How to Restart Apple Watch in 3 Easy Steps [2024]
- Restarting your Apple Watch can resolve issues like apps not opening or functioning slowly, missing features on the watch face, and unexpected battery drain.
- To restart, first remove the watch from its charger. Press and hold the side button, then slide the "Power Off" slider (for WatchOS 8 or earlier) or tap the power button and slide the slider (for WatchOS 9 or newer). Finally, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
- If your watch is unresponsive, a force restart may be necessary. Do this by pressing and holding both the side button and the Digital Crown for at least ten seconds, releasing them when the Apple logo shows up.
Restarting your Apple Watch is a simple task, but it’s important to do it correctly to avoid any problems. Sometimes, your watch might not respond, act strangely, or you might just want to give it a quick refresh. In these cases, a restart can be the fastest fix.
In this guide, we’ll explain why restarting your Apple Watch can be helpful. We’ll also show you different ways to restart your watch and offer some advanced tips. This information will make it easier for you to handle your Apple Watch and ensure it works smoothly.
Table of Contents
Why might you want to restart Apple Watch?
You might not need to turn off or restart your Apple Watch often. Usually, if it’s working fine, there’s no need to restart it. But if you’re having trouble, restarting can fix some common problems. Here are a few issues that restarting your Apple Watch can solve:
- Apps take a long time to open, or they don’t open at all.
- An app seems to be installed, but you can’t see it.
- A feature you expect to see on the watch face isn’t there.
- The battery runs out much quicker than usual or than you’d expect.
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How to restart Apple Watch?
Restarting your Apple Watch is an easy process, but the exact method may differ depending on the version of your watch’s operating system. Whether you have the latest OS or an older one, we’ll guide you through the steps to ensure a smooth restart. Actually, restarting your Apple Watch is simply turning it off and then turning it back on.
Step 1: Take your watch off the charger
First, remove your Apple Watch from the charger. It’s important to know that you can’t restart the watch while charging. Also, if your watch is currently updating its operating system, let it finish first.
The watch will automatically restart as part of the update, so you might not need to do anything else. After your watch is no longer charging, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
Step 2: Turn off the watch
Press and hold the side button or the power button to turn off your watch.
↪ For WatchOS 8 or earlier
Follow these steps if your Apple Watch has WatchOS 8 or an older version. Once you press and hold the side button, you’ll find three different options:
- A Power off slider, Medical ID, and an option for Emergency Calls.
You’ll see 3 options - Just slide the “Power Off” slider to the right side to turn off your watch.
Slide the power off slider
↪ For watchOS 9 or newer
If you’re using WatchOS 9 or a newer version, just follow these simple steps after pressing and holding the power button:
- Tap the “Power button” present in the top right corner of your Apple Watch.
Tap on the Power Button - Then, slide the “Power off” slider to the side to turn off your watch.
Slid the slider towards right side
Step 3: Press and hold the button until the Apple logo appears
Once the screen of your watch goes completely dark, it means the watch is off. Now, press and hold the side button to turn it back on. Keep holding this button until you see the Apple logo on the screen. This means your Apple Watch is starting up again, and you have successfully restarted it.
How to restart Apple Watch from Settings?
You can also easily restart your Apple Watch directly from its settings menu. Here’s how:
- Open the “Settings” app on your watch.
Open the Settings app - Then, tap on “General.”
Tap on General - Scroll down until you find the “Shut Down” option, and tap it.
Tap Shut Down - Press and hold the “Side Button” again to turn your watch back on.
Press the side button to turn on
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How to force restart your Apple Watch?
Sometimes, your Apple Watch might not respond when you try to turn it on with the side button or by putting it on the charger. Also, if it’s already on but frozen, you might be unable to turn it off because the screen isn’t working. If this happens, you can do a hard reset:
- Press and hold both the side button and the Digital Crown for at least ten seconds.
Press and hold both the buttons - The screen will turn black after a while. Keep holding both buttons during this time.
The screen will go black - You can release the buttons when you see the Apple logo on your screen. This means your Apple Watch is restarting.
Apple logo will appear
Images sourced from TechMajesty
Advanced tips for avoiding Apple Watch issues
If you want to make the best use of your Apple Watch and want to avoid restarting it again and again, consider these extra tips:
- Regular updates: Ensure your watch has the newest software updates for the best performance.
- Monitoring battery health: Regularly check your battery’s health and charge it appropriately to prolong its life.
- Clean your watch: Keep your watch, especially the Digital Crown, clean to avoid any physical blockages that could impact how it works.
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Final Thoughts
Knowing how to restart your Apple Watch, whether it’s a simple restart or a force restart, is essential for all users. We’ve outlined easy-to-follow steps to help you effectively restart your watch, regardless of the model or operating system.
Remember to remove your watch from the charger before beginning the process and use the power button or settings menu to turn off your watch. A force restart can be a quick fix when your watch is unresponsive. Regular updates, monitoring battery health, and keeping your watch clean are additional tips to keep your Apple Watch running smoothly.
FAQs
No, restarting your Apple Watch doesn’t delete your data or content. It’s different from resetting your watch. But, it’s best not to force restart too often – only do it when needed.
Force restarting your Apple Watch is a way to fix software issues that might be slowing it down or causing it not to respond.
Resetting clears all data from your Apple Watch but keeps it connected to your iPhone. It’s good for when you want to use it again with the same iPhone. Unpairing disconnects your watch from your iPhone and also resets it. This is what you do when giving your watch to someone else. You can reset without unpairing, but unpairing always involves resetting.
If your Apple Watch doesn’t respond to a force restart, you might need to do a factory reset. If that doesn’t work, get help from an Apple Store or a service Apple approves. Remember to back up your data before resetting.
If your Apple Watch isn’t recording your activities correctly, ensure your iPhone and Watch have the latest updates. Also, check that your info in the health app, like height and weight, is correct. If it’s still not working right, try restarting your Watch.
