How to Turn Off Apple Watch (and Force Restart It)

Switching an Apple Watch off isn't as obvious as it should be. Recent versions of watchOS changed what the side button shows, so many people hold it and find Emergency SOS and Medical ID instead of a power slider. The power control is still there, just behind an extra tap. Here's how to switch the watch off, back on, and what to do when it won't respond.

Turn off your Apple Watch

1. Take the watch off its charger. Apple notes it can't be restarted while charging.
2. Press and hold the side button, the flat button below the Digital Crown.
3. When the sliders appear, tap the power button icon at the top right.
4. Drag the Power Off slider to the right.

Be careful not to drag the Emergency SOS slider by mistake. If you do, and the countdown starts, release and cancel it straight away.

Turn your Apple Watch back on

Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears, then let go. The watch takes a short while to start, and you'll need your passcode before it works with your iPhone again.

Which button is which

Button	What holding it does
Side button (flat, long)	Shows the power, SOS and Medical ID controls
Digital Crown (round dial)	Opens Siri
Both together for 10 seconds or more	Force restart

Force restart a frozen watch

If the screen is stuck and the sliders won't appear, hold the side button and the Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo shows. Apple says to use this only when a normal restart isn't possible. It doesn't erase anything, but don't do it during a watchOS update, when the logo and progress wheel are on screen; let the update finish.

If holding the side button opens the Dock or app switcher instead, you pressed too briefly; keep holding until the sliders appear, which takes a couple of seconds.

Why turn it off at all?

• To fix a glitch: Apple suggests restarting both the watch and its paired iPhone when something isn't working right.
• To save battery when you won't wear it for a while, such as when travelling.
• Before selling it: after unpairing, Apple says you can switch it off rather than setting it up.

Save battery without switching off

Often you don't need it fully off. Low Power Mode, in Control Centre on the watch, keeps the time and core features while cutting background activity, and it's the better choice for a long day away from a charger. Turning on Airplane Mode also saves power. Switching off completely means no notifications, no activity tracking and no fall detection, so use it when you really don't need the watch.

Turn it off from the iPhone?

You can't. The Watch app on the iPhone doesn't include a power-off option, so you'll need the side button on the watch itself. If the side button is broken, let the battery run down, and contact Apple Support about a repair.

If it won't turn back on

1. Put it on the charger for at least half an hour.
2. Check the charger and cable work with another device.
3. Take it off the charger, then try the force restart by holding both buttons.
4. If there's still nothing, contact Apple Support.

Once it's back up, reconnect anything that relies on it, such as Snapchat notifications on Apple Watch or WhatsApp on your watch.

Turn off the always-on display instead

If what bothers you is the screen staying lit, for example in a cinema or at night, you don't need to switch the watch off. Theater Mode, in Control Centre, keeps the screen dark until you tap it or press a button, and mutes sounds. Sleep Focus does something similar overnight. Both keep notifications and health tracking going quietly in the background, which a full power-off doesn't.

Turning it off for travel or storage

If you're putting the watch away for weeks, charge it to around half first and then switch it off. Batteries generally age better when they're not left completely flat or completely full for long periods. When you take it out again, charge it before switching it on, and give it a few minutes to sync with your iPhone.

Restart the iPhone too

Apple's own troubleshooting suggests restarting the paired iPhone along with the watch when something isn't working, because the two depend on each other. On any iPhone you can do this from Settings, General, Shut Down. Turn the iPhone back on first, then the watch.

Turn off a watch that isn't yours to keep

If you're returning a work watch or passing one on, don't just switch it off. Unpair it from the iPhone first so it's erased and free of Activation Lock, then switch it off at the setup screen.

My verdict

Hold the side button, tap the power icon, drag Power Off. Hold the side button again to switch on. If it's frozen, hold the side button and Digital Crown for 10 seconds, and for battery saving, try Low Power Mode before you switch it off completely.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off my Apple Watch?

Hold the side button, tap the power icon, then drag Power Off.

Why can't I turn off my Apple Watch?

Take it off the charger first. It can't be restarted while charging.

How do I force restart an Apple Watch?

Hold the side button and Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds.

Can I turn off my Apple Watch from my iPhone?

No. You need the side button on the watch.

How do I turn my Apple Watch back on?

Hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.