Apple Watch user
 
How to Restart Your Apple Watch?
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cdteliot
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Restarting an Apple Watch can help resolve various software issues and improve performance. To restart your Apple Watch, you can either perform a normal shutdown or, if necessary, execute a force restart by simultaneously pressing and holding the side button and Digital Crown for at least 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears.

 

Option #1: Normal Shutdown and Restart

9to5mac.com
9to5mac.com
The normal restart procedure for an Apple Watch is a simple process that can be completed in a few steps. Here's how to perform a normal restart:
  • Press and hold the side button (located below the Digital Crown) until the power off slider appears on the screen
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  • Drag the power off slider to the right to turn off your Apple Watch
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  • Wait for about 30 seconds to ensure the watch has fully powered down
  • Press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo
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  • Release the button and wait for your Apple Watch to restart
It's important to note that you cannot restart your Apple Watch while it's charging
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If your watch is unresponsive or frozen, you may need to perform a force restart instead.
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Option #2: Force Restart Procedure

support.apple.com
support.apple.com
When your Apple Watch becomes unresponsive or experiences issues that a normal restart can't resolve, a force restart may be necessary. Here's how to perform a force restart on your Apple Watch:
  • Press and hold both the side button and Digital Crown simultaneously for at least 10 seconds
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  • Keep holding both buttons until the screen turns black and the Apple logo appears
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  • Release both buttons once you see the Apple logo
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  • Wait for your Apple Watch to complete the restart process, which may take a few seconds to a few minutes
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This method works for all Apple Watch models, including the Apple Watch Ultra
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It's important to note that a force restart should only be used when your watch is unresponsive and other methods have failed
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Turning Off Your Apple Watch: watchOS 9 vs. watchOS 8

The process of turning off an Apple Watch varies slightly depending on the watchOS version. Here's a breakdown of the differences between watchOS 9 (and later) and watchOS 8 (and earlier):
  • For watchOS 9 and later:
    1. Press and hold the side button until the SOS screen appears
    2. Tap the power icon in the top right corner
    3. Swipe the "Power Off" slider to the right to turn off the watch
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  • For watchOS 8 and earlier:
    1. Press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears
    2. Swipe the "Power Off" slider to the right to turn off the watch
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To turn the watch back on for all versions, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears
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It's worth noting that since watchOS 9, the watch enters power reserve mode instead of fully powering off when turned off
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Related
What are the new features introduced in watchOS 10
How does watchOS 10 improve the power management compared to earlier versions
Are there any hidden settings in watchOS 10 that enhance user experience
How does the power reserve mode work in watchOS 9 and later
Can I customize the power off process on watchOS 10
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