Apple Watch Stuck on Apple Logo? Try These Fixes

When the Apple Watch gets stuck on the Apple logo, it won’t respond and only shows the logo, usually during startup or after trying to restart. This happens because the watch can’t finish starting up, often due to software issues or a system problem.

The most common cause is a failed or incomplete watchOS update. Other reasons might be corrupted files, not enough storage, or a low battery during important tasks.

In this article, we will discuss several ways to solve this error.

1. Force Restart the Apple Watch

A quick reboot can often fix glitches causing the watch to freeze on the Apple logo. Force restarting removes temporary system errors by shutting down and restarting the software, allowing the device to boot correctly.

1. Press and hold both the side button and the digital crown on the Apple Watch.Force Restart the Apple Watch
2. Wait for 30 seconds, then release the buttons to see if the Apple Watch powers on.
3. If not, press and hold both buttons again until the Apple logo reappears.
4. Check if the Apple Watch issue is resolved.
5. If not, try repeating these steps several times (such as 5 times) to resolve the issue.
6. If that fails, charge the Apple Watch for 30 minutes, then repeat the steps to see if it works correctly.
7. If the issue persists, bring the paired iPhone close to the Apple Watch and unlock the iPhone.
8. While the iPhone is unlocked, perform a force restart on the Apple Watch (by repeating steps 1 to 4) and check if it powers on without issue.

2. Ping the Apple Watch from the Watch App

If your Apple Watch isn’t responding, try using the Watch app on your iPhone to ping it. This can help reconnect the devices and might fix small connectivity or software problems stopping the watch from starting up properly.

1. Open the Bluetooth settings on the paired iPhone and perform a force restart on the Apple Watch (as previously described).Wait Until the Apple Watch is Shown as Connected in the iPhone’s Bluetooth Settings
2. Monitor the Bluetooth settings on the iPhone, and once it indicates that the Apple Watch is connected, switch to the My Watch app.
3. Navigate to the My Watch tab and tap the Apple Watch’s name.
4. Press the i (information) button and tap on Find My Apple Watch.Play Sound on the Apple Watch Through the Watch App
5. Log in using your Apple credentials, if prompted.
6. From the list of devices, select the Apple Watch and open Actions.
7. Tap on Play Sound and see if it helps get the Apple Watch out of the logo screen. In some instances, you may need to press the Play Sound button more than once.

3. Completely Drain the Apple Watch Battery

Allowing the Apple Watch battery to fully drain forces a hard reset, clearing temporary issues or stalled processes that might cause problems. Once the battery is fully depleted, the watch starts fresh when recharged, which can help fix startup issues.

1. Perform a force restart on the Apple Watch and set it aside until the battery drains completely (this could take a day or two).Battery Drain Apple Watch
2. Once the battery is drained, recharge the Watch until it is fully charged, then check if the Apple Watch is functioning normally.

4. Change Calendar and Time Zone Settings in the iPhone’s Watch App

Changing the calendar and time zone settings in the iPhone’s Watch app can fix sync problems that might stop the Apple Watch from starting up correctly. Wrong date or time settings can mess up how the watch talks to the iPhone, making it freeze during startup. Fixing these settings helps the devices sync up, which might help the watch start properly.

1. Open the iPhone’s Watch app and go to General.
2. Navigate to Language & Region and tap on Calendar.
3. Select Gregorian, then force restart the Apple Watch to see if the issue is resolved.
4. If the problem persists, try manually setting the time zone to the correct one.
5. If the issue still continues, check if changing the time in the Watch app to a non-daylight saving time resolves it. If the Watch boots up, delete the infograph faces, as they can sometimes conflict with daylight saving time.

5. Reset the Apple Watch to Factory Defaults

Resetting your Apple Watch to factory settings erases all data and settings, removing any corrupted files or issues causing problems. This gives your watch a fresh start, fixing software conflicts that stop it from starting correctly.

5.1 Use the iCloud Website

1. Force Restart the Apple Watch. Once it is stuck on the Apple logo screen, open a web browser and go to iCloud.com.
2. Open Find My iPhone and click on All Devices.Open Find My iPhone on the iCloud Website
3. Select your Apple Watch and click on Erase the Apple Watch.Erase Apple Watch from the iCloud Website
4. Confirm the reset. Once it is complete, check if the Apple Watch is functioning correctly.

5.2 Reset the Apple Watch Through the Watch App

1. Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone and tap My Watch.
2. Go to General and select Reset.
3. Tap Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings.Erase Apple Watch Through the iPhone Watch App
4. Confirm the reset, and once completed, check if the Apple Watch is no longer stuck on the Apple logo.

5.3 Hard Reset the Apple Watch

1. Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone and unpair the Apple Watch from your phone.Unpair Apple Watch Through the iPhone’s Watch App
2. Press and hold both the side button and the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch at the same time.Hard Reset the Apple Watch
3. Release the buttons when the Apple logo appears.
4. After a few seconds, press and hold the side button again.
5. When the Erase All Settings prompt appears, tap Erase All Content and Settings.
6. Wait for the reset process to complete, then check if the watch starts up normally.

While encountering an Apple Watch stuck on its logo can be distressing, the solutions provided above address a range of scenarios. If issues persist, it’s recommended to seek professional assistance from Apple support.