In watchOS 26, Smart Stack is pretty smart for your Apple Watch. A collection of widgets can be pulled up using the Digital Crown scroll and show you relevant information throughout the day. But sometimes his eagerness to help can be a little too much, especially when it comes to live activities.
You’re probably familiar with this scenario: You lift your wrist and expect to see your customized watch face, only to find it replaced by media playback controls because someone’s watching your Apple TV, or the timer you previously set for cooking that still has a few years left on it. Live activities in Smart Stack can obviously be useful, but letting them automatically take over your display isn’t always ideal. Here’s how to take back control:
- Open Settings on your Apple Watch.
- Tap SmartStack.
- Choose Live activities.
- Turn off the switch next to it Automatic start of live activities.
After disabling autorun, live activities will still be available in your smart tray when you want them – you just have to manually scroll to see them instead of automatically appearing.
If you want a more detailed review, you’re in luck. From the same settings screen, you can control which Apple apps show Live Activity. You can also manage Live Activity settings for third-party apps using the Watch app on iPhone. This allows you to keep the notifications you find useful while preventing the least important ones from cluttering your watch face.
Pro Tip: If you’re only concerned with permanent media control, head to Media application in the same settings menu and turn off Live activities completely, or alternatively select in the “Autostart” section Off gold SmartStack for a more focused watch face experience.