Getting Rid of the ‘Now Playing’ Screen on watchOS 4

One of the most common questions I’m asked about watchOS 4 is how to turn off the “Now Playing” pseudo-Watch face. I’m sure you know the one — the way your Apple Watch gets taken over by playback and volume controls whenever you use Music or any other audio app on your iPhone. I totally get why people want to disable it. I mostly love the changes Apple has made in watchOS 4. However, that takeover of my Apple Watch display is the one thing about watchOS 4 that really annoys me. It’s actually pretty easy to get rid of this, but you have to know where to look.

If you’d rather see an app or your normal Watch face when listening to music, here’s how to disable watchOS 4’s “Now Playing” takeover of your wrist.

Where the ‘Now Playing’ App Lives

To turn off the “Now Playing” pseudo-Watch face, you’ll have to dig deep into the Watch app on your iPhone. Specifically, you’ll drill down through General > Wake Screen, and look for an option labeled Auto-launch Audio Apps.

Deep in the Watch app, you’ll find a way to stop the “Now Playing” screen from taking over your wrist communicator.

This option is turned on (green) by default. Just toggle it off. Now you’ll never have to worry about the “Now Playing” screen taking over your Apple Watch again.

But Wait! Sometimes I Want to Have Those Controls

Not to worry, you can still access the “Now Playing” app even when you set it not to launch automatically. Just press the Side Button on your Apple Watch, and scroll through the dashboard until you see it.

Of course, you can still get back the playback and volume controls of “Now Playing” when you want them, through the Dashboard

Disabling Auto-launch Audio Apps does just that — it stops the app from automatically launching. You can still access it when you want through the Dashboard. I only wish Apple would make it a standalone app that would show in the grid or list views when you press the Digital Crown.