Galaxy Watch 4 Notifications - Showing Clock Over Notification

[lschoen]

9/14/21 Update: after reviewing the feedback of many others, intermittently blurring the screen is clearly an intentional software function that has existed since the GW3 (but curiously, not on the GWA2). I am hoping the following feature request makes it to Samsung: please remove this feature and allow us to protect our own privacy through use of a combination of existing features: AOD, lift to wake, wake on notification, and individual notification control. Comment below if you agree. Thank you!

Original post:

Hi all,

Received my GW4 last week and have been using it every day. Curious issue: sometimes (but not every time) when a notification is received, I look at the watch and it quickly blurs the notification and displays a generic, digital clock over the top. I have to hit a button to go back to the notification. There doesn't seem to be any discernible pattern to when this happens-- happens in any app, any time; even happens for one Whatsapp message, then not for another message immediately following. I even tried a factory reset and am still seeing the issue. Anyone else seeing this?

Settings: screen always on-YES, wake for notification-YES, lift to wake-NO, screen timeout-30.

[Hanger]

What android version do you have?

[socram]

It's stock Android 12. I also installed Watchmaker for testing purposes and it shows up in the apps section, however, the option for background activity is greyed out there.

I think my watchface not showing up is related to the fact that it does not show up as an app.

In the end, it's really sad to see that Samsung obviously doesn't care about the customer needs.

[PieterVk]

When in the car, I used to look at my watch to see the notification. That is no longer possible. You can switch off notifications per app, so if I would be concerned about my privacy, I would not have those notifications on my watch.

I can't see the point of having notifications on my watch and then not being able to see them directly.

[Jordwill88]

I just got my watch and this stupid blurred clock ruins it. SAMSUNG NEEDS TO MAKE SO IT IS ABLE TO BE TURNED OFF!

[Jordwill88]

Same here. It ruins the watch 

[Jordwill88]

Yep. And they havent changed it yet ... pathetic 

[Members_Qj5fXDN]

Bumping this thread as this bug frustrates the s**t out of me every day.

Samsung, get your stuff together and fix this already!!

[Members_pqydOUH]

Samsung, please fix this hateful behavior

[SnowmanCD5]

This person developed an app/option to circumvent the problem (until Samsung gets their act together and fixes it)

https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyWatch/comments/t8ml1w/gw4_how_to_delay_the_digital_clock_overlay_and/

It's a clunky solution, but I am extremely OCD and was satisfied with the outcome. Unfortunately, it does involve downloading a few apps and tinkering with settings, but if you have basic-to-medium tech knowledge, it's very doable

It will only "delay" the annoying clock overlay (up to 60 seconds), but it removes it every time a new notification comes in, giving you plenty of time to read. Can confirm this works WITH "always on display" turned on and "move wrist to wake" turned off.

[Omniman]

I Just got rid of Galaxy 4 due to this problem and Samsung not listening to their customers.