Apple Watch not charging? 8 fixes to get it charging again

Apple Watch charges wirelessly, through a magnetic puck that touches the back of the watch. That design is neat, but it has weak points. Sweat, lotion and dust on the back, a loose cable, or the wrong adapter can all stop it. In most cases a watch that will not charge is fine. It needs a cleaner or stronger connection, or a little patience.

How to fix an Apple Watch that won’t charge

Why is my Apple Watch not charging?

The charger and the watch must line up, receive enough power and have a battery that accepts it. When one of these fails, the watch will not charge. The most common causes are dirt on the contact surface, a bad cable or adapter, a case or a band that gets in the way, a battery that is deeply drained, and a software freeze. A worn battery or a damaged charging coil is less common and shows up on older watches.

Not charging, charging slowly or stopped at 80%?

These look alike, but they have different causes and fixes.

• Nothing happens when you place it on the puck: check the cable, the adapter and the wall outlet. Clean both surfaces.
• A red lightning bolt: the battery is very low. Leave it on the charger for at least 30 minutes.
• A green lightning bolt: the watch is charging normally. It may take a while.
• Stops at 80%: Optimized Battery Charging is holding the charge on purpose, to slow battery wear. It is not a fault.
• Charges, then drops off: the watch may be sliding on the puck, or it is hot.
• A message about charging being paused: the watch is warm. Let it cool before you charge.

Check the charger, cable and adapter

Use the magnetic charging cable or dock that came with the watch, or a certified replacement. Apple Watch needs a USB power adapter. The adapter from the box is the safest choice, and Apple suggests a 5W adapter or higher. A low power port, such as one on a computer, a keyboard or an old power bank, may charge very slowly or not at all. Plug the adapter into a wall outlet, and try a second outlet if the first one does nothing.

Check the cable for kinks, fraying or a bent connector near the plug. A cable that works for a moment, then drops, is worn out. Cheap, uncertified chargers can be a bad match for the watch, and some have caused damage. A certified charger is worth the price. When you test, the watch should snap onto the puck, and the charging screen should appear within seconds.

Clean the back and the charger

The charging surface on the back of the watch is smooth, and it needs a clean, flat match with the puck. Skin oil, lotion, sweat and dust build a film that gets in the way. Turn the watch off, and wipe the back and the puck with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. For stubborn residue, use a very slightly damp cloth on the puck only, and dry it fully before use. Do not use liquids, cleaners or compressed air on the watch, and never use a sharp tool on the sensor window. Remove the band if it is loose enough to tilt the watch.

Cases, bands and the magnet

The charger holds the watch with magnets, and the coil in the puck must sit close to the one inside the watch. A thick case, a metal band or a case with a metal back can push them apart. A sticker or a screen protector that covers the back can do the same. Take the watch out of its case, and try again. If it charges without the case, buy a case that is designed for charging, or take the case off at night.

A flat battery needs time

When the battery is fully drained, the watch cannot show anything right away. Put it on the charger and wait. After a few minutes, a red lightning bolt may appear, which means the watch needs more charge to start. After about 30 minutes, the watch may turn on with the Apple logo. If you do not see the logo, press and hold the side button. If you see nothing after an hour on a known good charger, go on to the force restart. If the watch is dark but charging, read about an Apple Watch that will not turn on.

Force restart and update the watch

A software freeze can stop charging from being recognized. Hold the side button and the Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo, then release. This does not erase anything. Once the watch is running, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to General › Software Update, and install any update. You can also check on the watch itself, under Settings › General › Software Update. Updates fix bugs that affect charging and battery reporting.

Why the watch stops at 80% and how to change it

Optimized Battery Charging learns your routine and holds the charge at 80% until you need it, which slows the wear on the battery. It is a good feature for most people. If you want a full charge every time, open Settings on the watch, tap Battery › Battery Health, and turn off Optimized Battery Charging, or choose to charge to full once. The same idea exists on the iPhone. You can read how it works in the guide to Optimized Battery Charging. Menu names differ slightly between watchOS versions and watch models.

Heat and Low Power Mode

A watch that is too hot or too cold stops charging to protect the battery. Charge it indoors, at room temperature, away from sun and not under a pillow. Remove it from a hot car or from the sun, let it cool, and try again. Low Power Mode does not stop charging, but it can make the battery percentage look slow to climb, since the screen and sensors do less.

Is the battery or the watch at fault?

If a clean, known good charger fails to charge the watch, and a force restart does nothing, the problem is inside. A worn battery can lose charge quickly, shut the watch down at 30%, or no longer take charge. You can check the battery’s health on watchOS under Settings › Battery › Battery Health, where it shows the maximum capacity. A figure under 80% means the battery has worn. A damaged charging coil or a failed board will not charge at all. Apple or an authorized service provider can run a test.

What a repair or replacement costs

Apple lists battery service prices for each Apple Watch model on its support site, and they vary by model and by whether you have AppleCare+. A battery that holds under 80% of its capacity may be replaced at no charge if the watch is covered. Without coverage, ask for a quote before you agree. On an older watch, the repair can approach the price of a newer model or a refurbished one, so compare them, and check trade-in offers. For a closer look, see whether AppleCare is worth it.

How to keep the watch charging well

• Use the charger and adapter from the box, or a certified one.
• Wipe the back of the watch and the puck every few weeks.
• Charge at room temperature, and take off thick cases first.
• Keep watchOS updated.
• Do not let the watch sit at 0% for weeks.