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How to turn off Apple Watch

No matter if you just got your wearable or haven’t had to turn it off in a while, follow along with our guide on how to turn off Apple Watch.

It’s not that common that you’ll need to turn off Apple Watch but whether you’re trying to fix a glitch or just need to shut it down fully, we’ll cover how to power off your wearable as well as how to turn it back on.

How to turn off Apple Watch

  1. Locate the side button (oval/pill shape) next to the Digital Crown
  2. Press and hold the side button for 3-5 seconds
  3. Now slide the power off slider to the right (watchOS 8 and earlier)
    • For watchOS 9, tap the power icon button in the top right corner, then slide the power off slider to the right
  4. If the side button or touch screen is not working normally, you can try a force restart

If you’re still having trouble, reach out to Apple Support or head to an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider

Here’s the side button:

How to turn off Apple Watch tutorial

To turn on Apple Watch, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo appear.

  • If it doesn’t power on, place your watch on the charger
    • If it doesn’t charge, try a different outlet and/or a different charger if possible
    • Ideally, use the original charger that came with your watch
    • Make sure your wearable and charger are both clean
  • If the battery is very low, a red lightning bolt will appear, that will turn green when it starts charging
  • Let your Apple Watch charge for at least 30 minutes

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