An Apple Watch that has frozen mid-workout or slowed to a crawl usually doesn’t need a repair shop — it needs a restart. Like any small computer, the watch benefits from an occasional fresh boot, and Apple provides two ways to do it depending on whether the screen still responds to touch.
Both methods below work on every Apple Watch model, from the earliest generations to the latest Ultra. One important distinction before we start: restarting is completely safe and keeps all your data. It is not the same as erasing or resetting the watch, and this guide does not cover resets at all.
Method 1: Standard restart (the screen still responds)
Use this method whenever the watch is working normally but feels sluggish, or when an app is misbehaving.
- Open the power menu. Press and hold the side button — the slim button below the Digital Crown — until the power screen with its sliders appears.
- Power off the watch. Tap the power icon, then drag the Power Off slider all the way to the right. The screen goes dark as the watch shuts down.
- Turn it back on. Once the watch is fully off, press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears, then let go and wait for it to boot.
- If it won’t turn on, charge it first. A deeply drained battery can make a watch look dead. Set it on its charger for a while, then try holding the side button again.
Method 2: Force restart (the watch is frozen)
Use this only when the watch is completely unresponsive — the screen is stuck, taps do nothing, and the standard method above is impossible. A force restart is a last resort, not a routine habit. And never do it while a watchOS update is installing: interrupting an update can corrupt the software.
- Hold both buttons. Press and hold the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time.
- Keep holding through the black screen. Don’t let go when the display goes dark — keep both buttons pressed until the Apple logo appears, then release.
- Wait for the reboot. The watch takes a little longer than usual to start up after a force restart. Give it a minute before deciding anything is wrong.
Apple documents both procedures in its official Restart Apple Watch support article, and The Mac Observer’s illustrated walkthrough is another clear reference with photos of each step. If you like keeping your Apple accessories dialed in, our guide to turning off AirPods charging case sounds covers another quick settings fix, and the Liquid Glass lock screen clock tutorial shows how to restyle the clock on your iPhone.
If it still doesn’t work
A watch that won’t restart normally is often just out of power — leave it on the charger for at least 30 minutes before trying again. If the screen responds but everything feels sluggish after the reboot, check for a pending watchOS update in the Watch app on your iPhone, since updates frequently fix performance bugs. For anything beyond that, such as a watch stuck on the Apple logo for a very long time, contact Apple Support rather than experimenting further.
Frequently asked questions
Will restarting my Apple Watch delete my data?
No. A restart — standard or force — simply reboots the software. Your apps, settings, health data, and watch faces are all exactly where you left them. Only an erase would remove data, and neither method described here does that.
How often should I restart my Apple Watch?
Only when you notice a problem: a frozen screen, an app that won’t open, or unusually fast battery drain. There is no need to restart on a schedule — watchOS manages itself well day to day.
Conclusion
Nine times out of ten, the standard side-button restart is all a misbehaving Apple Watch needs, with the side-button-plus-Digital-Crown force restart reserved for truly frozen moments. Keep the force restart as your emergency tool, never use it during an update, and your watch should be back to normal in a couple of minutes.
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