What does the red dot icon on Apple Watch mean?

Do you know what does the red dot icon on Apple Watch mean? Got a new Apple Watch and want to control it? See icons on the screen but don’t know what they mean? Want a simple guide in English to decipher those status notifications? This tutorial will walk you through all the status icons currently in use on Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch has one of the best designs available right now, second only to the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Samsung uses Android, so if you’re an iOS user, Apple Watch won’t have to think twice. It’s a little less intuitive than an iPhone and has a couple of new features to get used to, but once you get used to them, the Apple Watch is actually very easy to use.

Build quality and ease of use are the strengths of the Apple Watch and that’s where it shines. It’s not able to do anything that other watches can’t, but what it does do, it does with typical Apple style. That makes it an excellent buy if you’re in the market for a smartwatch.

Apple Watch Notifications

A key area of the Apple Watch is notifications. These icons, which are usually above the 12 o’clock marker, can change depending on what’s going on with your phone. That’s where you’ll see the red dot icon and a few others. If you’re seeing these notifications, here’s a brief overview of what they mean.

What does the red dot icon on Apple Watch mean?

The red dot icon means you have an unread notification. To read it, swipe down from the top of the screen and the notification panel will appear. Once read, the red dot will disappear.

Green lightning bolt icon meaning

The green lightning icon means that the Apple Watch is charging.

Red lightning bolt icon meaning

The red lightning bolt icon means that your watch battery is running low and will need to be charged soon.

Yellow airplane icon meaning

The yellow airplane icon means that you have your watch in Airplane mode. If you have your watch currently paired and within range of your iPhone, the phone may also be in Airplane mode. Turning it off on the watch does not turn it off on the phone.

Purple Moon Icon meaning

The purple moon icon means you have your Apple Watch set to Do Not Disturb. You will still receive alarms but will not be disturbed by calls, text messages, or notifications.

Orange masks icon meaning

The orange masks icon is Theater Mode. This is essentially a silent mode where some do not disturb. The watch will not alert you to notifications or calls and the screen will remain dark. Disable through the Control Center.

WiFi icon meaning

The WiFi icon is for when your Apple Watch is connected directly to a wireless network rather than through your phone.

Four green dots meaning

Four green dots mean your watch is connected to a cellular network. Four green dots mean a strong signal, while three are not so strong and two are not strong at all.

Red phone icon with one line through meaning

The red phone icon with a line through it means that your Apple Watch cannot reach your iPhone. It means it doesn’t have a connection and could be in range or have Airplane Mode enabled on the other device.

Red X icon meaning

The red icon with an X means that your Apple Watch has lost connection to the cellular network. This icon will disappear as soon as you get a connection again to be replaced with green dots as shown above.

Blue drip icon meaning

The blue drip icon signifies the water lock function. The display will not respond to inputs while you see this icon, so don’t worry if it appears that your watch is not working properly. To disable the water lock, turn the digital crown to unlock it. As soon as the icon disappears, you’re good to go.

Bluetooth icon meaning

The blue Bluetooth icon tells you that you are currently paired with something that uses Bluetooth. It could be speakers, headphones, or something else.

Purple Arrow icon meaning

The purple arrow icon indicates that your watch or an app on it is using location services to locate you. This remains until the app or location is turned off.

Blue padlock icon meaning

The blue padlock icon on your Apple Watch means that the watch is locked and that you will need to enter your PIN number to unlock it.

There are a few icons to learn to deal with on the Apple Watch, but the genius of Apple’s design means that they are mainly self-explanatory and will be easy to remember once you get used to the watch. You can view a manual describing these icons by selecting My Watch, General, and About. Select View Apple Watch User Guide for a list of what each icon means.