If your Apple Watch won't charge or won't turn on

Learn how to find out if your Apple Watch is charging, and get help with charging issues.

Find out if your Apple Watch is charging

When you connect your Apple Watch to its charging cable and a power source, a lightning boltlightning bolt should appear on the screen.

If your Apple Watch with watchOS 9 or later is in Low Power Mode, the icons, time and day shown below will all appear in yellow.

watchos8-series7-status-chargingwatchos8-series7-watch-charging-vertical-nightstand-modewatchos8-series7-battery-charging

If your Apple Watch needs to be charged, a red lightning boltlightning bolt will appear on the screen. (You may need to press the side button to make the watch face appear.) When your watch is charging, the red lightning boltlightning bolt changes to a red lightning bolt inside a ring. If your screen is blank or the charging cable icon appears on the screen, charge your watch for up to 30 minutes.

watchos-10-series-7-battery-lowwatchos-10-series-7-battery-low-chargingwatchos-10-series-7-need-to-charge-watch

Get help if your Apple Watch won't charge

If your Apple Watch won't charge, or a message on your watch says that charging with this accessory isn't supported, try these tips:

  • Make sure you're using the Apple Magnetic Charging Cable or USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable that came with your Apple Watch.

  • Make sure you plug the Apple Magnetic Charging Cable or USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable all the way into the USB Power Adapter, then make sure you plug the adapter all the way into a power socket.

  • If you use a third-party charging stand, use the charging cable that was delivered in the box with your Apple Watch.

  • Completely remove any plastic wrapping from both sides of the charger.

    apple-watch-cable-plastic

  • Make sure the back of your Apple Watch and the magnetic charger are clean.

  • Reposition the back of your Apple Watch on the charger. When the charger's magnets have aligned correctly with your Apple Watch, a green or yellow lightning boltgreen or yellow lightning bolt should appear on the watch face.*

  • Try a different Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable or USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable, and a different USB Power Adapter. If your Apple Watch has run out of power, you might need to wait a few minutes for the lightning boltlightning bolt to appear after you start charging your device.

  • If your Apple Watch still won’t charge, force it to restart. Press and hold both the side button and Digital Crown for at least 10 seconds, or until the Apple logo appears.

  • If you use a WPT-compliant charger purchased in China or Indonesia with an incompatible Apple Watch, you’ll receive a message: “Unable to charge. This is a country-specific charger. It is incompatible with this Apple Watch.” Find out more about WPT-compliant Apple Watch charging.

* If you use the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock or the Apple MagSafe Duo Charger with a larger Apple Watch model (44mm, 45mm or 49mm), you may need to adjust the charger's position. Adjust the charger to a different angle, or lay it completely flat, to make sure its magnets align with the magnets in your watch. If you have Apple Watch Ultra or later and it won’t connect reliably with these charging devices even when they’re lying flat, try removing the watch’s band before placing the watch on the charger.

Learn more

If your Apple Watch still isn’t working, you may need a service. Get a service.

Published Date: