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Freedom251 › Blog › Apple Watch

Restart a Frozen Apple Watch: Normal Restart and Force Restart

By Freedom251 Team · · 2 min read

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If your Apple Watch responds, disconnect it from its charger, hold the side button until the power controls appear, tap the power control, and drag the Power Off slider. Once the watch shuts down, hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. If it will not respond or shut down normally, hold the side button and Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, releasing when the Apple logo appears.

Choose the right restart method

What you see What to do
The screen responds and the controls work Use the normal power-off slider, then turn the watch back on.
The watch is unresponsive or will not turn off normally Force-restart by holding the side button and Digital Crown together.
The display is blank or shows a red lightning bolt Check charging before assuming the watch is frozen.
A button or the Digital Crown is blocked or faulty Check for an obstruction; arrange service if the control is damaged or still intermittent.

How to restart Apple Watch normally

  1. Disconnect the watch from its charger. Apple says the watch cannot be restarted while it is charging.
  2. Hold the side button until the power controls appear.
  3. Tap the power control, then drag the Power Off slider.
  4. After the watch shuts down, hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

How to force-restart an unresponsive Apple Watch

  1. Press and hold the side button and Digital Crown at the same time.
  2. Keep holding for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears, then release.

Apple recommends a force restart only when you cannot restart the watch normally. Holding only the side button is not the force-restart procedure; when the watch is responsive, it brings up the normal power controls. Apple’s restart instructions give the same button combination and minimum hold time.

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If the screen stays blank, check charging

A red lightning bolt indicates that the battery does not have enough power to turn on. Connect the watch to its charger and, if the battery is depleted, allow up to 30 minutes for a charging indicator to appear. While it charges, check that the cable is fully connected, the watch is aligned on the magnetic charger, and the backs of both the watch and charger are clean.

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If no charging indicator appears, try another Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable or USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable, and another USB power adapter. Check cable compatibility with your watch model before replacing an accessory. These charging checks apply to a watch that will not charge; a cable is not needed to restart a powered watch. Apple’s no-power and charging guidance covers these steps.

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If Apple Watch remains stuck on the Apple logo

If force-restarting does not clear the logo, Apple advises unpairing the watch from the iPhone and pairing it again, checking for and installing a watchOS update in the Apple Watch app, and arranging service if the watch is still stuck. Apple says the iPhone creates a backup when the watch is unpaired. Follow Apple’s instructions for an Apple Watch stuck on the Apple logo for the unpairing and update steps.

If the side button or Digital Crown will not work

Remove any protective film or case that could block either control, then check for dirt or debris. If a button or the Digital Crown is damaged, works intermittently, or remains unresponsive after checking for obstructions, arrange repair. See Apple’s guidance for a side button or Digital Crown that does not work.

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