Have you noticed the red dot on your Apple Watch screen and wondered what it means? Check out our guide on What Does Red Dot on Apple Watch Mean for all the answers.
Apple Watch is an excellent smartwatch. It is also an excellent companion to your iPhone. It can show notifications, play music, provide you with location, and more.
When using these features, you will notice different icons on the top of your Apple watch screen. One such icon is the red dot. So what does the red dot mean?
The red dot at the top of your Apple Watch screen is an indication that you have unchecked notification/s. It will disappear once you check the notifications page on your Apple Watch.
There are more such symbols and other info related to the red dot, continue reading our guide on What Does Red Dot on Apple Watch Mean to know more.
What Does Red Dot on Apple Watch Mean
Table of Contents
The red dot at the top of your Apple Watch screen means that you have unread notifications. The red dot will appear whenever you receive a notification. And the red dot will stay until you check the notifications.
It is simple to check notifications on your Apple Watch. Just swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notifications page. You can check and then swipe up again to close the notifications page. The red dot will now disappear.
You don’t need to open any notifications, if you just check the notifications page, the red dot will disappear. Anytime you have an unchecked notification, the red dot will appear again.
If you want to remove a notification, then just swipe left on the notification and then tap on the X icon. You can also scroll to the top of the notifications page and then tap on Clear All.
How to turn off the red dot on your Apple Watch
If you are not a fan of the red dot, then the good news, you can remove it completely. You can disable it using the Watch app on your iPhone.
Follow these steps to turn off the red dot on your Apple Watch,
Step 1 Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Step 2 Tap on the My Watch tab.
Step 3 Tap on Notifications.
Step 4 Now, toggle off the Notifications Indication option.
If you want the red dot, then you can turn on the option again.
Related: What the Crescent Moon Icon in Messages Means
What are some other status symbols and icons on Apple Watch
Like the red dot, there are many more such symbols and icons that mean different things. Here is what each symbol/icon means,
Unread Notifications (Red Dot)
The red dot icon indicates that you’ve received notification/s that are unread. Swipe down on the watch face to read it.
Apple Watch Charging
The Green Lighting Icon means your Apple Watch is charging.
Low Battery Icon
The Red Lightning icon means your battery is low. Learn how to charge your Apple Watch without its charger.
Airplane Mode
The Airplane icon means that Airplane mode is enabled on your Apple Watch. Wireless features won’t work when Airplane mode is enabled, but you can use other features.
Do Not Disturb (DND) Mode
The purple moon icon indicates that Do Not Disturb (DND) is enabled on your Apple Watch. You won’t receive notifications for calls and other alerts when DND is on. You will still be able to hear Alarms. If you have set up Focus modes on your iPhone, then you will see this icon when the Focus mode is active.
Theater Mode
This icon indicates that Theater Mode is on. It also means Silent Mode is on, so your screen will stay dark until you tap on it, press a button, or turn the Digital Crown. This mode will keep your iPhone screen dark even if you use Always on display. To turn off Theater Mode, go to Control Center and tap on the icon.
WiFi icon
The WiFi icon means that your Apple Watch is connected to a WiFi network and not to your iPhone. You can see the WiFi icon in the Control Center.
Cellular Connectivity Icon
This symbol means that your Apple Watch is connected to a cellular network, and the number of bars indicate the signal strength.
Disconnected to iPhone
This icon means your Apple Watch is not connected to your iPhone. Keep both your devices close to each other or turn off Airplane Mode.
No Cellular Connectivity
This red X means that there is no cellular connectivity on your Apple Watch.
Water Lock icon
The Water Droplet icon means that Water Lock is on, the screen won’t respond to taps in this case. Turn off the Water Lock press and hold the Digital Crown.
Blue Arrow for Location Services
The blue arrow icon means that an app on your Apple Watch has recently used Location Services. Tap on the blue arrow to see which app requested your location.
Lock icon
The lock icon indicates that your Apple Watch is locked. Tap on the screen to enter your passcode and unlock your Apple Watch.
Sleep Mode
This icon indicates that Apple Watch is in Sleep mode. To exit Sleep mode, press and hold the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch. You can also turn off Sleep mode by going to Control Center and tapping on the Sleep icon.
Icons for Active Apps
Apple Watch also shows icons for some active apps, like Walkie-Talkie 
Workout App
When you use the Workout app, you will see this icon. If the Workout icon stays after you end a workout, then restart your watch.
Walkie-Talkie icon
Tap on the Walkie-Talkie icon to open it and to get in touch with friends instantly.
Playing Music icon
If your Apple Watch has watchOS 8 and earlier, you will see the Now Playing icon when listening to audio using your Apple Watch. Since watchOS 9 and later, this icon is not available, instead the app that plays audio appears.
Third-Party Navigation icon
If you are using a third-party app to navigate, then you will see this icon. Restart your Apple Watch if you still see this icon after the end of your navigation.
Microphone icon
The microphone icon means that the mic on your Apple Watch is listening. It can appear if you are talking to Siri, recording a voice memo, or using any app that is using the microphone.
Low Power Mode icon
If your Apple Watch is in low power mode, then you will see a yellow circle icon.
What Does Red Dot on Apple Watch Mean – Conclusion
The red dot on Apple Watch means that you have unchecked notifications. Once you check the notification page, it will disappear. However, if you don’t like the feature, you can turn it off using the Watch app on your iPhone.
We have also explained other icons that appear for different apple Watch functions. We hope this guide on What Does Red Dot on Apple Watch Mean cleared up all your doubts.
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