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LexVAPin
User level: Level 1 (85 points)

Apple Watch 10 activity rings fireworks not showing

Activity rings fireworks not showing on my Apple Watch 10.

This started with an update during WatchOS 26.x but has continued with WatchOS 27.

Wrist detection is on.


I have unpaired my watch and then restored it. I have done it twice.

Nothing seems to work.


Related or unrelated, the sound is barely loud enough to hear. I have volume set to manual and all the way. up.

Posted on Oct 4, 2026 11:45 AM

6 replies

Ingo2711
User level: Level 10 (93,009 points)

Oct 4, 2026 10:23 PM in response to LexVAPin

Here's what helped me in the past, to bring back the animation:

Open the WatchApp on your iPhone -> Notifications -> make sure that -> "Tap to Show Full Notification" is not enabled.


As for your speaker volume, try to clean the speaker as described in the related article:

...

To clean your Apple Watch, follow these steps:

  1. Turn off your Apple Watch and remove it from the charger.
  2. If you have a leather band, remove it from your Apple Watch.
  3. Wipe your Apple Watch clean with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. If necessary, lightly dampen the cloth with fresh water. If your Apple Watch has substances or debris visible in places such as the speaker ports, you can hold your Apple Watch under lightly running, warm, fresh water until it's clean. Soaps and other cleaning products shouldn’t be used. With Apple Watch Series 10 and later, you can use a soft-bristle brush to remove debris from the speaker ports. 
  4. Dry your Apple Watch with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth, including the surface of the back crystal.

...

copied from: How to clean your Apple Watch - Apple Support


poonam_kumawat
User level: Level 4 (1,080 points)

Oct 4, 2026 10:10 PM in response to LexVAPin

Since you’ve already unpaired/repaired twice, I wouldn’t reset it again. If the Activity rings close but the fireworks don’t appear, it’s likely a watchOS software bug.


For the low volume, check Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Alert Volume and test whether music/notifications are also quiet.


If both issues continue on watchOS 27 It may be worth sending Apple feedback about this. try here: Feedback - Watch - Apple

LexVAPin Author
User level: Level 1 (85 points)

Oct 5, 2026 6:15 PM in response to Ingo2711

"Open the WatchApp on your iPhone -> Notifications -> make sure that -> "Tap to Show Full Notification" is not enabled."


That fixed it! I guess that is a software bug. I need to report it to Apple.

LexVAPin Author
User level: Level 1 (85 points)

Oct 5, 2026 6:52 AM in response to poonam_kumawat

"Since you’ve already unpaired/repaired twice....."


Thanks. I have reported this to Apple via that listing. They claim to read those regularly, but I guess the ones I report are not a high enough priority.


I have "Automatically Adjust Volume" off because I find that makes it even more quiet. I have volume up all of the way and I have selected sounds for each one (other than new mail which I don't want) to what sounds the loudest selection. That helped a little, but it is still too quiet.

LexVAPin Author
User level: Level 1 (85 points)

Oct 5, 2026 6:55 AM in response to Ingo2711

"Here's what helped me in the past, to bring back the animation:"


Thanks! I turned off "Tap to Show Full Notifications" and will see what happens.


I appreciate the cleaning tips. I have already done that so many times, I am a bit surprised that I have not damaged the finish (sarcasm).

Ingo2711
User level: Level 10 (93,009 points)

Oct 5, 2026 7:05 AM in response to LexVAPin

You're welcome 🙂

All the best!

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256370268