Apple Vision Pro is now available in the U.S.

Watch OS 10 timer has taken over my watch

I upgraded this evening, and now have a tiny complication at the top on my face, and the first widget is timer. I don’t want this mini complication, nor widget. Is there any way to remove this? I even tried uninstalling the app, and it’s still there. Can I downgrade back to OS 9?



Posted on Sep 22, 2023 6:03 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Oct 24, 2023 9:19 AM

I'm having the same problem. I don't have any active timers, but the pulsing orange timer continues on top of my watch. Seems like a glitch.

21 replies

Sep 23, 2023 2:49 AM in response to Shannon McLellan

The little orange thing is an indicator that there is a timer running, it is NOT the timer itself. Think of it like the indicator light on your car dash which tells you the headlights are on.


The solution is simple, stop and clear the active timer. (By the time you read this it might have ended anyway). A simple Siri command worked for me in testing, "Hey Siri, cancel timer" but if you have several timers set your might need to do it a few times. Otherwise press the Digital Crown, select the Timer app and find/cancel the active ones.

Oct 16, 2023 1:54 PM in response to Branta_uk

Yes, it's an indication that the timer is running, but I already know that since

  1. I started the timer
  2. I have the timer on my watch face since I use it often.


I don't need another indicator that it's running. Apple is *horrible* at allowing users to configure our devices. Yes, I'll post a suggestion to Apple... (worthless though it may be).


I am listening to a podcast, and I *know* that I'm listening to a podcast because I'm actually listening to it. I don't need the podcast icon to be in the place which used to tell me that I have messages pending. It's so stupid.

Sep 23, 2023 2:41 AM in response to Shannon McLellan

Hi,


Sorry it's not a solution but just to say I have the same/similar issue, I posted it recently before I saw your post, so if it get's answered it may help you:

Apple Watch app symbols replace red notif… - Apple Community


Have just moved to a Series 9 and I can't remember if this is something I "fixed" on my previous watch or it's a new issue in WatchOS 10 🙃


Good luck!


Oct 24, 2023 9:50 AM in response to sellair

The indicator you're seeing might not be for the timer. Apple now shows an indicator to let you know that you're on a phone call (in case you aren't aware that you're actively on a call), that you're listening to a podcast (in case you didn't know where those voices in your head were coming from) and likely other things as well. If you're not running a timer, maybe it's one of those other items.


The red indicator was useful for telling me that I have messages. The new indicator is now useless since it's showing for things I am actively involved in.


Please fill out feedback let them know they should fix tihs: Product Feedback - Apple


Oct 27, 2023 11:51 AM in response to HaoleKai

HaoleKai wrote:

• First, It doesn't switch. It'll only show one icon regardless of how many things are running.

I don't know what to tell you. Mine is currently flipping back and forth between unread notifications and Focus. I couldn't tell you have often it does that but certainly whenever I interact with the screen.


Second, it doesn't need to show more than just the messages waiting.
I know when I'm on the phone. I don't need another icon to tell me I'm talking with someone.
• I know when I'm listening to a podcast. I don't need another icon to tell me I am.
• I know when I'm listening to music. I don't need another icon to tell me I am.
• I know when I have an alarm set. I don't need another icon to tell me it is.

Apple seems to have different ideas. You can certainly let them, know what you'd like to see here:


Product Feedback - Apple

Oct 27, 2023 8:24 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

First, It doesn't switch. It'll only show one icon regardless of how many things are running.

Second, it doesn't need to show more than just the messages waiting.

  • I know when I'm on the phone. I don't need another icon to tell me I'm talking with someone.
  • I know when I'm listening to a podcast. I don't need another icon to tell me I am.
  • I know when I'm listening to music. I don't need another icon to tell me I am.
  • I know when I have an alarm set. I don't need another icon to tell me it is.

Sep 23, 2023 2:52 AM in response to RebelWolf23

RebelWolf23 wrote:

Have just moved to a Series 9 and I can't remember if this is something I "fixed" on my previous watch or it's a new issue in WatchOS 10 🙃

Good luck!

I think it has always been there as an indicator, but it only appears when a timer is active and counting. Maybe in thew past you didn't notice or never used the timer function.

Sep 23, 2023 3:38 AM in response to Branta_uk

Thanks.


I use the timer a lot, like several times a day which means this must not have been happening on my previous watch (series 7 and WatchOS 9x). I also listen to music a lot and the reddish symbol appears for that too which can be hard to tell from the red dot at a quick glance (at least with my eyesight! :-)


I've always had the "raise wrist to wake" switched off to save battery since I've had the always-on screen meant I didn't need it.



Sep 23, 2023 4:09 AM in response to RebelWolf23

The Wrist Raise/Wake setting will not impact battery life if you use always-on display. Always-on has a similar wrist raise function automatically because it needs to know when to display notifications and complications (there are settings for these in the always-on switch). It might be worth experimenting there with the choices for what is displayed in the Wrist Down settings.


I just tested with my display set Always On and it still seems to work. The notifications have the same step through to show all the relevant indicators, but I do have to lift my arm to trigger the sequenced indicators. It doesn't work in Arm-Down mode but this is as I would expect it to be designed. There is no point displaying indicators you are not looking at!

Oct 27, 2023 7:18 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

I got up this morning and could not work out what the little orange thing that I thought was a clowns face was doing on my watch. I thought it might be Apple doing a Google and it was something to do with Halloween. After finding this thread I found the solution. I did not have any alarms or timer set but in the end I asked Siri and it found one. I turned it off and the little alarm clock clowns face has gone

Dec 7, 2023 10:41 AM in response to Shannon McLellan

Hi, I recently had the same problem as others mentioned I checked timer and asked Siri to close timer but I had none. What it was I had an alarm set on my watch I just turned it off and on again the blinking timer disappeared.

realise what happened as the day before I wasn’t wearing my watch and the alarm must have gone off at the set time but as I didn’t turn it off the clock icon started to flash. I only noticed it today but it’s all clear now

Watch OS 10 timer has taken over my watch

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.