Your Apple Watch is a versatile device that keeps you connected and informed throughout the day. However, there may be times when you need to power it off, whether it's to conserve battery life, troubleshoot an issue, or prepare for storage. Turning off your Apple Watch is a straightforward process that takes just a few seconds.
In this article, we'll provide detailed instructions on how to turn off your Apple Watch, regardless of the model you have. We'll also explore some additional tips and tricks related to powering off your Apple Watch, such as force restarting and putting it into power reserve mode.
So, whether you're looking to conserve battery life, troubleshoot an issue, or simply power off your Apple Watch for any reason, read on to learn the easy steps involved.
how to turn off an apple watch
Follow these steps to power off your Apple Watch:
- Press and hold side button
- Slide to power off
- Confirm shutdown
- Wait for Apple logo
- Alternative: Force restart
- Hold side button and Digital Crown
- Release when Apple logo appears
- Use power reserve mode for battery
Remember, turning off your Apple Watch can be useful for troubleshooting issues, conserving battery, or preparing for storage. Follow the steps above to safely power off your device when needed.
Press and hold side button
To turn off your Apple Watch, the first step is to press and hold the side button. This button is located on the right side of the watch, just below the Digital Crown. It's the same button you use to wake up the watch or access Siri.
When you press and hold the side button, you'll see a slider appear on the watch face. The slider will say "power off" and have a red background. To turn off the watch, simply slide the slider to the right.
Once you slide the slider, the watch will begin to power down. You'll see the Apple logo appear on the screen, and then the watch will turn off completely.
If you change your mind and decide you don't want to turn off the watch, you can cancel the shutdown process by pressing the side button again before the slider reaches the end.
Pressing and holding the side button is the standard way to turn off your Apple Watch. However, there are a few other ways to power off the watch, which we'll discuss in the next section.
Slide to power off
Once you press and hold the side button, you'll see a slider appear on the watch face. This is the "slide to power off" slider.
- Slide the slider to the right:
To turn off your Apple Watch, simply slide the slider to the right. The slider will have a red background and say "power off." Once you slide the slider all the way to the right, the watch will begin to power down.
- Release the side button:
Once you've slid the slider to the right, you can release the side button. The watch will continue to power down automatically.
- Wait for the Apple logo:
After you release the side button, you'll see the Apple logo appear on the screen. This indicates that the watch is powering down.
- Watch turns off completely:
After a few seconds, the Apple logo will disappear and the watch will turn off completely. The screen will be blank and the watch will no longer respond to any input.
If you change your mind and decide you don't want to turn off the watch, you can cancel the shutdown process by pressing the side button again before the slider reaches the end.
Confirm shutdown
In some cases, you may be prompted to confirm the shutdown before your Apple Watch turns off. This is to prevent accidental shutdowns.
- "Power Off?" message:
If you're prompted to confirm the shutdown, you'll see a message on the watch face that says "Power Off?"
- Tap "Power Off":
To confirm the shutdown, tap the "Power Off" button. The watch will then begin to power down.
- Wait for the Apple logo:
After you tap "Power Off," you'll see the Apple logo appear on the screen. This indicates that the watch is powering down.
- Watch turns off completely:
After a few seconds, the Apple logo will disappear and the watch will turn off completely. The screen will be blank and the watch will no longer respond to any input.
If you change your mind and decide you don't want to turn off the watch, you can cancel the shutdown process by pressing the side button again before you tap "Power Off."
Wait for Apple logo
Once you've confirmed the shutdown (if prompted), you'll see the Apple logo appear on the watch face. This indicates that the watch is powering down.
- Apple logo appears:
The Apple logo will appear on the screen after you slide the "power off" slider or tap "Power Off" (if prompted).
- Watch is powering down:
The Apple logo indicates that the watch is in the process of powering down. Do not press any buttons or interact with the watch while the Apple logo is displayed.
- Wait for the logo to disappear:
Be patient and wait for the Apple logo to disappear from the screen. This may take a few seconds.
- Watch turns off completely:
Once the Apple logo disappears, the watch will be completely turned off. The screen will be blank and the watch will no longer respond to any input.
If the Apple logo does not appear after you've tried to turn off the watch, or if the watch does not turn off completely, you may need to force restart the watch. We'll discuss how to force restart your Apple Watch in the next section.
Alternative: Force restart
If your Apple Watch is frozen or unresponsive, you may need to force restart it. This is different from a regular shutdown, as it forces the watch to turn off and then back on again. Force restarting your watch can resolve a variety of issues, including freezing, crashing, and battery drain.
To force restart your Apple Watch, follow these steps:
- Press and hold both buttons:
Press and hold both the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time. Hold both buttons for at least 10 seconds, even if the Apple logo appears. - Release the buttons:
After 10 seconds, release both buttons. The watch will turn off and then back on again automatically. - Wait for the Apple logo:
You'll see the Apple logo appear on the screen. This indicates that the watch is restarting. - Watch turns back on:
After a few seconds, the Apple logo will disappear and the watch will turn back on. The watch will be in the same state it was in before you force restarted it, but any temporary issues should be resolved.
If you're still having issues with your Apple Watch after force restarting it, you may need to contact Apple support for further assistance.
Hold side button and Digital Crown
To force restart your Apple Watch, you need to press and hold both the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time.
- Locate the side button and Digital Crown:
The side button is located on the right side of the watch, just below the Digital Crown. The Digital Crown is the rotating dial on the right side of the watch.
- Press and hold both buttons:
Press and hold both the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time. Make sure you press and hold both buttons firmly.
- Hold for at least 10 seconds:
Continue to hold both buttons for at least 10 seconds, even if the Apple logo appears on the screen. Do not release the buttons until after 10 seconds have passed.
- Release the buttons:
After 10 seconds, release both the side button and the Digital Crown.
The watch will now turn off and then back on again automatically. This process may take a few seconds.
Release when Apple logo appears
When you force restart your Apple Watch, you need to release both the side button and the Digital Crown when the Apple logo appears on the screen.
- Watch turns off:
After you release the buttons, the watch will turn off completely. The screen will go blank and the watch will no longer respond to any input.
- Apple logo reappears:
After a few seconds, the Apple logo will reappear on the screen. This indicates that the watch is turning back on.
- Watch turns back on:
After a few more seconds, the Apple logo will disappear and the watch will turn back on. The watch will be in the same state it was in before you force restarted it, but any temporary issues should be resolved.
- Release too early:
If you release the side button and Digital Crown before the Apple logo appears, the watch will not turn off. You will need to start the force restart process again.
Releasing the buttons when the Apple logo appears is important because it allows the watch to complete the restart process successfully.
Use power reserve mode for battery
If you need to conserve battery life on your Apple Watch, you can put it into power reserve mode. This mode turns off all non-essential features of the watch, such as the display, notifications, and heart rate sensor. The watch will still be able to tell time and display the battery level, but it will not be able to do anything else.
To put your Apple Watch into power reserve mode, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the side button:
Press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears. - Swipe to power reserve:
Instead of sliding to power off, swipe to the right on the "power reserve" option. - Confirm power reserve mode:
Tap the "Power Reserve" button to confirm that you want to enter power reserve mode. - Watch enters power reserve mode:
The watch will turn off the display and enter power reserve mode. The time will be displayed in a small font in the center of the screen, and the battery level will be displayed in the upper-left corner.
To exit power reserve mode, simply press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. The watch will then restart and return to normal operation.
FAQ
If you have any questions about how to turn off your Apple Watch, check out our frequently asked questions (FAQ) below:
Question 1: How do I turn off my Apple Watch?
Answer: To turn off your Apple Watch, press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears. Then, slide the slider to the right and confirm the shutdown.
Question 2: What if I accidentally turned off my Apple Watch?
Answer: If you accidentally turned off your Apple Watch, simply press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. The watch will then restart and return to normal operation.
Question 3: Why does my Apple Watch keep turning off?
Answer: There are a few reasons why your Apple Watch might keep turning off. One possibility is that the battery is low. Another possibility is that there is a software issue with the watch. If you're not sure why your watch is turning off, you can try restarting it or contacting Apple support.
Question 4: Can I turn off my Apple Watch without the side button?
Answer: Yes, you can turn off your Apple Watch without the side button. To do this, you can use AssistiveTouch. To enable AssistiveTouch, go to Settings > Accessibility > AssistiveTouch and turn it on. Once AssistiveTouch is enabled, you can double-tap the screen to access the AssistiveTouch menu. From there, you can select "Device" and then "Power Off" to turn off your watch.
Question 5: What is power reserve mode on Apple Watch?
Answer: Power reserve mode is a feature on Apple Watch that allows you to conserve battery life. When power reserve mode is enabled, the watch turns off all non-essential features, such as the display, notifications, and heart rate sensor. The watch will still be able to tell time and display the battery level, but it will not be able to do anything else.
Question 6: How do I put my Apple Watch into power reserve mode?
Answer: To put your Apple Watch into power reserve mode, press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears. Then, swipe to the right on the "power reserve" option and tap the "Power Reserve" button to confirm.
Question 7: How do I exit power reserve mode on Apple Watch?
Answer: To exit power reserve mode, simply press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. The watch will then restart and return to normal operation.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ:
We hope this FAQ has answered your questions about how to turn off your Apple Watch. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact Apple support.
Now that you know how to turn off your Apple Watch, here are a few tips for troubleshooting common issues:
Tips
Here are a few tips for troubleshooting common issues related to turning off your Apple Watch:
Tip 1: Force restart your Apple Watch if it's frozen or unresponsive.
If your Apple Watch is frozen or unresponsive, you can force restart it by pressing and holding both the side button and the Digital Crown for at least 10 seconds. This will force the watch to turn off and then back on again.
Tip 2: Update your Apple Watch to the latest software version.
Software updates can often fix bugs and improve the performance of your Apple Watch. To check for updates, open the Watch app on your iPhone and go to General > Software Update.
Tip 3: Try a different charger.
If you're having trouble turning off your Apple Watch, try using a different charger. Some chargers may not be compatible with the watch or may not provide enough power to turn it off properly.
Tip 4: Contact Apple support if you're still having problems.
If you've tried all of the above tips and you're still having problems turning off your Apple Watch, you can contact Apple support for further assistance.
Closing Paragraph for Tips:
We hope these tips have helped you troubleshoot any issues you were having with turning off your Apple Watch. If you're still having problems, please contact Apple support.
Now that you know how to turn off your Apple Watch and troubleshoot common issues, you can be confident that you're using your watch safely and effectively.
Conclusion
In this article, we've covered everything you need to know about how to turn off your Apple Watch. We've provided step-by-step instructions for turning off the watch using the side button, as well as tips for troubleshooting common issues. We've also discussed how to put your watch into power reserve mode to conserve battery life.
We hope this article has been helpful. By following the steps and tips we've provided, you can safely and effectively turn off your Apple Watch whenever you need to.
Closing Message:
Thank you for reading! If you have any other questions about your Apple Watch, please don't hesitate to contact Apple support or consult the user manual.