[[api-java-deactivate-watch]]
==== Deactivate Watch API

A watch can be either <<watch-active-state, active or inactive>>. This API enables
you to deactivate a currently active watch.

The status of an active watch is returned with the watch definition
when you call the <<api-java-get-watch, Get Watch API>>:

[source,java]
--------------------------------------------------
GetWatchResponse getWatchResponse = watcherClient.prepareGetWatch("my-watch").get();
boolean active = getWatchResponse.getStatus().state().isActive();
assert active;
--------------------------------------------------

You can deactivate the watch by executing the following API call:

[source,java]
--------------------------------------------------
ActivateWatchResponse activateResponse = watcherClient.prepareActivateWatch("my-watch", false).get();
boolean active = activateResponse.getStatus().state().isActive();
assert !active;
--------------------------------------------------

The new state of the watch is returned as part of its overall status.