Time on a blurred background

[User 6502]

Hi all, I have a questione that might have been answered already… sadly I don't know how to describe this in a succinct way, so I struggled to find it on here or online.

After a few seconds I use the apple watch (Series 5) whatever app is active gets covered by a blurred background with the current time in foreground. This makes very difficult to use workout apps (the one installed by default or any other). It's nice to have an always on display, but it's completely pointless if it shows that rather than the app I am using. I tried to look for a setting to disable this, but I couldn't find anything. Does anyone know how to disable this? Thanks a lot.

 

[xraydoc]

3rd party apps will get blurred out like this for privacy reasons. There's no way to disable it.
The built-in Workout app does not get blurred, fwiw.

 

[User 6502]

Oh that is dreadful, there is really no point in always on display if it gets blurred. I’d rather be in control of my privacy and decide when and if it needs protection ☹

ps: the default workout app DOES get blurred too. Just tried.

 

[xraydoc]

ps: the default workout app DOES get blurred too. Just tried.

Odd. Not on mine. I use it daily.

 

[mk313]

Odd. Not on mine. I use it daily.

Not on mine either.

 

[bp328i]

Odd. Not on mine. I use it daily.

Not on mine either.

Daily uses as well and mine also doesn't blur.

 

[brentc133]

Mine only blurs if AOD is on and lift wrist to wake if off.

 

[Starfia]

Manage whether complications are blurred:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210428

 

[bp328i]

Manage whether complications are blurred:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210428

The Hide Sensitive Complications in the link only applies to your main watch face and not workout apps like the OP is speaking about.

 

[Starfia]

The Hide Sensitive Complications in the link only applies to your main watch face and not workout apps like the OP is speaking about.

Right, I see. Rescinding.

 

[matrix07]

ps: the default workout app DOES get blurred too. Just tried.

Mine does not blur. Never does.

 

[Macloven]

Mine doesn’t blur, aod on wrist to wake off

 

[User 6502]

Mine definitely blurs. But regardless of what it does on the default workout app, it should be possible to remove this ‘feature’ from any app, if the user doesn’t want it.

 

[xraydoc]

Mine definitely blurs. But regardless of what it does on the default workout app, it should be possible to remove this ‘feature’ from any app, if the user doesn’t want it.

I see what you mean... If you were in the midst of a workout, it would not blur -- you'd be able to see your data continuously. If it were actually running, it would not fade out like that.

However, your discovery of apps being faded out when the display fades is not new. It's been discussed many times here. Only option is to send Apple some feedback.

 

[User 6502]

I see what you mean... If you were in the midst of a workout, it would not blur -- you'd be able to see your data continuously. If it were actually running, it would not fade out like that.

However, your discovery of apps being faded out when the display fades is not new. It's been discussed many times here. Only option is to send Apple some feedback.

Yeah I just sent feedback about it. I hoped there was an option to disable this, but from the answers received it’s clear there isn’t one at the moment. Maybe Apple will listen ??

 

[The Game 161]

Apple likely won’t change it as they are very big on privacy after all

 

[User 6502]

Apple likely won’t change it as they are very big on privacy after all

I don’t see privacy as being an issue at all. If I’m using a third party workout app the screen shows similar information it would if I was using the stock workout app… if there’s no privacy concern in one case there shouldn’t be in the other either… but anyway it should be up to the user to decide. After all they decided that the user can opt in to send Siri records to human listeners somewhere around the world, I’m sure that someone in the gym seeing how many seconds of exercise you have left is not that big of a problem. For how I see it this is a bug, I doubt it’s a deliberate behaviour.

 

[xraydoc]

For how I see it this is a bug, I doubt it’s a deliberate behaviour.

Pretty sure it would need to be coded in to the apps specifically (if Apple allows it), since Apple's Workout app drops the 10ths of a second display and changes some other on-screen data to allow the reduced-refresh speed to happen. So if Apple were to allow 3rd party apps to remain on-screen, they'd still likely need to be coded especially for it.

 

[bp328i]

Pretty sure it would need to be coded in to the apps specifically (if Apple allows it), since Apple's Workout app drops the 10ths of a second display and changes some other on-screen data to allow the reduced-refresh speed to happen. So if Apple were to allow 3rd party apps to remain on-screen, they'd still likely need to be coded especially for it.

I was just going to say something about the refresh rate of the AOD and needing to be coded into apps as well.

 

[TimothyL]

Hi all, I have a questione that might have been answered already… sadly I don't know how to describe this in a succinct way, so I struggled to find it on here or online.

After a few seconds I use the apple watch (Series 5) whatever app is active gets covered by a blurred background with the current time in foreground. This makes very difficult to use workout apps (the one installed by default or any other). It's nice to have an always on display, but it's completely pointless if it shows that rather than the app I am using. I tried to look for a setting to disable this, but I couldn't find anything. Does anyone know how to disable this? Thanks a lot.

The background blurs when you are using a app on the watch and then turn the wrist down or cover the screen to make it dim. When you are on the home screen with the watch face it dims but in an app it blurs the background so it will reopen when you pick back up the watch

 

[Pirate!]

Rather than create a new thread, has anyone figured out how to disable this? On watchOS 7 now.

Apple support couldn’t even figure out what was causing it, took to the internet and found this (and some old Reddit threads).

 

[deeddawg]

Rather than create a new thread, has anyone figured out how to disable this? On watchOS 7 now.

This is normal expected behavior for Always on Display and apps not specifically setup for AOD - which means all third party apps (AFAIK) as well as a number of Apple apps.

Not sure what you mean by "disable" - but if you don't want this to occur, you can turn off Always On Display and have a black display.

Apple support couldn’t even figure out what was causing it, took to the internet and found this (and some old Reddit threads).

That's very disappointing that Apple Support couldn't figure out you were talking about something that's normal operation.

Might be worth dropping a note to Apple feedback so they can enhance their agent training.

Feedback - Apple.com Website

Striving to bring the best personal computing experience to consumers around the world through its innovative hardware and software, Apple welcomes your feedback.

www.apple.com

 

[MyAppleWorld]

Hi all, I have a questione that might have been answered already… sadly I don't know how to describe this in a succinct way, so I struggled to find it on here or online.

After a few seconds I use the apple watch (Series 5) whatever app is active gets covered by a blurred background with the current time in foreground. This makes very difficult to use workout apps (the one installed by default or any other). It's nice to have an always on display, but it's completely pointless if it shows that rather than the app I am using. I tried to look for a setting to disable this, but I couldn't find anything. Does anyone know how to disable this? Thanks a lot.

How to manage the information that appears when your wrist is down​

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
2. Tap Display & Brightness.
3. Scroll down, then tap Always On.
4. Tap Show Complications, Show Notifications or Show Apps. The apps that can show that type of information appear on the next screen.
5. Turn off the apps that you don't want to show information on the screen when your wrist is down. You can turn off the category of information entirely by tapping the button at the top of the screen.

These steps apply to Apple Watch devices with watchOS 8.