Always on is a software feature that has Apple Watch continue to display your app’s user interface as long as:
- Your app is the frontmost app
- Or your app is running a background session.
If you see your Apple Watch screen turning off quickly after you stop interacting with your app, here is the list I'd check:
-
Test with an Apple Watch Series 5 or better + latest watchOS. Always on isn't available on Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch Series 4 and earlier. For more info, see Designing your app for the Always On state.
-
The Always On setting on your Apple Watch (Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On) is on.
-
The Return to Clock setting (Settings > General > Return to Clock) is not Always.
-
Your watchOS app doesn't disable the feature by setting WKSupportsAlwaysOnDisplay to false in your Info.plist file.
-
Your app is frontmost. By default, a frontmost app remains in the foreground for two minutes before transitioning to the background and then becoming suspended. If you dismiss the app (for example, by pressing the crown or by covering the screen), the app transitions immediately to the background. For more info, see Taking Advantage of Frontmost App State.
If this list doesn't help, I’d suggest that you file a feedback report for the watchOS folks to investigate.
Meanwhile, you might try to run a background session that makes sense to your app, like playing audio while your app is measuring, to see if that bring Always On back to work.
Best,
——
Ziqiao Chen
Worldwide Developer Relations.
