What to do if your Apple Watch is unresponsive
If your Apple Watch is not responding to taps, gestures, or presses, there are a few quick troubleshooting steps to try before factory resetting it:
- Force restart your Apple Watch – On an Apple Watch with a side button, hold down the side button and Digital Crown simultaneously until you see the Apple logo. On an Apple Watch without a side button, hold down the side button until you see the Apple logo.
- Check that your Apple Watch is charged – Place your Apple Watch on its charger for at least 10 minutes.
- Check your iPhone connectivity – Make sure your iPhone is on, has reception or WiFi connectivity, and Bluetooth is turned on.
- Unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch – Unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone in the Watch app. Then, pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone again.
If your Apple Watch is still unresponsive after trying those steps, you may need to factory reset it.
When should you factory reset your Apple Watch?
You may want to factory reset your Apple Watch if:
- It is not responding to touch, buttons, gestures, or charges
- It won’t turn on or restart
- It is frozen on a screen, app, or animation
- Basic troubleshooting steps did not resolve your issue
- You forgot your passcode and need to reset it
- You want to remove all content and settings from your Apple Watch
Resetting your Apple Watch should be one of the last troubleshooting steps you try. It will erase all of the content and settings on your Apple Watch and restore it to factory default settings. So only factory reset as a last resort if your issue is not resolved any other way.
How to factory reset an Apple Watch
Here is how to factory reset an Apple Watch in a few quick steps:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone
- Tap on My Watch at the bottom
- Tap General
- Scroll down and tap Reset
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings
- Enter your Apple ID password when prompted
- Your Apple Watch screen will display a progress wheel – let it complete
- When done, your Apple Watch will be restored to factory settings
- To use your Apple Watch again, you’ll need to pair it with your iPhone in the Watch app
The factory reset process will take a few minutes to complete. Your Apple Watch will reboot itself after the reset finishes. Don’t worry if you see a red exclamation mark during the process – this is expected.
Alternative factory reset methods
If you can’t factory reset through the Watch app, here are two other methods:
1. Reset directly on your Apple Watch
- If your screen is frozen, force restart your Apple Watch
- Swipe left on the watch face and tap Settings
- Scroll down and tap General
- Tap Reset
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings
- Tap Continue on the confirmation screen
2. Reset by long pressing buttons
- Apple Watch Series 4-7: Press and hold both the side and Digital Crown buttons. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo.
- Apple Watch Series 1-3: Press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo. This may take up to 10-12 seconds.
- Apple Watch SE: Press and hold the Digital Crown until you see the Apple logo.
This will force restart your watch and factory reset it.
What to do after factory resetting your Apple Watch
After completing a factory reset on your Apple Watch, you’ll need to pair it with your iPhone again in order to use it:
- On your iPhone, open the Watch app
- On the My Watch tab, tap the All Watches option
- Tap the name of your Apple Watch when it appears
- Follow the onscreen setup prompts to pair again
- Sign in with your Apple ID when asked
- Choose whether to restore an Apple Watch backup or set up as new
- Allow time for apps and data to sync from your iPhone to Apple Watch
Once pairing is complete, your Apple Watch will be restored to factory default settings without any of your old content or customizations. You’ll essentially be starting from scratch, so you’ll need to re-customize watch faces, settings, app layouts, etc.
What content is removed by a factory reset?
Factory resetting your Apple Watch will delete:
- Watch faces
- App layouts and settings
- Activity, health, and workout data
- Apple Pay cards
- Music, photos, apps, and other stored content
- Messages and mail accounts
- Pairing info and sync settings
- Passwords and access codes
Basically a factory reset erases everything on your watch and returns it to a blank state. Your data is still stored in iCloud or iTunes backups though.
How to backup your Apple Watch before factory reset
To avoid losing all your Apple Watch data permanently, you should back up your Apple Watch before resetting it. Here are two ways to backup an Apple Watch:
1. Back up to iCloud
- Put your Apple Watch on its charger
- Make sure your Apple Watch and iPhone are connected to WiFi
- On your iPhone, open the Watch app
- Go to the My Watch tab, then General > Back Up
- Tap Back Up Now to initiate a manual iCloud backup
2. Back up to iTunes on your computer
- Install the latest iTunes version on your Mac or PC
- Connect your Apple Watch to its charger
- Connect your watch to your computer using the charging cable
- Open iTunes and select your Apple Watch
- Right click and select Back Up
After factory resetting, you can use these backups to restore your data during the repair process. encrypted.
Restoring Apple Watch backup after factory reset
Once you complete the factory reset, you’ll have the option to set up your Apple Watch as new or restore from a backup.
To restore an iCloud backup:
- On the “Restore from backup?” screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup
- Sign in with your Apple ID if asked
- Select the iCloud backup you want to restore
To restore an iTunes backup:
- On the “Restore from backup?” screen, tap Restore from iTunes Backup
- Plug your Apple Watch into your computer via USB
- Open iTunes and select your Apple Watch
- Right click and choose Restore from Backup
- Select the backup file you want to restore
Restoring from backup will reload your data, settings, and content that existed before you reset your Apple Watch.
Frequently asked questions
Does factory reset delete everything on Apple Watch?
Yes, a factory reset erases all content and settings from your Apple Watch and restores it to default factory settings. However, your data still exists in iCloud and iTunes backups.
How do I reset my Apple Watch without iPhone?
You can factory reset directly on the Apple Watch under Settings > General > Reset. This will erase the watch without needing an iPhone. Or long press the side and crown buttons until you see the Apple logo.
Does resetting Apple Watch delete activity data?
Yes, a factory reset will delete all activity, workout, and health data stored on your Apple Watch. Be sure to sync your data to the iPhone Health app or iCloud before resetting.
How do I reset Apple Watch passcode?
You can remove an Apple Watch passcode by factory resetting the device. You can also reset just the passcode by tapping Forgot Passcode on the Enter Passcode screen and erasing your watch.
How do I bypass activation lock on Apple Watch?
You cannot bypass activation lock on an Apple Watch. If activation lock is enabled, you will need to completely erase and factory reset the watch using the owner’s Apple ID credentials.
Summary
- Try basic troubleshooting steps before factory resetting your Apple Watch
- Factory reset the watch from the Watch app or directly on the watch if unresponsive
- The reset erases all content and settings and returns to default
- Pair your Apple Watch with iPhone again after resetting
- Back up your Apple Watch before reset to preserve your data
- Restore your backup after resetting to reload apps and settings
Factory resetting should get your Apple Watch working again if frozen or unresponsive. Just be sure to backup first and restore after to avoid losing your information.