Apple Watch Theater Mode Dims Screen and Silences Alerts Without Blocking Haptics

When enabled, Theater Mode turns off the display, silences the device and disables visual notifications. It also stops the screen from waking when the wearer raises their wrist; users must tap the screen or press either of the watch's buttons to turn the display back on. Unlike Do Not Disturb, Theater Mode keeps haptics active, so users can still feel vibration alerts. The report said Theater Mode has no automatic conditions for turning off after a set time or event, so it must be toggled manually.

To enable it, users tap the side button to open Control Center and select the theater masks icon. Engadget reported that the mode is suited to venues where quiet behavior is required, as well as meetings and social events that demand attention. It can also reduce battery drain by preventing the watch from waking at slight gestures, and users can choose to suppress certain biometric readings, such as blood oxygen measurements, while the mode is on, according to the report. Settings can be adjusted for those readings.