Annoyed by Live Activities constantly taking over your Apple Watch screen? MacRumors has a solution. The Smart Stack in watchOS 26 presents relevant information, but its auto-launch feature can be disruptive. Imagine raising your wrist, only to find media controls or a timer dominating your display instead of your watch face.

Fortunately, it's easy to regain control. First, open Settings on your Apple Watch, then tap Smart Stack followed by Live Activities. Toggle off "Auto-Launch Live Activities." This will keep the Live Activities accessible in the Smart Stack, but require a manual scroll to view them.

For more granular control, you can manage Live Activities for individual Apple apps directly from the same settings menu. You can also adjust settings for third-party apps using the Watch app on your iPhone. This allows you to keep helpful notifications while preventing less important ones from interrupting your watch face. This ensures a more focused experience on your Apple Watch.