If your Apple Watch won't charge or it 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 power, 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 all appear in yellow.

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If your watch requires charging, a red lightning boltlightning bolt appears on the screen. (You might 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.

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

  • Make sure that 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 that you plug the adapter all the way into a power outlet.

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

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

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  • Make sure that 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 align 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 is 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 receive a message: "Unable to charge. This is a country-specific charger. It is incompatible with this Apple Watch." Learn 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 might need to adjust the charger's position. Adjust the charger to a different angle, or lay it completely flat, to make sure that 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 might need service. Get service.

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