Apple Watch stuck on the Apple logo? 4 fixes to try
2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026
Press and hold the side button and the Digital Crown together until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears again, then let go. Give the watch a few minutes. If it stays on the logo, unpair it in the Apple Watch app on the iPhone and pair it again from the backup.
A watch that shows the Apple logo and goes no further has hung during start-up, often after an update. A force restart solves most cases. Unpairing sounds drastic, but the iPhone makes a backup as part of it.
These steps are for recent versions of watchOS and the Apple Watch app on the iPhone.
Step by step
Force restart the watch
Press and hold both the side button and the Digital Crown. Keep holding when the screen turns black, and release when the Apple logo comes back. Then wait a few minutes. More detail: how to restart or force restart an Apple Watch.
Put it on the charger
Place the watch on its charger and leave it there for a while. A start-up after an update can take longer than usual and needs power.
Unpair the watch
On the iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, tap My Watch and All Watches at the top. Tap the info button next to the watch and choose Unpair Apple Watch. On a cellular model, choose whether to keep the plan. Enter your Apple Account password and confirm. The steps with more detail: how to unpair an Apple Watch.
Pair it again and restore the backup
Tap Start Pairing, or Add Watch if you have more than one, and follow the set-up. Choose Restore from Backup to get your data and settings back. See how to pair an Apple Watch with an iPhone.
Install updates
When the watch runs again, open the Apple Watch app, tap General, Software Update and install what is offered. The steps are in how to update your Apple Watch.
Good to know
Do not force restart while an update is being installed and a progress ring is turning around the logo. Leave the watch on the charger until it is finished.
If the watch is still stuck after pairing again, contact Apple Support. That points to a hardware fault.
A screen that stays black is covered in Apple Watch won't turn on: 7 fixes to try.
In short: Force restart with side button and Digital Crown, charger, unpair, pair again with Restore from Backup, update.
- Apple Support: If your Apple Watch is stuck on the Apple logo
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