Here is a 2 seconds answer for problem How to Reboot an Apple Watch?
- Quick Answer: To restart your Apple Watch, hold the Side Button until the Power Off slider appears. Swipe it away and wait 30 seconds. If your screen is frozen and not responding, you can force restart your Apple Watch by holding the Side Button and Digital Crown together for 10 seconds.
- Reboot Regularly Hold Side Button Swipe down to turn off Wait 30 sec Turn back on
- Force restart: Hold down Side Button and Digital Crown together for 10 seconds until Apple logo appears.
- Charging watch? Unplug it first , you cannot reboot an Apple Watch while it’s on the charger.
Standard Restart vs Force Restart vs Factory Reset (At a Glance)
It is important to know if the problem is a software glitch or a worn out battery before you wipe your Apple Watch. We built a free Apple Watch Battery Diagnostic Tool that checks your watch’s battery health in under a minute, so you’re not guessing.
Not every fix is the same , some people just need a normal reboot an Apple Watch, while others need a force restart or a full factory reset. This table clears up the confusion instantly.
| Action | Button Combo | Data Risk | When to Use |
| Standard Restart | Hold Side Button | No data loss | Slow apps, minor glitches |
| Force Restart | Side Button + Digital Crown (10 sec) | No data loss | Frozen or black screen |
| Factory Reset | Settings > General > Reset | Erases everything | Selling watch, major software issues |
A standard reboot and a force restart are both completely safe for your data. A factory reset is the only option that wipes your Apple Watch clean, so save that one for last.
Method 1: How to Standard Restart Your Apple Watch (Normal Reboot)
The simplest way to reboot an Apple Watch and fix minor glitches like a laggy screen, a stuck app, or a Bluetooth hiccup is to perform a standard reboot. This is generally the first thing to try before anything more serious.
Method A: Using the Side Button (watch OS 10 and 11)
On the newer watch OS 10 and 11 layout, press and hold the Side Button on the right edge of your watch: Then the Power icon will show up in the top right of the screen. Tap it, then drag the “Power Off” slider to restart your Apple Watch:
After about 30 seconds, press the Side Button again to power your watch back on. This small pause matters , it lets the watch fully shut down before restarting.
Method B: Restarting via the Settings App (No Physical Buttons Required)
If your Side Button is stiff or not responding, you can still reboot your Apple Watch through software.
· Open Settings on your Apple Watch.
· Tap General and scroll to the bottom.
· Select Shut Down.
Slide the slider, wait 30 seconds and hold the Side button to power on.
Important: You can’t restart your Apple Watch while it’s on the magnetic charger. Always unplug first or the Power Off screen won’t come up regardless of what button you press.
Method 2: How to Force Restart Apple Watch (Hard Reset for Frozen Screen)
If your Apple Watch is frozen and won’t respond to any taps or presses, a force restart is a more powerful way of rebooting your Apple Watch.
When To (And When Not To) Force Restart?
Use a force restart only if the screen is frozen, black or completely unresponsive. Don’t use it just because an app is slow , a standard reboot handles that fine, and skipping straight to a force restart won’t fix regular software glitches any faster.
How to: Side Button and Digital Crown Combination
Hold down the Side Button and Digital Crown at the same time. Hold the buttons until the Apple logo appears on the screen (around 10 seconds), then release them. Your watch will automatically reboot in less than a minute.
How to fix if your Apple Watch won’t reboot or turn back on?
Sometimes a reboot doesn’t go as planned. Here are the most common problems people have, and the exact fix for each one.
Fix 1: Apple Watch Stuck on the Apple Logo (Boot Loop)
If your watch keeps showing the Apple logo in a loop, force restart it once using the Side Button and Digital Crown. If it continues after two attempts, connect it to the charger for at least 30 minutes before trying again.
Fix 2: Screen Remains Black or Unresponsive After Reboot
A black screen after you reboot your Apple Watch is often just a drained battery. Charge it for 15 to 20 minutes, then hold the Side Button to switch it on. If nothing happens, try the force restart combo again.
Fix 3: Restarting the Paired iPhone (Fixing Bluetooth/Sync Freeze)
If your watch turns on fine after you reboot your Apple Watch but Bluetooth or syncing issues persist, the root cause is likely your paired iPhone. Try rebooting your phone, place both devices side by side, and allow a minute for them to re establish connection automatically.
Fix 4: Force Rebooting During an Active watch OS Update (Safe Workarounds)
Never force restart your Apple Watch while it’s installing a watch OS update , this can corrupt the update and leave it stuck. If it’s genuinely frozen mid update, wait 30 minutes first, since most updates finish on their own.
Fix 5: Apple Watch Won’t Turn On Due to Thermal Shutdown (Too Hot or Too Cold)
Extreme heat or extreme cold can force your Apple Watch to shut itself down for protection, even when the battery is full. If this happens, move it to a room temperature spot away from direct sun or freezing air, and give it 10 to 15 minutes before you try to reboot your Apple Watch again.
A cold morning walk, or sunny dashboards are the two most common triggers. Once the watch returns to a normal temperature, a standard reboot should bring it right back to life.
Fix 6: Low Power Mode Glitches That Block a Clean Reboot
Sometimes the Apple Watch can be really slow. Even stop working when it is restarting because Low Power Mode turns off some things that the Apple Watch does in the background to make the battery last longer.
To fix this you should do these things.
- First you should open the Settings on your Apple Watch.
- Then you should tap on Battery. Turn Low Power Mode off on your Apple Watch.
- After that you should restart your Apple Watch like you usually do
If it keeps happening, charge to at least 50 percent first, then disable Low Power Mode before rebooting again , a low charge is a common reason a reboot appears stuck.
Fix 7: Unpairing and Re pairing Your Apple Watch as a Resort
If none of the fixes above work unpairing your Apple Watch from your iPhone and pairing it again often clears deeper software problems that a simple reboot can’t reach. Open the Watch app on your iPhone tap the (i) icon next, to your watch. Choose Unpair Apple Watch.
This backs up your data automatically before unpairing so nothing is lost. Set it up again as new then reboot your Apple Watch more to confirm the issue is resolved.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will rebooting my Apple Watch delete activity or health data?
No. A standard reboot or force restart never deletes your health or activity data. Only a factory reset erases everything, so it’s backing up your Apple Watch first if you’re planning a full reset.
How do I restart my Apple Watch without a passcode or screen touch?
You can still reboot your Apple Watch using only the Side Button, since a passcode isn’t needed for a normal or force restart. If you’re locked out and need to remove the passcode entirely, our guide on resetting an Apple Watch Series 3 without a passcode walks through that separate process.
Why does my Apple Watch restart automatically by itself?
This usually points to low storage, a buggy watch OS update, or an aging battery If the problem still exists after you manually restart the device look for any available watch OS updates. Perform a quick battery test.
How often should I restart my Apple Watch to get the performance?
Most people only need to restart their Apple Watch every weeks or whenever it seems slow. There is no problem, with doing it often. Imagine it as a quick refresh, not a fix.
Final Verdict & Next Steps
Understanding how to restart an Apple Watch is really easy once you know the button combination. A regular restart removes problems a force restart helps if the screen is frozen and a factory reset is the final option.
Setting up a device for someone you care about? Our Apple Watch grief support guide can help you handle their data with care before you reboot or reset anything.
Keep this guide handy the next time your screen freezes or your Apple Watch acts up , one calm reboot is usually all it takes to fix things. Knowing exactly how to reboot your Apple Watch means you’ll never have to panic over a frozen screen again.