7 settings I change on every Apple Watch for a 'calmer, clearer, and more useful' experience

Setting up a new Apple Watch in 2026 is deceptively quick – pair it, sign in, and you’re basically ready to go.

But I’ve found the default settings are designed for “everyone”, which often means too many pings, or a screen that doesn’t stay awake long enough to read.

So whenever I start fresh, I make the same handful of tweaks straight away out of the box, in a bid to personalise my Watch and avoid frustration.

You might not want every single one, but together they make the Watch calmer, clearer, and more ...