How to Turn on Apple Watch After It Dies? (Top Solutions!)

It can be very frustrating when you encounter issues with the best wearable in the market.

Luckily, we have solutions! In this article, we’ll discuss how to turn on Apple Watch after it dies and why you need the full fix. 

It may take a few extra steps, but you should have it up and running in under 10 minutes.

The first thing you should do if your Apple Watch won’t turn on is to ensure it’s charging. Verify that the charging station is plugged into a working wall outlet and that the cables have no cuts. If it doesn’t charge, force a restart by pressing and holding the Digital Crown and side button at the same time.  

Before proceeding to the complete solutions, let us discuss why your Apple Watch won’t turn on. 

Reasons Why Won’t My Apple Watch Turn On

Whether you’re using an older Apple Watch model or the brand-new Apple Watch 8, there are a few issues that could be causing your device to go dark and become unresponsive.

Before you give up, here is a list of fixable reasons your Apple Watch isn’t powering up.

Note: If none applies to you, visit the nearest Apple Center. 

✅ Charging and Power Supply Issues

If you leave your Apple Watch to charge and it still won’t switch on, you may be dealing with a faulty charger or power outlet.

Either you are using a thief-party charger or a worn-out Apple charger. 

✅ Obstruction on the Charging Element

Apple Watch uses induction to power up while placed on a charging dock.

A plastic wrap may still be stuck to your watch, causing the problem. 

✅ Apple Watch Is in Power Reserve Mode

You may have enabled Power Reserve Mode to preserve your battery life.

It turns off all features except the time display, keeping your phone from communicating with your Apple Watch. 

✅ Screen Curtain Mode Is Activated

With this feature on, your screen turns off to keep the display away from prying eyes.

It won’t turn on when you are in public places, so you will just be listening to VoiceOver. 

These are the possible reasons your Apple Watch won’t turn on after it dies. Now, let’s move on to the full fix.

Full Fix How to Turn Apple Watch On After It Dies

Knowing how to turn on Apple Watch after it dies eliminates the need to seek professional help and lets you get back to using the wearable in no time.

But before you proceed to advanced solutions, start with a simple restart.  

To restart your Apple Watch, press the side button until the power icon appears in the upper right corner of the display.

Tap it and drag the power slide off. After turning off your watch, press the side button again until you see the Apple logo. 

If the problem persists, proceed to the fixes below. 

1. Verify That Your Apple Watch is Charging

If you allow your Apple Watch’s battery to reach zero percent, you can have a hard time turning it on again.

Before your switch it on, the first thing you will need to do is get some power back into the battery by charging it.

The problem with getting your Apple Watch to zero percent is that checking if it’s charged up is not as straightforward.

Your watch’s display will not light up, so you must use other ways to verify its current charge.

Here’s how to check whether your Apple Watch is charging or not:

1. Look for the lightning symbol on your Apple Watch display.
2. If it’s not on, swipe up on the watch face to check the battery percentage.
3. Alternatively, you can use a battery widget on your iPhone.

Pro Tip: Make sure your Apple Watch is positioned correctly with the magnets aligning for it to charge.

2. Use a Different Charger or Cable to Charge Your Apple Watch

If you can’t confirm that your Apple Watch is charged up or at least charging, you want to look at some of the accessories you need to charge it.

The charging stand can malfunction, or the cables are damaged, and it’s not delivering a charge to your watch.

Other factors include your power outlet or the USB port in which you’re plugging the charger.

You want to ensure they work so you can be confident that your Apple Watch is getting power into its batteries.

Here’s how to ensure that there are no power delivery issues that can obstruct charging:

1. Plug the magnetic charging cable into the power adapter.
2. Plug the power adapter into a wall outlet.
3. Alternatively, you can also plug it into a USB port.
4. Position your watch with the charger correctly.

Note: Give your Apple Watch enough time to charge, especially if it shuts down because your batteries reach zero percent.

3. Ensure There is No Obstruction On The Charging Element

If, at this point, your Apple Watch is still not charging, there’s one more thing you need to check.

Your Apple Watch uses induction technology to charge. It means it relies on magnets on the charging dock and the watch to transfer power.

There are instances when this gets obstructed, and the magnets can’t facilitate the flow of power.

Here’s how to remove obstructions on the charging element of your watch:

1. Check the rear case of your watch and remove any plastic wraps.
2. Look at both sides of the magnetic charger.
3. Remove any debris or dirt on the magnetic charger.
4. Wipe the charging ports and rear of your watch with a soft cloth.

Note: If the dirt residue is hard to remove, you can dampen the cloth with a 70% alcohol solution.

4. Switch Off the VoiceOver Feature on Your Apple Watch

Some settings on your Apple Watch can prevent your display from lighting up, charging it, and restarting it.

There’s a feature called the Screen Curtain, where your watch can be operated by sound rather than touch.

You want to check if this particular setting is switched off so you can see your watch display.

Here’s how to turn off Screen Curtain and VoiceOver on your Apple Watch:

1. Open the Watch app on your paired phone.
2. Select My Watch at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down and choose the Accessibility option.
4. Tap on VoiceOver.
5. Toggle the switch to the Off position.

Pro Tip: You don’t need access to your watch to change this setting.

5. Get Your Watch Out of Power Reserve Mode

Your Apple Watch has a low-power feature if it runs out of batteries.

This activates when it detects that your watch is at 10% to prevent it from shutting down due to a lack of battery power.

The problem with this feature is that it takes power savings to the extreme.

Once Power Reserve mode is activated, you will have a hard time disabling it.

Whenever this happens, you want to know what you’re dealing with and verify that your watch is in Power Reserve.

Here’s how to know if your Apple Watch is in Power Reserve mode:

1. You only see the lightning symbol on the screen.
2. Tapping the watch will only show you the time, and it goes dark again.
3. Pressing on the crown also shows you the time briefly.
4. Restart your watch to disable Power Reserve mode.

6. Force Restart Your Apple Watch

You will have no issues turning your Apple Watch on if you don’t run the batteries down to zero.

However, allowing your watch to die is a different problem. You can think it’s malfunctioning, but it will have difficulty restarting even if it’s charged up.

The most effective way to turn on your Apple Watch after you deplete its batteries is to perform a force restart.

Software issues can cause it not to boot up normally, especially if it shuts down suddenly.

Here’s how to force restart your Apple Watch:

1. Locate the Apple Watch crown and press on it.
2. Press the button below it.
3. Press and hold the two buttons for at least 10 seconds.
4. The Apple logo will appear on your watch’s display.
5. Check if your Apple Watch boots up normally.

Note: If the watch does not restart in 10 seconds, you can wait until 30 seconds before giving up.

If you continue having difficulty booting up your watch after performing a force restart, you can check for software updates.

You can also consider resetting it to factory settings to eliminate any software complications from the forced shutdown. If all else fails, you can contact Apple support for assistance. 

Bottom Line

The steps on how to turn on Apple Watch after it dies should not be a problem. It’s safe not to let your watch get down to zero percent as more issues can arise.

The good news is that you can get your watch back in working condition once you know these solutions.

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