Sometimes, you’ll need to power down your Apple Watch. Maybe you’re troubleshooting a bug or need a break from the constant notifications. Whatever the reason, we’ll show you all the different ways to shut off your device and turn it back on.
Don’t worry, we won’t judge you if you need to take a break from your trusty Apple Watch. It’s advisable to shut it down now and then to extend the battery life, diagnose issues, or give yourself some peace and quiet.
So, whether you’re a first-time Apple Watch user or a seasoned pro, our step-by-step instructions will make it easy to power off your device in various ways, depending on the model you have and your preferences. So, let’s get started and power down that Apple Watch with ease!
How to Turn Apple Watch Off
Follow these two steps to power off your device.
Step 1. Find the side button and place it next to the Digital Crown
Step 2. Long press the button on the side for 3-5 seconds
This will bring up the power-off slider. Go ahead and slide it over to the right to shut down.
You can do a hard reset on your device if the side button or the touch screen is not functioning correctly.
And for a helpful walkthrough of these steps, check out the following video:
What if you want to turn it back on? Easy.
Turning on your Apple Watch is straightforward, but you might run into difficulties if your device is dead or not charging:
- Apple Watch may be activated by pressing and holding the side button while waiting for the Apple logo to appear on the display.
- Put it on the charger if it doesn’t turn on when you try to turn it on.
- If it won’t charge, try using a different electrical outlet and, if feasible, a different charger.
- If possible, you should use the charger originally packaged with your watch.
- Check that your wearable device and its charging dock are both clean.
- When the battery level is extremely low, a red lightning bolt will emerge, changing to a green lightning bolt when the battery begins to charge.
- Wait at least half an hour for your Apple Watch to charge fully.
How to Disable Power Reserve on an Apple Watch
When your Apple Watch’s battery dips below 10%, it’ll alert you to charge up. One option it’ll give you is to activate Power Reserve mode, which puts your device in a minimal state where it’ll only display the time. But what if you’re done conserving power and want to turn off Power Reserve mode? We’ve got you covered.
First, open the Control Center by swiping up on the watch face. Next, tap Power Reserve mode. Next, adjust the reserve by tapping the battery percentage and sliding the slider. Once Power Reserve mode is activated, you’ll see the time displayed on your watch.
When you’re ready to turn off Power Reserve mode, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. This will shut off the device, and it will automatically restart. Remember that your Apple Watch may take a few minutes to return to its normal functioning after restarting.
How to Perform a Hard Reset on Apple Watch
Sometimes, even after following all the steps to power down your Apple Watch, you may still be experiencing issues. In that case, it might be necessary to reset the device. But don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds.
A hard reset is a last resort. Do it only if you cannot turn on the device. To do a hard reset, press and hold the side button and Digital Crown simultaneously for about 10 seconds. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo displayed. This should help fix the issue and have your watch working again.
You may have to reconfigure some settings after the reset, but as long as your watch is working, that’s the most important thing. If you backed up your Apple Watch’s data beforehand, you wouldn’t have to worry. A hard reset will give your Apple Watch a fresh start and solve any unresponsive issues you might be experiencing.
What about the “Always-On” Feature?
The newest Apple Watch models, like the Series 8, are equipped with a cutting-edge feature known as Always On display. This innovative feature keeps the time, watch face, and complications easily visible. The device’s screen automatically detects when your wrist is down and turns off, preserving power while keeping the time and important information at your fingertips.
The Always On feature is just one of the many new and exciting capabilities of the newest Apple Watches, including car crash detection and temperature tracking. If you ever need to turn off the Always On display, it’s easy to do so by going to the Settings app on your watch, selecting Display & Brightness, and scrolling down to the Always On option to toggle it off.
With the Always On display feature, you’ll never have to worry about missing the time or important information again, even when your wrist is down. It’s a subtle yet powerful addition to the Apple Watch series, making it an even more convenient and essential device.
Why is the Apple Watch Not Turning Off?
Sometimes, it’s not just a software issue preventing your Apple Watch from going into sleep mode. A hardware problem may be the culprit. If you’ve recently dropped your device on a hard surface or come into contact with water, the internal components may have been damaged.
If you suspect a hardware issue, it’s best to take your Apple Watch to an Apple Store for a professional diagnosis. The employees there can help determine if there’s a problem and what can be done to fix it. Additionally, if you’re lucky and have AppleCare protection for your Apple Watch, you may not have to pay for the repair.
Don’t hesitate to make an appointment at your nearest Apple Store, bring your device along, and ask the employees there for help. They’ll be happy to assist you and help you get your Apple Watch working again.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Hadrian/Shutterstock.com.
