The Bright Bedside Distraction
The Apple Watch features a built-in function called “Nightstand Mode.” When you place the watch on its magnetic charger and turn it sideways, the screen orientation flips 90 degrees and displays a large, bright green digital clock. While intended to replace a traditional bedside alarm clock, the OLED screen is highly sensitive. If you bump your nightstand in the middle of the night, or if the charging cable jiggles slightly, the screen will violently ignite, flooding your dark bedroom with green light and disrupting your sleep. If you prefer a completely dark sleeping environment, you must disable this feature.
How to Turn Off Nightstand Mode
You can permanently disable the sideways clock interface via the General settings.
- Open the Settings app directly on your Apple Watch (the grey gear icon).
- Scroll down the main list and tap on General.
- Scroll down until you locate Nightstand Mode and tap on it.
- Locate the master toggle switch labeled Nightstand Mode.
- Toggle this switch to the Off position (the green background will disappear).
A Dark Bedroom
The change is instantaneous. The Apple Watch will completely terminate the accelerometer daemon responsible for detecting the sideways charging orientation. The next time you snap the magnetic puck onto the back of the watch and place it on your desk, the screen will briefly show the standard charging ring and then fade to absolute black. You can now aggressively bump your nightstand, and the watch screen will remain completely, utterly dark throughout the night.