The Apple Watch has many valuable features, making it a worthy investment. But when your Apple Watch doesn’t turn on, it is as useful as a pen with no ink. However, there’s no need to panic if your Apple Watch won’t turn on; there are various reasons that may cause this problem, and most have a simple fix.
If your Apple Watch fails to turn on, ensure the battery has power and the Apple Watch charger is working. The watch can fail to turn on because it’s frozen or has a faulty battery. Troubleshoot this issue by force restarting it or using a different charger.
Smartwatches usually have short battery life, but the Apple Watch can last about 18 hours on a full charge based on use. However, you’ll need to turn the device on before you can drain it. An Apple Watch that won’t turn on might be dead or experiencing charging issues.
How Do You Turn on an Apple Watch?
Apple Watches have various features that make them popular among iPhone users. They gamify physical fitness through Activity Rings, workout streaks, and monthly challenges, motivating you to stay fit.
The Apple Watch functions like a dumbed-down iPhone with all the essential features, enabling you to leave your iPhone at home as you exercise or when you need to stay in the moment.
Phone notifications often lead to distractions that affect your productivity. The Apple Watch allows you to view notifications on your wrist, eliminating the need to take your iPhone out of your pocket. Disable distracting notifications for maximum productivity.
Turning on an Apple Watch
You must ensure your Apple Watch is off before turning it on. However, your Apple Watch is on if the screen lights up with a watch dial when you press the Digital Crown on its side or raise the smartwatch.
Turn the device off by pressing and holding the side button until the Power Off slider appears, then slide the slider to the right. When turned off, press and hold the Digital Crown to display time.
Follow the steps below to turn on your Apple Watch:
- First, locate the power button, an oval bottom on the right side of the watch casing.
- Press and hold the side button for about 10 seconds.
- Wait for the Apple logo to appear on the screen. The watch will usually take less than a minute to power on after the logo appears.
- Enter your passcode if prompted to unlock the Apple Watch.
- Your Apple Watch is now ready for use.
The Apple Watch (on Amazon) should stay unlocked on your wrist. If you see the outline of a battery instead of the logo, charge the device first.
What to Do if Your Apple Watch Won’t Turn on
The troubleshooting steps you should take if your Apple Watch won’t turn on depend primarily on why the device isn’t powering on.
Before you give up on the device and assume it’s dead, consider the following:
Check if it is Fully Charged
The most common reason Apple Watches fail to turn on is that the battery has no power. Fortunately, this is the easiest solution to fix. If the smartwatch has no power, connect it to a charger and ensure it’s fully charged before turning it on.
Assess if Your Chargers are Working Properly
If you left your watch to charge and then returned to find that it still wouldn’t turn on, the problem could be with the charger. Replace faulty third-party or worn-out Apple Watch chargers to ensure your device gets adequately charged.
It’s also possible that your wall socket is defective and not delivering power, so consider using another power outlet to charge your Apple Watch.
Your Apple Watch Could Be Frozen
The display on an Apple Watch can sometimes freeze or remain dark. The usual culprits here are an app with some glitch or an outdated watchOS version.
Check if Your Apple Watch is in Theater of Power Reserve Mode
Your Apple Watch could be on but using a setting that limits some functionalities.
For example, your Power Reserve mode prevents you from accessing features other than time. This setting limits communication between your iPhone and watch. The gadget will appear off when in Power Reserve mode unless you press the side button.
How to Troubleshoot Your Apple Watch
If your Apple Watch fails to turn on because of a minor issue, the solutions below will likely turn it back on.
Force a Restart on Your Watch
Try force restarting your Apple Watch by simultaneously pressing and holding the Digital Crown and side button. Maintain this position for at least 10 seconds or until the Apple logo appears.
Your smartwatch may have frozen or could need power before it turns on.
Also, ensure that you are using the most up-to-date version of watchOS. Your battery life’s effectiveness and bug-free operation depend on keeping your software up-to-date.
Try a Different Charger
If your battery is completely dead, you will need to charge it.
First, connect your charging cable (on Amazon) to a power adapter or USB port, then plug the adapter into a wall socket. The Apple Watch’s back should rest on the charger’s concave side, and you’ll feel the magnet aligning the smartwatch.
If a lightning bolt shows on the screen, the device is charging. Failure to display the charging icon means you may have a power supply issue.
Check the outlet using another device, ensure the charging block and cable are connected, and the watch is well aligned. You may need to change your charging cable if the outlet is functional, but your Apple Watch won’t charge.
See a Professional
If none of the solutions above works, contact Apple Support or visit the Apple Store for guidance. Apple Store technicians will diagnose your Apple Watch and advise whether you need a new one.