You can restart your Apple Watch either by performing a standard restart through the settings menu or by force restarting it using the buttons if a standard restart isn't possible or doesn't resolve the issue.
Standard Restart (Recommended)
The standard restart is the gentlest way to refresh your Apple Watch's system. It's the first method you should try if your watch is behaving unexpectedly but is still responsive.
Steps for Standard Restart:
- Press and hold the side button (the flat button below the Digital Crown) on your Apple Watch until the power options screen appears.
- Tap the power icon (it looks like a circle with a line at the top). Alternatively, on some watchOS versions, you might see a slider labeled "Power Off" – swipe this slider to the right.
- Wait for your Apple Watch to completely shut down (the screen will go blank).
- To turn it back on, press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
Force Restart (Use When Necessary)
A force restart should only be used if your Apple Watch is unresponsive, frozen, or if the standard restart method doesn't fix the problem. It's a more drastic action and should not be done routinely.
Steps for Force Restart:
Based on the provided reference:
- Hold down the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time.
- Keep holding both buttons for at least ten seconds.
- Release the buttons when you see the Apple logo appears on the screen.
When to Use Force Restart
Do this only if you're unable to restart your Apple Watch using the standard method, or if the problem continues even after performing a standard restart. Essentially, use a force restart as a last resort for troubleshooting when the watch is unresponsive.
| Restart Type | Method | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Hold side button, tap power icon/swipe "Power Off" slider | Routine restart, minor glitches, watch is responsive |
| Force Restart | Hold side button and Digital Crown simultaneously for 10+ seconds until Apple logo appears | Watch is frozen/unresponsive, standard restart fails |
