An Apple Watch that won't turn on is about as useful as a pen with no ink, the difference being that the smartwatch probably cost you $200 or more. But don't worry — there are many reasons why an
Apple Watch screen might not be turning on, and most of them have a simple fix. Here we'll go through four of the most common reasons an
Apple Watch won't turn on, and how to fix the problems. If none of these work, then you likely have a hardware issue that you won't be able to fix yourself, but that might be covered by your warranty. So even if none of these fixes get your
Apple Watch turned on again, don't toss the thing out. Bring it to the Apple Store for a professional inspection.Check out the products mentioned in this article:
Apple
Watch Series 4 (From $399 at Best Buy)
Check the battery, and check your Apple Watch charger
Attach your Apple Watch to its charger, and make sure the battery is still working. Abigail Abesamis/Business InsiderOne common reason an Apple Watch won't turn on is simply that the battery is dead. Connect the Watch to its charger, and if that doesn't work, make sure you try a different charging cable and charger to see if your charger is faulty.
If your Apple Watch is still unresponsive after you try to power it with several different chargers, then move on to the next solution.
Perform a force restart
Press and hold the two buttons on the side of your Watch to restart it. AppleYour Apple Watch may be frozen. Forcing it to restart can unfreeze the operating system and get things working again.
Press and hold the two buttons (the larger, circular Digital Crown and the smaller oblong Side Button) simultaneously for 10 to 15 seconds.
After the Apple logo appears, release the buttons and wait another few seconds. When the watch turns back on, it should work smoothly again.
Read more: How to turn your Apple Watch on and off, or force-restart it for troubleshooting
Turn off Power Reserve mode
Your Apple Watch has a Power Reserve setting that, as the name implies, saves power. In this mode, only the time will display, and the watch will not unlock.
To exit this mode, press and hold the Side Button (thinner, oblong) for about 7 to 10 seconds. When the Apple logo appears, the watch is rebooting into its regular mode.
Steven John
Freelance Writer
Steven John is a freelance writer living near New York City by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, four in Boston, and the first 18 near DC. When not writing or spending time with his wife and kids, he can occasionally be found climbing mountains. His writing is spread across the web, and his books can be found at www.stevenjohnbooks.com.
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Why won’t my Apple Watch turn on?
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Before you give up, there are a few fixable reasons your Apple Watch may not be turning on. If none of the problems below apply to you, it could be time to take your device in for a checkup at an Apple store.
The device is out of battery
The most obvious reason for your Apple Watch not turning on is that the battery is dead. Luckily, this is the easiest solution to fix. On the Series 7, charging from 0—80% takes only 45 minutes.
Your charger isn’t working properly
If you left your watch to charge up and came back to a device that still won’t turn on, your charger may be the culprit. Faulty third-party chargers or even a worn-out one from Apple are worth replacing. There is also the possibility that the outlet you are plugging into isn’t supplying power.
Your Apple Watch is frozen
Apple Watches can sometimes freeze or get stuck on a black screen. Often, this is the result of an outdated version of watchOS or a glitchy app.
Your Apple Watch is in Power Reserve or Theater Mode
There is also a chance your watch is actually on but using a setting that limits your use. In Power Reserve, you can’t access watch features beyond the time, and your watch and iPhone can’t communicate. Unless you press the side button, your device will appear to be off. Similarly, Theater Mode turns off audio alerts and disables the device’s ‘raise to wake screen’ gesture.
How to get your Apple Watch to turn on again
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
If (fingers crossed) you’re facing a minor issue, one of the solutions below will likely help you get your Apple Watch turned back on. If your watch is completely shot, it may just be time to replace it.
Charge your battery
If your device’s battery is dead, you need to charge it. Insert your charging cable into a USB port, or USB power adapter plugged into a power outlet. Then place the back of your Apple Watch against the concave side of the charger. You will feel magnets align your device in place.
Assess your charger and outlet
You will know your device is charging when a lightning bolt appears on the screen. If this does not occur after a few moments, you may have an issue with your power supply. Check your outlet with an alternative device. Confirm that your charging block and cable are plugged in and your watch is aligned correctly. If the outlet is working and both the charging pack and device are clear of debris, you may need to replace your charging cable.
Reboot your device
If your device doesn’t charge, force a restart by simultaneously pressing and holding the Digital Crown and side button. Do this for at least 10 seconds or until you see the Apple logo. Your device may have frozen and could require juice once it powers up.
Additionally, make sure you are running the latest version of watchOS available. Regular software updates ensure battery use efficiency and make sure you are free of bugs.
Disable Power Reserve and Theater Mode
Mark O'Neill / Android Authority
To disable Power Reserve, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears, then wait for your device to restart. You will likely also need to charge the device. To disable Theater Mode, tap your display, swipe up to open the Control Center, and tap the Theater Mode icon (two masks).
Read more: The best Apple Watch chargers you can buy
FAQs
Yes. According to Apple, it is not damaging to charge the Apple Watch overnight.
No, your first-party watch charger cannot charge your iPhone, even though iPhones now support Qi wireless charging.
The latest model should last around 18 hours between charges, but several factors can impact that estimate. Read our dedicated guide to maximize your battery life by adjusting your settings.