Apple Watch Series 4 Not Turning On? Here's Why & The Fix!

Colin Boyd

MAY 27, 2021

You went to use your Apple Watch like normal, but it doesn't appear to be working. You've tried tapping the screen and pressing every button you can find, but your Apple Watch Series 4 is not turning on. Don't worry, just keep reading to learn about all of the easy repairs you can perform right from home!

Before Troubleshooting

Before you start the troubleshooting process, it might save you time to think about any situation that could have potentially damaged your Apple Watch.

While Apple Watches are pretty sturdy, they're also unpredictable in response to damage. Sometimes you can fully submerge your Apple Watch in water and it will come out working fine, other times a small spill might cause irreparable harm.

If your device has been dropped, hit, or put in contact with liquids recently, it could very well be the reason it's not turning on. If this sounds like the situation your Apple Watch is in, bring it straight to an Apple technician to learn about your repair options.

How To Repair An Apple Watch Series 4 That Won't Turn On

6 Steps Total
1.

Check That Power Reserve Is Turned Off On Your Apple Watch

Many people activate Power Reserve assuming it's a similar function to the battery saving features on the iPhone. It might be quite a surprise to find that, after activating this function, basically every "smart" feature on your Apple Watch has stopped working.

When this happens, it's easy to mistake your Apple Watch for being powered off rather than in Power Reserve mode. Making sure that your Apple watch isn't experiencing this problem can be a very quick and helpful troubleshooting step.

If your Apple Watch is currently in Power Reserve mode, the following steps should get it working again:

  1. Press and hold the side button.
  2. Continue holding the side button until the Apple logo appears on the watch face.
  3. If your Apple Watch turns back on and looks normal, you've successfully deactivated Power Reserve.
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2.

Hard Reset Your Apple Watch

When an Apple Watch malfunctions, sometimes a hard reset is all it takes to repair it. While this might not be a permanent solution, it's a quick and easy measure to take before getting too deep into the repair process.

How Do I Hard Reset My Apple Watch?

  1. Press and hold the Digital Crown and Side button simultaneously.
  2. Continue holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears, then let go.
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3.

Turn Off Screen Curtain On Your Apple Watch

While this feature can be useful in a movie theater, it can give off the impression that your Apple Watch won't charge or turn on. Check to make sure Screen Curtain is off before trying a more in-depth troubleshooting step.

How Do I Turn Off Screen Curtain On My Apple Watch?

  1. Open the Watch App on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. Tap VoiceOver.
  4. Turn off the switch next to Screen Curtain.
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4.

Turn Off VoiceOver On Your Apple Watch

VoiceOver is extremely helpful if you're in a situation that you can't look at your Apple Watch, or if you have a visual impairment and need verbal assistance keeping track of your personal technology.

For most people, VoiceOver isn't all that useful. If you don't think that you need it, we recommend turning it off.

How Do I Turn Off VoiceOver On My Apple Watch?

  1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. Tap VoiceOver.
  4. Flip the switch labelled VoiceOver to the off position.
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5.

Try Another Apple Watch Charging Cable

Apple's magnetic charging cables can be pretty fragile. It's possible that a damaged Apple Watch cable could be the reason for the problems you're experiencing. Taking the time to test your charging cable a few different ways could save you some time and effort down the line.

There are a couple steps you'll want to take to fully troubleshoot your Apple Watch's charging cable:

  1. Clean any dirt or debris off of your Apple Watch and charging cable.
  2. Clean out the USB end of your magnetic charging cable with an anti-static brush.

If that doesn't work:

  1. Try using a different charging cable if you have access to one.
  2. If your Apple Watch charges with one cable and not another, you know that your original charging cable was causing the problem.
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6.

Repair Your Apple Watch With Apple

If you've tried every other troubleshooting step and you still haven't been able to resolve the problem, the safest thing to do is go directly to Apple. Giving a professional the opportunity to diagnose and repair your device is your best option for keeping the problem from worsening.

How Do I Repair My Apple Watch With Apple?

There are a few way to get in touch with Apple about repairs. If you're willing to go out to an Apple Store:

  1. Set up an appointment at your local Genius Bar.
  2. Bring your Apple Watch in for a free diagnosis and repair quote!

If you'd prefer a mail-in repair service:

  1. Visit Apple's support website.
  2. Look in to Apple's mail-in repair servicing options.
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Apple Watch: Powered Up!

Once you've found the problem, it's only a matter of time before your Apple Watch is up and running like normal. For problems like an Apple Watch Series 4 not turning on, it's funny how many unconventional explanations and fixes there are. I hope this article helped, and enjoy your repaired Apple Watch!

  1. Check That Power Reserve Is Turned Off On Your Apple Watch
  2. Hard Reset Your Apple Watch
  3. Turn Off Screen Curtain On Your Apple Watch
  4. Turn Off VoiceOver On Your Apple Watch
  5. Try Another Apple Watch Charging Cable
  6. Repair Your Apple Watch With Apple

Applies To: Apple Watch Series 4

AUTHOR

Colin Boyd

I'm Colin, the Creative Coordinator for Payette Forward.

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