Why Did My Apple Watch Turn Off While Swimming?

If your Apple Watch turned off while swimming, there are several potential causes you should consider. From Water Lock mode, low battery issues, and water resistance, to software glitches and extreme temperature exposure, determining the exact reason can help you prevent it from happening again.

Potential Reasons for Apple Watch Shutdown During Swimming

Water Lock Mode: When swimming, enabling the Water Lock mode is essential. This feature prevents accidental taps on the screen, but if it wasn’t enabled, your watch might have shut down due to water exposure. Battery Life: If the battery was low before you started swimming, it might have switched off to conserve power. Always ensure your watch is fully charged before any swimming sessions. Water Resistance: Although Apple Watches are water-resistant, they are not entirely waterproof. If water somehow penetrated the device, it could have caused a malfunction. Software Glitch: Occasionally, software bugs can cause the watch to restart or turn off unexpectedly. Make sure your watchOS is updated to the latest version to avoid such issues. Temperature: Extreme temperatures can affect the performance of electronic devices. If the watch was exposed to very cold or hot water, it might have turned off to protect itself.

Here are some steps you can take if this happens again:

Restart your Apple Watch. Ensure it’s updated to the latest version of watchOS. If the problem persists, contact Apple Support for further assistance.

Automatic Locking and Unlocking of the Apple Watch During Swimming

When you start a swimming workout, your Apple Watch automatically locks the screen with Water Lock to avoid accidental taps. Once you are out of the water to rest or after completing your workout, you can unlock the screen by turning the Digital Crown and clear any water from the speaker.

Note that the Watch is water-resistant always, regardless of whether Water Lock is on or not. Water Lock only prevents water pressure on the screen from registering as touches and doing strange things on the screen—it does not in any way change the water resistance of the watch. When Water Lock is on, your Apple Watch (Series 2 or later) does not respond to touch on its display to prevent accidental input while in water. Turning off Water Lock allows water to be ejected from the speaker.

Preventing Future Incidents

Make sure to prepare your Apple Watch for swimming by:

Ensuring a full charge before your swimming session. Confirming that the speaker area is closed via the watch interface to allow underwater use. Reading the water resistance specs to understand the watch’s capabilities.

If the issue persists, consider taking your watch for repairs. Consult with the Apple store to see if they can offer assistance.