How to reset your Apple Watch

Fergus Halliday
Feb 20, 2025
Icon Time To Read1 min read
// A DIY guide to fixing your Apple Watch

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Apple Watch acting up? It happens more than you think. The good news is that the process of resetting your Apple Watch to its default factory setting is relatively quick, painless and more-or-less the same across both earlier incarnations of the Apple's iconic smartwatch and more recent models like the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Here's a quick step-by-step guide to help you reset your Apple Watch.

How to reset Apple Watch

Apple Watch on wrist showing heart rate
1
Press and hold the side button

Do this until the sliders appears on-screen.

2
Tap the power button icon on-screen
3
Drag the Power Off slider to the right.
4
If that doesn't resolve your issues, hold down the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time

Doing this for around ten seconds should force your Apple Watch to reset to factory settings.

5
Set up the Apple Watch using your iPhone

How to reset Apple Watch Ultra

Apple Watch Ultra
1
Press and hold the side button

Do this until the sliders appears on-screen.

2
Tap the power button icon on-screen
3
Drag the Power Off slider to the right.
4
If that doesn't resolve your issues, hold down the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time

Doing this for around ten seconds should force your Apple Watch Ultra to reset to factory settings.

5
Set up the Apple Watch Ultra using your iPhone

I reset my Apple Watch but I'm still having problems

What can I try next?

If resetting your Apple Watch or Apple Watch Ultra using the steps above didn't solve your issue then the next step might be to take your smartwatch in for a checkup at your closest Apple Store. Depending on the circumstances of the damage (such as how old the battery in your smartwatch is  and whether you have Apple Care Plus coverage), you might be able to get a replacement or repair sorted out for little or no cost to you.

The Apple website offers a helpful tool that lets you get an estimate for the potential price of repairing your device. We recommend using this to get a sense of just how much your might be looking at in terms of the cost of fixing your Apple Watch or Apple Watch Ultra

Fergus Halliday
Written by
Fergus Halliday is a journalist and editor for Reviews.org. He’s written about technology, telecommunications, gaming and more for over a decade. He got his start writing in high school and began his full-time career as the Editor of PC World Australia. Fergus has made the MCV 30 Under 30 list, been a finalist for seven categories at the IT Journalism Awards and won Most Controversial Writer at the 2022 Consensus Awards. He has been published in Gizmodo, Kotaku, GamesHub, Press Start, Screen Rant, Superjump, Nestegg and more.

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