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How to Power Off a Broken Apple Watch

Introduction

If your Apple Watch’s touchscreen is broken or doesn’t respond to touch, you can’t power it down using the slide-to-power-off controls. Instead, follow this guide to switch off your Apple Watch using the side button and digital crown. After turning off your watch, you can proceed with repairs.

  1. How to Power Off a Broken Apple Watch, Press and hold both buttons: step 1, image 1 of 2 How to Power Off a Broken Apple Watch, Press and hold both buttons: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • If your Apple Watch is charging, unplug it from the charger, or this procedure won't work.

    • Press and hold both the side button and digital crown simultaneously.

    • Continue holding while the Apple Watch reboots.

    Edit

  3. How to Power Off a Broken Apple Watch, Release the digital crown: step 2, image 1 of 3 How to Power Off a Broken Apple Watch, Release the digital crown: step 2, image 2 of 3 How to Power Off a Broken Apple Watch, Release the digital crown: step 2, image 3 of 3

    • When you see the Apple logo, release the digital crown. Continue holding the side button.

    • When the Apple logo disappears, release the side button.

    Edit

    This doesn’t work when your screen is broken so badly that it doesn’t display anything. At least you can’t tell if it worked or not.

    Todd Fall - Reply

  4. How to Power Off a Broken Apple Watch: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • The Apple Watch is now powered off.

    Edit

    Grazie, ha funzionato benissimo con il mio Apple Watch serie 3, grazie!

    albertobotturi - Reply

Conclusion

That’s all! With your Apple Watch safely powered down, you can proceed with repairs.

71 other people completed this guide.

Author

Jeff Suovanen

Member since: 08/06/13

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7 Comments

Hi Jeff, is this supposed to work with series 3 watches. All I see is the time and a red lightning bolt which then disappears and then reappears

Ed Rutmayer - Reply

Readers,

If a red lightning bolt is on screen, it needs charged. When charging, it’ll turn green. Note: if watch is drained, it may be a bit before it’s green. If watch is blank or has an Apple Magnetic Charger and red bolt, leave it on for 30m. It should be green by then. If not, and using a Non-Apple “knock off” Charger, try an Apple Magnetic Watch Charger, Apple USB Adapter, and a working wall outlet (NOT a laptop or power bank). If it won't charge or reads “accessory isn't supported”, check for plastic films on either side of magnetic charge pad, and remove it. Clean the back of the watch and unplug and disconnect everything for about 10s. Then plug in and try to charge it. Both are magnetic and “stick” together. You should see the green bolt after some charge time. If not, then force restart (Jeff’s step 1) until Apple logo, then let go. No logo? Try another Apple Charger, Apple Adapter, and/or wall outlet. It’s $159 for a screen fix on a $200 watch. If all of this fails, better to just buy a new one.

Alice -

bonjour

comment s

Nacache - Reply

comment savoir si la batterie est defectueuse mon apple watch serie nike +affiche la pomme et celle-ci diparait serait la batterie ou la mise a jour je ne peux la synchroniser avec mon iphone vu qu’elle ne demare plus merci a vous de me rensseigner

Nacache - Reply

do I tail need to power off the watch if its been unused for a long time? my screen is blank and I can not see anything on it

Luis - Reply

Ciao il mio Apple Watch ⌚️ non si spegne dal tasto laterale troppo duro o rigido come posso fare?

Andrea Taberini - Reply

Thanks. It worked!

Anwar Whittie - Reply

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