An Apple Watch frozen on the Apple logo can be frustrating. If your Apple Watch is stuck on this screen, try a force restart to get it back to normal. This simple step often fixes the issue quickly.
Sometimes, force restarting isn’t enough. You might need to unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone, then pair them again. This can resolve more persistent problems.
If the issue continues, it may be a hardware problem. Contacting Apple Support may be the best option. They can help diagnose and fix the problem efficiently.
My Apple Watch Is Frozen on the Apple Logo — Here’s How to Fix It
If your Apple Watch is stuck showing only the Apple logo and won’t start up, it’s likely frozen or stuck in a boot loop.
This can happen after a software update, low battery, or a failed sync with your iPhone.
Here’s how to get your watch working again safely.
🧭 1. Check If It’s Just Booting Slowly
Sometimes after an update or full battery drain, the Apple Watch may take up to 10 minutes to restart.
✅ Try This:
- Place the watch on its charger.
- Wait at least 10–15 minutes to see if it starts up normally.
- If the Apple logo stays on the screen for longer than 15 minutes, continue to the next steps.
🔋 2. Force Restart Your Apple Watch
This is the most effective fix if your watch is frozen or stuck on the Apple logo.
✅ How to Force Restart:
- Press and hold both the Side Button and the Digital Crown at the same time.
- Keep holding both buttons for at least 10–15 seconds.
- Release both buttons when you see the Apple logo appear again.
⚠️ Important: Don’t force restart while the watch is updating (you’ll see a progress ring). Wait until the update completes.
If your watch restarts normally — you’re done!
If it gets stuck again, continue below.
🧼 3. Try the “Find My” Trick (Secret Apple Fix)
This lesser-known trick can sometimes unstick a frozen Apple Watch.
✅ Steps:
- On your iPhone, open the Find My app.
- Tap your Apple Watch from the device list.
- Tap Play Sound.
- Wait a few seconds — this can sometimes “wake” the watch from a freeze.
If the sound plays or the watch screen flickers, it may reboot successfully afterward.
🔄 4. Unpair and Re-Pair Your Apple Watch
If the above steps don’t work, try unpairing your watch from your iPhone and setting it up again.
✅ Steps:
- Keep your iPhone and Apple Watch close together.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap All Watches → (i) next to your watch name → Unpair Apple Watch.
- Follow the on-screen steps.
- Once complete, set up your watch again from scratch or restore from backup.
💡 Unpairing automatically creates a backup of your watch data before erasing it.
⚙️ 5. Update watchOS (if possible)
Sometimes a frozen logo is caused by a buggy or incomplete update.
After restarting or unpairing, make sure both your iPhone and Apple Watch are running the latest software.
✅ Steps:
- On your iPhone, open the Watch app → General → Software Update.
- Install any available updates.
- Keep your watch on the charger during the update.
🧰 6. Use Recovery Mode (watchOS 10.4 and later)
If your Apple Watch still won’t boot past the Apple logo, you can use Apple’s new Recovery Mode (introduced in watchOS 10.4).
✅ Requirements:
- iPhone running iOS 17 or later.
- Apple Watch Series 7 or newer.
✅ Steps:
- Connect your Apple Watch to its charger.
- Bring your iPhone close to the watch.
- When the “Restore Apple Watch” prompt appears on your iPhone, tap Continue.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to restore watchOS.
If you don’t see the prompt, try holding both the Digital Crown and Side Button for 20 seconds until the restore screen appears.
🧩 7. Contact Apple Support or Visit a Service Center
If none of the above methods work, your watch may have a hardware issue or a corrupted system file that needs professional repair.
✅ Options:
- Visit an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider.
- Or, contact Apple Support online.
- You may be eligible for a free repair if the issue started after a recent update and your device is under warranty or AppleCare+.
🧠 Why This Happens
Common reasons your Apple Watch gets stuck on the Apple logo:
- Interrupted watchOS update.
- Low battery during restart.
- Corrupted files after unpairing or syncing.
- Storage full or outdated firmware.
- Rarely, hardware failure (logic board or display).
✅ Quick Summary
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Frozen on Apple logo | Force restart (Side Button + Digital Crown) |
| Stuck after update | Wait 10–15 minutes on charger |
| Still frozen | Try Find My “Play Sound” trick |
| Unresponsive | Unpair and re-pair |
| Persistent issue | Use Recovery Mode or contact Apple Support |
💡 Pro Tip: Prevent It From Happening Again
- Keep your watchOS updated regularly.
- Ensure your battery is above 50% before updating.
- Don’t interrupt updates or reboots.
- Restart your watch occasionally to clear temporary files.
🕒 In Short:
If your Apple Watch is frozen on the Apple logo, force restart it first.
If that doesn’t work, try the Find My trick, unpair and re-pair, or restore via Recovery Mode.
Persistent issues may require help from Apple Support.
Key Takeaways
- Force restarting can fix a frozen Apple Watch.
- Unpairing and pairing again can resolve persistent issues.
- Seek Apple Support for hardware problems.
Troubleshooting Your Apple Watch
When your Apple Watch gets stuck on the Apple logo, there are several steps you can take to try and fix the issue. Here are some key areas to focus on, including restarting your device, addressing power issues, and more.
Assessing the Problem
First, determine if your Apple Watch is stuck in a boot loop or if it is frozen on the Apple logo. A boot loop is when the device restarts repeatedly without fully turning on. Look for signs of the logo flickering or repeatedly appearing. Make sure the watch has enough charge and hasn’t sustained any physical damage.
Force Restarting Your Device
A force restart can solve many issues. To do this, press and hold both the Side button and the Digital Crown for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple logo disappears and then reappears. Release the buttons once the logo reappears. This action helps in breaking loops and restarting the device properly.
Charging and Power Issues
Make sure your Apple Watch has enough charge. Connect it to the charger and check if it starts charging. Sometimes, a dead battery might prevent it from turning on. Inspect the charger and the cable for any visible damage. Also, ensure the power outlet works. Clean any dust from the charging port to ensure a good connection.
Pairing and Unpairing with iPhone
If force restarting doesn’t work, try unpairing and then re-pairing your Apple Watch with your iPhone. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Go to the My Watch tab, tap All Watches, and then select the watch you want to unpair. Tap the info (i) button next to the watch and choose Unpair Apple Watch. Keep both devices close while pairing again.
Software Updates and Restores
Updates can fix bugs. Check if there’s an update available for your Apple Watch. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, then General, and finally Software Update. Follow the instructions to update. If nothing works, you may need to erase the watch and restore it from a backup. This can be done through the Watch app on your iPhone under General and then Reset.
Seeking Further Assistance
If none of the steps work, contact Apple Support. They may guide you through advanced troubleshooting. Sometimes, hardware problems require professional repair. Make an appointment at an Apple Store or contact AppleCare. Always keep your Apple ID password and backup details handy for this process.
