Apple's guidance for a watch that will not respond is to work upward from a restart. If the screen is dim, a Water Lock droplet at the top of the watch face means the touchscreen is intentionally off: Apple says to press and hold the Digital Crown until the display says Unlocked, and a series of tones clears water from the speaker. If the watch is simply frozen, restart it normally by holding the side button until the sliders appear and dragging Power Off; you cannot restart it while it is charging.
If it will not shut down, force restart by holding the side button and Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears. If the watch sits on the Apple logo, Apple's article says to force restart, then unpair and pair again, then check for a software update. A screen that ignores touch in one area, a crown that does not click, or a button that sticks after a knock or a spill is hardware, and Apple service, not more taps.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple Watch touchscreen, crown or buttons are not responding”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Water Lock is on
What separates it The display ignores taps and shows a water droplet
How to confirm Press and hold the Digital Crown until it says Unlocked, as Apple describes
- 2
A frozen watchOS session
What separates it The screen is on and does not respond to touch or the crown
How to confirm Restart, then force restart if it will not shut down
- 3
A stuck loop at the Apple logo
What separates it The watch reboots to the logo and no further
How to confirm Force restart, unpair and pair again, and update, as Apple's article says
- 4
A screen protector, film or wet fingers
What separates it Touch works in patches or only when the display is dry
How to confirm Remove any film, dry the screen and your fingers and retest
- 5
A damaged button or crown
What separates it The crown does not click or a button stays pressed
How to confirm This is hardware, so book Apple service for the watch
- 6
Hardware damage after a drop
What separates it The screen has dead zones or a crack because of hardware damage after a drop
How to confirm Stop using it and take it to Apple
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- What responds and what does not: touch, the Digital Crown, the side button, the Action button
- Whether a water droplet or Water Lock icon shows
- Whether the watch was dropped, soaked or fitted with a screen protector recently
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCheck Water Lock
ReversibleIf a droplet shows, press and hold the Digital Crown until the display says Unlocked.
Dry the watch
ReversibleDry the watch, by wiping the screen and your fingers with a lint free cloth and removing any film.
Restart normally
ReversibleHold the side button until the sliders appear, tap the power icon and drag Power Off to the right, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
Charge it
ReversiblePut the watch on its charger and leave it for a while, since low power can look like a frozen screen.
Unpair and pair again
ReversibleIf the logo persists, unpair from the Watch app and pair again, restoring from backup.
Book service for damage
ReversibleBook service for damage, and if a button, crown or screen is physically damaged, book Apple service.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Buttons by model
- Apple's tech specs list a Digital Crown with haptic feedback and a side button on every model; the Ultra and Ultra 2 add a customizable Action button and a siren; the Series 10 adds a band release button.
- Glass by model
- Series 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and SE 2 use Ion-X front glass on aluminum cases, and the Ultra and Ultra 2 use a flat sapphire crystal, per Apple's tech specs and Identify page.
- Repair cost
- Unlocking, restarting and force restarting cost nothing. A physical fault is a repair: Apple's out-of-warranty battery service is $99, and launch-day repair fees MacRumors reported were $199 to $229 for an SE 2, $299 to $399 for a Series 8 and $499 for an Ultra, and AppleCare+ incidents were $79 on an Ultra.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), Apple Watch Series 6.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the watch sticks on the Apple logo after a force restart and an unpair, book Apple service
- !If a crack, dead zone or stuck button is visible, book Apple service and stop using it
- !If it only fails while wet, use Water Lock and dry the watch before booking anything
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Force restart, unpair and pair again and the update route for a watch that is not responding.
Water Lock switches touch off; the Digital Crown unlocks it.
The 10-second force restart and charging checks.
Action button, Digital Crown with haptic feedback and side button.
The Apple Watch line and its generations.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my Apple Watch touchscreen not responding?+
Check Water Lock first. If it is not on, restart and force restart the watch, as Apple describes.
How do I unlock Water Lock?+
Press and hold the Digital Crown until the display says Unlocked. Tones play to clear water from the speaker.
What does the force restart do?+
Holding the side button and Digital Crown for at least 10 seconds restarts the watch without erasing it.
Can I restart while charging?+
No. Apple says you cannot restart the watch while it is charging.
The watch is stuck on the Apple logo.+
Force restart, then unpair and pair again, then check for an update, per Apple.
Does the Action button matter?+
The Ultra and Ultra 2 have an Action button that can start workouts; if it does nothing, check its assignment in Settings, Action Button.
Can a screen protector break touch?+
A thick or wet film can make touch patchy. Remove it and test.
Will a force restart delete data?+
No. It restarts the watch and does not erase it.
Are the button holes a reset port?+
No. Apple says the holes in the case are for sound and, on the Ultra, depth measurement; do not insert anything.
What if the crown does not turn?+
Debris or damage can jam the crown. Clean it with a soft cloth and book service if it stays stuck.