How to restart or force restart an Apple Watch

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Short answer

To restart, hold the side button until the power button appears in the top corner, tap it and drag Power Off. Hold the side button again to turn the watch on. If it is frozen, hold the side button and the Digital Crown together for at least ten seconds until the Apple logo appears.

Restarting fixes most small problems on an Apple Watch, such as notifications that stop arriving, an app that will not open or a workout that will not start.

Step by step

  1. Take the watch off the charger

    An Apple Watch cannot be restarted while it is charging.

  2. Hold the side button

    Keep holding until the sliders appear, then tap the power button in the top right corner.

  3. Drag the Power Off slider

    Wait until the screen is completely dark.

  4. Hold the side button to turn it on

    Let go when the Apple logo appears.

  5. Force restart a frozen watch

    Hold the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time for at least ten seconds. Release both when you see the Apple logo. Use this only when the watch does not respond.

Good to know

Do not force restart during a watchOS update. If you see the Apple logo with a progress ring, leave the watch on its charger until it finishes.

If problems continue, restart the paired iPhone as well.

As a last step, unpairing and pairing the watch again erases it and restores your data from the backup.

In short: Side button, power icon, Power Off. Frozen: side button and Digital Crown for ten seconds.

Sources
  • Apple Support: Restart your Apple Watch

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