About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support (CA) (2024)

Learn about water resistance on your Apple Watch and what to do if your device gets wet.

Is my Apple Watch waterproof?

Your Apple Watch is water resistant, but not waterproof. For example, you can wear and use your Apple Watch during activities such as exercise (exposure to sweat is OK), walking in rain, and washing your hands. With Apple Watch Ultra, you can also participate in high-speed water sports and recreational scuba diving up to 40 meters.

Can I go scuba diving, swimming, or take a shower with my Apple Watch?

If you have Apple Watch Ultra or later, you can wear it during recreational scuba diving up to 130 feet (40 meters) and other activities like swimming, showering, and water skiing.*

Apple Watch Series 2 and later can be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean, but you shouldn't use models other than Apple Watch Ultra or later for diving, water skiing, or other activities involving submersion below shallow depth or high-velocity water.

Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch (1st generation) are splash and water resistant, but submerging these models isn't recommended.

Not all Apple Watch bands are appropriate for water use. For example, the stainless steel and leather bands aren't water resistant and shouldn't be exposed to liquids.

* For important information about safety while using Apple Watch Ultra for underwater activities, see Measure underwater temperature, duration, and depth on Apple Watch Ultra in the Apple Watch Ultra User Guide.

What should I avoid while wearing my Apple Watch?

Water resistance isn't a permanent condition and can diminish over time. Apple Watch can't be rechecked or resealed for water resistance. The following can affect the water resistance of your Apple Watch and should be avoided:

  • Dropping Apple Watch or subjecting it to other impacts

  • Exposing Apple Watch to soap or soapy water (for example, while showering or bathing)

  • Exposing Apple Watch to perfume, solvents, detergent, acids or acidic foods, insect repellent, lotions, sunscreen, oil, or hair dye

  • Exposing Apple Watch models other than Apple Watch Ultra or later to high-velocity water (for example, while water skiing)

  • Wearing Apple Watch while cliff diving or high diving

  • Wearing Apple Watch in a steam room

  • Wearing Apple Watch models other than Apple Watch Ultra or later in a sauna

  • Wearing Apple Watch Ultra or later in a sauna above 55° C (130° F)

While the above should be avoided, if your Apple Watch comes in contact accidentally with soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, perfumes, solvents, detergent, acids or acidic foods, insect repellent, sunscreen, oil, hair dye, or any substance other than water, it should be cleaned with fresh warm water and dried with a lint-free cloth. Chemicals found in these items could negatively affect water seals and acoustic membranes.

What should I do if my Apple Watch gets wet?

To remove water from your Apple Watch, wipe it off with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. Don't use heat, compressed air, or sprays. Clean and dry your Apple Watch, the band, and your skin after workouts or heavy sweating. After swimming, gently rinse Apple Watch Series 2 and later under lightly running, warm, fresh water. Dry Apple Watch and the band thoroughly afterwards. Learn more about cleaning your Apple Watch.

If your Apple Watch gets wet and its speaker sounds muffled, follow the steps below. Don't insert anything into the openings—for example, the microphone or speaker ports—and don't shake the watch to remove water. Allowing your Apple Watch to charge overnight might speed up evaporation.

On Apple Watch Series 3 and later, measurements from the barometric altimeter might be less accurate if water gets into the air vent (for example, during swimming). Normal altimeter performance returns after the water has evaporated.

Apple Watch Series 2 and later

When you start a swimming workout, your Apple Watch automatically locks the screen with Water Lock to avoid accidental taps. And if you have Apple Watch Ultra or later, you can have it turn on Water Lock automatically when it's submerged to a depth of 10cm or lower. When you finish, press and hold* the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and clear any water from your Apple Watch. A series of tones plays to clear any water that remains in the speaker.

To clear water from Apple Watch manually, press the side button to open Control Center (for watchOS 9 or earlier, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up). Tap Water Lock, then press and hold the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and clear water from the speaker.

* If your Apple Watch has watchOS 8 or earlier, rotate the Digital Crown instead of pressing it.

Apple Watch Series 1 or earlier

Check to see if water is in the microphone or speaker by placing the device, speaker-side down, on a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth to see if any water drips out. Water in the port can degrade speaker or microphone performance until it evaporates completely.

Published Date:

About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support (CA) (2024)

FAQs

About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support (CA)? ›

Apple Watch Series 2 and later have a water-resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. Apple Watch Ultra and later have a water-resistance rating of 100 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. However, not all Apple Watch band materials are water resistant.

How does the water resistance work on Apple Watch? ›

When you start a swimming workout, your Apple Watch automatically locks the screen with Water Lock to avoid accidental taps. And if you have Apple Watch Ultra or later, you can have it turn on Water Lock automatically when it's submerged to a depth of 10cm or lower.

Can you lose water resistance on Apple Watch? ›

Water-resistance isn't a permanent condition and can diminish over time. Apple Watch can't be rechecked or resealed for water-resistance. The following can affect the water-resistance of your Apple Watch and should be avoided: Dropping your Apple Watch or other impact events.

What is the water warning on the Apple Watch? ›

When Water Lock is on, your Apple Watch doesn't respond to touch on its display. This prevents accidental input while you're in water. When you turn off Water Lock, your watch ejects any water that remains in its speaker.

Is Apple Watch water resistant without water lock? ›

The watch and band should also then be dried using a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. Note that leather and stainless steel bands are not water resistant, so should not be worn in water. No - Apple Watch Series 2 remains equally water resistant regardless of whether or not Water Lock is turned on.

Can I go swimming with my Apple Watch? ›

From laps in a pool to a freestyle across open water, your Apple Watch Series 2 or later is ready for a swim with you.

How to water eject an Apple Watch? ›

To turn off water lock and eject water, press and hold the Digital Crown until a sound plays. Water lock has been turned off.

Does the water lock turn on automatically? ›

Note that water lock turns on automatically when you start a swim in the Exercise app.

How long does watch water resistance last? ›

For use in water, water resistant watches should be pressure checked every year. The seals should be replaced at least every two or three years. Showering or bathing with your watch on can be bad for it, due to hot water issues, and the fact that soap is a fine level abrasive.

What to do if an Apple Watch gets wet? ›

“What should I do if my Apple Watch gets wet? If water splashes on to your Apple Watch, wipe it off with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. Don't use heat, compressed air, or sprays. Clean and dry your Apple Watch, the band, and your skin after workouts or heavy sweating.

What happened to the water lock on the Apple Watch? ›

If it's not visible, scroll down to the bottom of the Control Center and tap "Edit" to customize the icons shown. Make sure Water Lock is included in the list of available icons and add it if necessary. Restart your Apple Watch: Sometimes a simple restart can resolve minor software glitches.

How do I know if my Apple Watch is water resistant? ›

Though smartphones and most electronic devices use an IP rating for water (with IP 7 being safe to submerge), some companies use a depth rating for watches. If your Apple Watch is from the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 Series, it was water resistant up to 50 meters when you bought it.

How does the water release work on Apple Watch? ›

How to turn off Water Lock and eject water. With Water Lock turned on, press and hold* the Digital Crown on the side of your Apple Watch until the display says Unlocked. A series of tones plays to clear any water that remains in the speaker, and then you can use your display as usual.

Is the Apple Watch swimming accurate? ›

That's insanely accurate. I've used countless devices over the years, from watches to goggle-mounted trackers to swim goggles with heads-up displays that count laps (yes, seriously), and the Apple Watch is hands-down the most accurate device I've ever used.

How does Apple Watch track water intake? ›

​On the watch you can track water by adding a glass (Note: on the Apple watch you can only track glasses and bottles tracked on the phone will be calculated to glasses on Apple watch).

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 5763

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Birthday: 2000-07-07

Address: 5050 Breitenberg Knoll, New Robert, MI 45409

Phone: +2556892639372

Job: Investor Mining Engineer

Hobby: Sketching, Cosplaying, Glassblowing, Genealogy, Crocheting, Archery, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.