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This article will show you how to Fix ‘Apple Watch touchscreen not working’ Issue. It can be very frustrating when the touchscreen on your favorite wearable doesn’t work. When an Apple Watch won’t swipe up or down, it’s almost impossible to use it properly. This is a common problem with the Apple Watch, but luckily it is easy to fix. Here are some things you can try if the touchscreen on your Apple Watch doesn’t work. The Apple Watch is usually a pretty reliable piece of tech, but sometimes it does break. We’ve had a couple of problems where the watch face stopped responding to touch. This is especially annoying because it stops the first and most obvious fix, which is to turn the device off and on again.
At times, the screen doesn’t seem to work at all, and at other times, it responds to some gestures (like swiping up to open Control Center) but not others. But in all of these cases, it’s clear that the problem is only with the screen—the hardware controls (the dial and side button) seem to be working fine. To fix this problem, this article shows you four easy steps that will get your unresponsive Apple Watch screen to do what you want it to do again. To learn more about how to fix watch issues in general, read how to Fix ‘Apple Watch touchscreen not working’ Issue.
What is the Apple Watch touchscreen issue?
When the Apple Watch touchscreen is broken, the screen won’t respond to touch. The fact that this can make it hard or impossible to use the watch can be very frustrating. If the screen on your Apple Watch doesn’t work or won’t respond, here are some simple things you can try. Do these things if you can’t touch the screen on your Apple Watch. Check out our free Tip of the Day for more great guide on how to fix problems with your Apple Watch.
Causes of the ‘Apple Watch touchscreen not working’ Issue
- Physical Damage: Physical damage, such as cracks, scratches, or impact, can affect the touchscreen’s functionality. If the screen is physically compromised, it may become unresponsive in certain areas or entirely.
- Water Damage: The Apple Watch is water-resistant, but exposure to excessive moisture or submersion in water can lead to touchscreen issues. Water can interfere with the device’s sensors and touch response.
- Software Glitches: Occasionally, software bugs or glitches can lead to unresponsive touchscreens. This can happen after an update or due to underlying software issues.
- Low Battery: When the battery level is critically low, the touchscreen may become unresponsive. This is a power-saving feature to conserve the remaining battery.
- Screen Protector or Case Interference: If you’re using a screen protector or case that isn’t properly aligned, it may interfere with the touchscreen’s sensitivity, causing unresponsiveness.
- Unresponsive Areas: Sometimes, only specific areas of the touchscreen are unresponsive, which can indicate localized hardware problems or damage.
- Accidental Gestures or Wrist Detection: The Apple Watch has features like Wrist Detection and accidental touches prevention. Incorrect settings or gestures can make it seem like the touchscreen isn’t working as expected.
How to Fix ‘Apple Watch touchscreen not working’ Issue

Update WatchOS
- Connect your Apple Watch to its charger.
- Ensure that your paired iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and has sufficient battery.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Navigate to ‘My Watch‘ and select ‘General.’
- Choose ‘Software Update’ to check for and install any available updates.
Reset Your Apple Watch Settings
- On your Apple Watch, go to ‘Settings.’
- Scroll down and tap ‘General.’
- Scroll down and select ‘Reset.’
- Choose ‘Reset All Settings’ and confirm.
Unpair and Re-Pair Your Apple Watch
- On your iPhone, open the Watch app.
- Go to ‘My Watch’ and select your Apple Watch.
- Tap the “i” icon next to your watch.
- Choose ‘Unpair Apple Watch‘ and confirm.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to re-pair your watch with your iPhone.
Restart Your Apple Watch
- If your watch screen is frozen or unresponsive, a simple restart can often resolve the problem.
- Press and hold the side button until you see the Power Off slider.
- Drag the slider to turn off your watch.
- Hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo, indicating your watch is restarting.
Check for Unresponsive Screen Areas
- Sometimes only a portion of the screen is unresponsive. Check if this is the case by trying different areas.
- If only specific regions aren’t working, your watch may have a hardware issue and should be inspected by Apple Support.
Contact Apple Support
- If your touchscreen remains unresponsive after trying these steps, it’s time to reach out to Apple Support.
- They can provide further guidance or arrange for repair or replacement if necessary.
Conclusion
Apple Watch users sometimes have trouble with their screens not responding to touch or not responding the way they thought they would. This kind of problem comes up in a few different ways. There are times when your Apple Watch will not respond to any taps. In this case, you have a “Apple Watch not responding to touch” problem. It could be a glitch in the system or a problem with the hardware. What ever the cause, all of these issues lead to an Apple Watch touchscreen that won’t work.
Questions and Answers
The touch screen can act up if the device gets too hot or too cold. If your fingers are cold, you might not be able to use touch screens well. Warm up and try again. If the problem started after you added a new app, remove the app, turn the watch back on, and check to see if the problem is gone.
Here are some things you can try if your Apple Watch won’t swipe or go down: Start up your Apple Watch again: If neither of those things work, often a simple restart will fix the problem. Hold down the side button on your Apple Watch for a while until sliders show up. To move the Power Button to the right, tap and hold the power icon.
Is it possible to fix a smart watch? Most smartwatches can be fixed, yes. Many options are available to help fix common issues with the device, such as a cracked screen or a battery that won’t charge.
In 2020, Craig Federighi, the head of software engineering at Apple, said that the company thought it was best for users to rest their hands on a surface while using a Mac. He said that “lifting your arm up to poke a screen” was “fatiguing.” Apple also wasn’t interested in touchscreen laptops made by other companies.