[discrete]
[[api-java-activate-watch]]
=== Activate watch API

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

The status of an inactive 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();
--------------------------------------------------

The following snippet shows how you can activate a watch:

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

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