If you are not yet doing so, you might wish to use these settings:
On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Passcode:
- Turn Wrist Detection on.
- Turn Passcode on.
- Enable Unlock with iPhone.
After putting it on your wrist, your Apple Watch will then unlock after whatever you do first: either unlocking your watch manually (by entering the passcode) or unlocking your iPhone. It will then remain unlocked (including when the screen is asleep) until you remove it from your wrist. When you remove your watch, it will lock automatically.
How notifications behave depends on the status of your devices and your settings. With Wrist Detection enabled, in order to bring notifications to your attention as soon as possible:
- If your iPhone is unlocked, you will receive notifications on your iPhone instead of on your watch.
- If your iPhone is locked or asleep and your watch is unlocked (regardless of whether the watch screen is asleep or awake) and on your wrist, you will receive notifications on your watch.
- If your watch is locked or has Do Not Disturb enabled, notifications will go to your iPhone.
More information:
Notifications on your Apple Watch - Apple Support