navigation much faster.

12. Check Battery-Saving Features

Most smartwatch platforms include some form of battery-saving or low-power mode.

Learn where this feature is located before you actually need it.

Battery-saving modes may limit background activity, connectivity, display behavior or other functions in exchange for longer runtime.

13. Review Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Mobile Connectivity

Check the connectivity options available on your smartwatch and make sure they match how you use the device.

Bluetooth is normally essential for communication with your phone, while Wi-Fi can provide additional connectivity when supported.

LTE or cellular smartwatch models may also have separate mobile-network settings that are worth reviewing.

14. Review App Permissions

Just like smartphone apps, smartwatch apps may request access to features and information such as location, contacts, microphone or health data.

Review these permissions and disable access that an app does not reasonably need for the features you use.

This is an important step for both privacy and overall device management.

15. Enable Automatic Software Updates

Keeping your smartwatch updated can provide security fixes, bug fixes, performance improvements and new features.

Check the software update section on your watch or its companion app and enable automatic updates if that option suits you.

Some updates may require the watch to be charging or connected to Wi-Fi before installation.

16. Set Up Emergency Features

Many modern smartwatches include emergency-related tools, but availability varies by device, region and connectivity.

Review the safety features available on your particular watch and make sure any emergency contacts or related information are configured correctly if you choose to use them.

17. Remove Apps You Do Not Use

If your smartwatch came with apps you never use, check whether they can be removed or disabled.

Keeping the app list organized makes it easier to find the tools you actually use and can reduce unnecessary background activity in some cases.

Recommended Smartwatch Settings

Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch and Garmin

The exact names and locations of these settings differ between smartwatch platforms.

Apple Watch users will find many options in watchOS and the Watch app on iPhone. Galaxy Watch users can manage settings through the watch and Samsung's companion apps, while Pixel Watch uses Google's watch software and companion app. Garmin devices have their own menus and Garmin Connect integration.

Because features also vary between individual models, check the options available on your specific smartwatch rather than expecting every setting in this guide to appear on every device.

Final Thoughts

Taking a few minutes to customize a new smartwatch can make a significant difference to everyday use.

Start by reducing unnecessary notifications, adjusting the display, reviewing privacy permissions and configuring sleep and battery features. Then customize shortcuts, watch faces and activity settings around how you actually use the device.

For more smartwatch guides, tips and news, visit the Radar Next Smartwatches section.