By Joseph Chidi
Your Apple Watch can clearly indicate if it has been exposed to water. So, look out for these signs to avoid permanently damaging your wearable.
Key Takeaways
- Condensation under the screen is a common sign of water damage in an Apple Watch. Moisture can cause droplets to form inside the screen, damaging the hardware.
- Unresponsive controls can indicate water damage in an Apple Watch. Moisture inside the watch can fry internal components and render buttons useless.
- Unusual battery behavior may indicate severe water damage. When the battery components come in contact with water, they may corrode and leak.
While the Apple Watch is built with water resistance capabilities, it still cannot cheat nature. Liquids, especially water, remain a paramount enemy of electronic devices, including the best Apple Watch models, as they may still suffer water damage.
On that note, here are some signs that your Apple Watch may have suffered water damage.
1. Condensation Under the Screen
Condensation is a very common sign of water damage in many devices. If you ever notice your Apple Watch with tiny vapor droplets under the screen, as if someone has breathed on it from the inside, you should be worried. It's a sign that there's moisture trapped in your wearable.
This moisture can cause droplets to form inside your screen and fall back onto your Apple Watch's hardware components, damaging them as a result. This can happen if you use your Apple Watch at great water depths or expose it to harsh winter conditions.
2. Unresponsive Screen or Buttons
Another sign of water damage in an Apple Watch is unresponsive controls. This can happen if the watch is not properly sealed and moisture gets into it. The moisture inside the watch can fry the internal components and render the buttons useless.
So, if after taking a swim, the screen or button stops responding or lags, you'll need to get it checked out by a professional.
3. Abnormal Battery Behavior
Unusual battery behavior in an Apple Watch can be an indication of severe water damage.
When the battery components of your Apple Watch come in contact with water, they may corrode and leak. Typically, this will result in your Apple Watch's battery draining quickly. But in severe cases, the battery fails completely.
4. Distorted Display and Sound
This is one of the easiest signs of water damage to notice in an Apple Watch. If your wearable has suffered water damage, the screen might display abnormal colors, lines, or patterns. Even if the display is clear, your Apple Watch may be dim or unevenly lit.
Moreover, if the audio from your Apple Watch's speakers sounds funny or is crackling, it may be because of water damage.
5. Inconsistent Functionality
When an Apple Watch has suffered water damage, it may behave unpredictably. Certain features or sensors, such as GPS and heart rate monitoring, may not work properly or stop working altogether.
Water seriously affects touch-sensitive components, which may cause freezing and other glitches on your screen.
6. Increased Operating Temperature
Once any device begins to heat up rapidly for no apparent reason, something has probably gone wrong. Water may be the culprit in such cases, especially if you usually swim with your Apple Watch.
Pay attention to the warmth of your Apple Watch during normal use. If it gets warmer than usual, water may have interfered with the device's temperature regulation mechanisms.
Water can also damage the internal components and meddle with its functioning. These components will come under stress and cause overheating while charging as well.
7. Random Reboots and Shutdowns
Your Apple Watch may also suffer sudden shutdowns or reboots. This may be due to the water disrupting circuits and leading to electrical malfunctions. Rebooting is your watch's way of trying to troubleshoot the malfunctions.
Once you notice intermittent restarts, know that water infiltration may potentially be the reason.
Your Apple Watch Is Water-Resistant, Not Waterproof!
Understanding the difference between water-resistant and waterproof devices is crucial to preventing water damage to your Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Series 3 and later models are only water-resistant up to 50 meters below water; using your watch past this depth can cause water damage.
Lastly, if you notice any of these signs of water damage on your Apple Watch, contact Apple Support or visit a nearby Apple Store to get it repaired by a professional.
