Apple Watch Won’t Charge? Try These Fixes

There can be instances when your Apple Watch won’t charge or you don’t see that green lightning bolt when you place your watch on the charger. Well, this can happen to anybody, anytime, and there are several reasons responsible for this. If you have no idea what to do in such situations, you have landed at the right place. We’ve listed 7 effective ways to fix Apple Watch not charging problems. Whether your smartwatch is charging way too slowly or taking forever to turn on, this guide will surely come in handy. Without any ado, let’s get started and power up your Apple Watch!

Method 1: Check your Charger

If your Apple Watch isn’t charging or you see a message saying “Charging with this accessory isn’t supported”, the first you need to do is check your charger. You must always use the Apple Magnetic Charging Cable that came in the box with your smartwatch. If you’re using a third-party charger or a wireless charging stand, ensure that it’s MFi (made for iDevices) certified. Non-certified or incompatible chargers may trigger charging-related issues and even cause your Apple Watch to overheat. If you’re using one of them, you must replace them with official or MFi-certified charging accessories.

Bear in mind that if your Apple Watch is out of power for quite a long time, you might have to wait a few minutes to see the green lightning bolt on your smartwatch. So, make sure to be a little more patience in such cases.

Method 2: Check Power Source

If your Apple Watch won’t charge, you must inspect the power source and make sure it’s working properly. To avoid any problems, you should take a note of the following:

• Make sure the adapter is firmly plugged into the power source.
• It may sound funny, but make sure the power source is turned on.
• If you’re using a Mac or a computer to charge your Apple Watch, you must switch to a wall outlet.
• Plug your iPhone or another device into that power source and see if it’s working.
• If the power outlet has exposed wires or seems to be broken, you must call an electrician to fix it for you.

Method 3: Clean the charger and check all connections

Another thing you should do to try and fix the charging issue is to make sure the back of your Apple Watch and the magnetic charger are clean. If you haven’t cleaned your smartwatch and charger in a while, dust may have accumulated, which could be interfering with the charging process. It’s a nice idea to clean your smartwatch and the charger with a soft lint-free cloth. Once done, place the wearable on the charger to see if the issue is fixed.

While you’re doing this, make sure to check all the connections. Sometimes, a loose connection might be responsible for why you can charge your watch. To be on the safer side, I suggest you check and ensure that everything is plugged in firmly.

Method 4: Reposition your Apple Watch on Charger

It can be possible that your Apple watch isn’t aligned properly with the charger and that’s the reason why your Apple Watch won’t charge or turn on. To be on the safer side, you must take off your smartwatch and reposition the back of your Apple Watch on the magnetic charger. When your smartwatch aligns correctly with the charger’s magnets, you should see a green or yellow lightning bolt on the watch face.

Also, you must remove the plastic wrap from both sides of the charger. It may sound obvious, but some users have a habit of plastic wraps so the accessories feel new and stay protected. That said, the plastic tends to come in the way of charging. So, if you haven’t removed the plastic wraps from both sides of your magnetic charger, peel it off right now. Then, put your Apple Watch on the charger and check if you’ve got rid of the issue.

Method 5: Try a different charger

There can be instances when you’re using an official/MFi charger and your all basics are sorted but you still can’t charge your Apple Watch. If this happens, you must closely examine your magnetic charger or the USB power adapter for any signs of damage. If any part of your iWatch charger like the cable or the magnetic puck seems to be frayed out, broken, or damaged, you must replace it with Apple or an MFi-certified cable. Try charging your smartwatch using a different magnetic cable and a USB power adapter. If your watchOS device starts charging this time around, your charger is at fault. 

Method 6: Force Restart your Apple Watch

One of the most effective ways to fix your Apple Watch not charging is to perform a force restart. It fixes minor software glitches and gives a fresh start to the system. A force restart not only helps you restart your Apple Watch but it also fixes other common watchOS problems. So, make sure you do not skip this step.

To force restart an Apple Watch, simultaneously hold down the Side button and the Digital Crown for at least 10 seconds. Release the buttons when you see the Apple logo.

Method 7: Update your Apple Watch

If you often face charging-related problems on your Apple Watch, your wearable might be due for a software update. Many users have a habit of updating their iPhones at regular intervals, but they don’t do the same for their smartwatches. If you don’t remember updating your smartwatch in a while, you must do it right now. Running your iWatch on the latest software version removes common software bugs and improves overall functioning. So, you must do it at regular intervals to enjoy an optimal performance.

• Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch and tap on General.
• Here, tap on Software Update.
• Now, download and install the latest version of watchOS.

You can also update your Apple Watch using your iPhone. For this, go to Watch app -> General -> Software Update and do the needful.

If you can power up your smartwatch after updating software, it’s evident that a miscellaneous software bug was causing the problem.

If your Apple Watch still won’t charge after trying all the above steps, you should seek some professional help. Something could be wrong with the internal components of your smartwatch. This is pretty common if your watch has recently suffered some physical or water damage. In such cases, we recommend heading to the Apple Store. If your wearable is under a warranty, the geniuses at the Apple Store might repair your watch for free or offer you a replacement. Make sure to stay away from any cheaper alternatives as they can do worse in the name of good.