Three Types of Reset — Which Do You Need?

  • Restart: Fixes minor freezes, slow performance or unresponsive apps. Does not delete anything.
  • Force restart: For a completely frozen watch that will not respond. Does not delete anything.
  • Factory reset (Erase All): Wipes everything and returns to factory settings. Use when selling, giving away or troubleshooting persistent problems.

How to Restart an Apple Watch

  1. 1

    Press and hold the side button

    Press and hold the side button (not the Digital Crown) for about 3 seconds until the power sliders appear.

  2. 2

    Drag the Power Off slider

    Drag the Power Off slider to the right. The watch turns off.

  3. 3

    Press and hold side button to turn back on

    After 30 seconds, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

How to Force Restart a Frozen Apple Watch

  1. 4

    Hold side button AND Digital Crown simultaneously

    Press and hold both the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time for at least 10 seconds.

  2. 5

    Release when Apple logo appears

    Release both buttons when you see the Apple logo. The watch restarts. This works even if the screen is unresponsive.

How to Factory Reset Apple Watch

  1. 6

    On the watch: Settings → General → Reset

    Open Settings on the watch → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode if prompted.

  2. 7

    Or via iPhone: Watch app → General → Reset

    Open the Watch app on your iPhone → My Watch tab → General → Reset → Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings. This also unpairs the watch from your iPhone.

Activation LockIf you are resetting a watch to give or sell it, make sure you unpair it from the original iPhone first. This removes Activation Lock — without this, the new owner cannot set it up.

Frequently Asked Questions

A factory reset removes all data from the watch itself. However, if your health data is synced to the Health app on your iPhone (it is by default), it remains there and will sync back when you pair the watch again.
Try a force restart first (side button + Digital Crown for 10 seconds). If it remains stuck, place it on the charger during the force restart. If still unresponsive, you may need to restore it via the Watch app on your iPhone.