Apple Watch won't turn on? 7 fixes to try
2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 2 October 2026
Put the watch on its charger and wait up to 30 minutes for a lightning bolt to appear. Then press and hold the side button and the Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
A black screen on an Apple Watch usually means an empty battery or software that has hung. A watch that has run completely flat can take half an hour on the charger before it shows any sign of life.
Step by step
Check the charger
Use the Apple Magnetic Charging Cable or the USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable. Push the cable fully into the power adapter and the adapter fully into the socket.
Remove the plastic film
A new charger has plastic wrap on both sides of the round puck. Take it off completely.
Clean the back of the watch and the charger
Wipe both with a dry cloth. Dirt or sweat between the two surfaces weakens the connection.
Place the watch again and wait
Put the back of the watch on the charger so that the magnets pull it into place. If the battery is empty, Apple says it can take up to 30 minutes before the lightning bolt appears.
Read the lightning bolt
A red lightning bolt alone means the battery is too low to start the watch. A red lightning bolt in a ring means the watch is charging. Leave it on the charger.
Force a restart
Press and hold the side button and the Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears. This also helps when the watch is stuck on the Apple logo.
Try another cable and adapter
Borrow a different Apple Watch charging cable and a different power adapter. If the watch charges with those, the old cable or adapter is faulty.
Good to know
On a charging dock, a large watch may need a different angle, or must lie completely flat. With an Apple Watch Ultra, take the band off if the watch does not sit properly on a dock.
If the screen stays black after all steps, the watch may need service. Contact Apple Support.
More on charging: Apple Watch not charging: 7 fixes to try. More on restarting: how to restart or force restart an Apple Watch.
In short: Charger connected, film off, clean, wait up to 30 minutes, read the bolt, hold both buttons 10 seconds, other cable.
- Apple Support: If your Apple Watch won't turn on or won't charge
Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.