Apple Watch Keeps Locking? Causes and Best Fixes

Your Apple Watch keeps locking? It can be quite an inconvenience. If you are looking for a solution, you have come to the right place.

To find out whether this keeps happening as a result of a simple misstep on your part or an error with the software update, keep reading. We will also be sharing some fixes that have helped other users in the past deal with this problem. So, stick around!

Your Apple Watch keeps locking? Causes

Wondering why your Apple Watch keeps locking? Let us have a look at some of the possible causes of this problem.

Loose-fitting Watch

It is possible that your Apple Watch does not fit snugly against your wrist, and this could result in repeated locking. Your Apple Watch is programmed to lock automatically when it is not on your wrist. So, if the fitting is loose, your Watch will not detect that you are wearing it, so it keeps locking.

Wrist detection turned OFF

Is your wrist detection turned OFF? You might want to cross-check and see if that is the case. As mentioned earlier, the Apple Watch automatically locks when you are not wearing it. If the Watch cannot detect when it is on your wrist, it will keep locking.

Wrist tattoos

As funny as this sounds, your Apple Watch can have this problem if you have dark-colored tattoos ON the wrist you wear the Apple Watch. The wrist detection feature might not work due to dark-colored ink. So, there’s that.

Long-sleeved clothes

Have you noticed this happening when you are wearing long-sleeved clothes? This might be the problem. Long sleeves get in between your Apple Watch and your wrist, especially when moving around a lot. This could trigger the sensors and might be why your Apple Watch keeps locking.

Software bug

If you noticed this after a software update, it is likely because of a software bug. Many people have had similar problems just after upgrading to new software.

Your Apple Watch keeps locking? Best fixes

Now you have an idea why your Apple Watch keeps locking. How can you make it stop? These are some fixes that have helped many others with the same problem.

Fix 1: Is your Watch too loose? Tighten it!

Sometimes, it really is as simple as just making the Watch fit more snugly against your skin. This way, the wrist detection sensor can tell when your Watch is on your wrist.

Fix 2: Turn wrist detection ON or OFF

You can also fix this problem by turning your wrist detection ON if you haven’t already. In the section where we talked about why this may be happening, we mentioned checking if the wrist detection was turned OFF. If it is, turn it ON and see if it fixes the problem.

If it was already ON, you do either of two things. You could either decide to turn it OFF and then back ON or turn it OFF permanently.

To turn wrist detection ON or OFF go to Settings ON your Apple Watch >> tap Passcode >> tap the switch next to Wrist Detection >> if the confirmation alert comes up, select ON or OFF. The switch will either be on the left afterward if you turned it OFF or ON the right if you turned it ON.

Try this out and see if it fixes the problem.

Fix 3: Switch the wrist

If the problem is having dark tattoos on your wrist, you could solve it by switching to your other wrist if it does not have dark tattoos on it as well.

Fix 4: Wear shorter sleeves

If the issue was as a result of you wearing long-sleeved clothes, you could wear shorter sleeves, or make sure that your watch fits firmly on your wrist under your sleeve. This way, the fabric does not keep getting in the way.

Fix 5: Restart your Watch

Try switching OFF your Apple Watch and switching it back ON. Rebooting it might fix the problem for you.

Fix 6: Reset your Watch

Resetting your Watch is different from restarting it. If a restart does not fix things, consider a reset. You might want to back up your data first, so you don’t lose everything after the reset. You could choose to restore your data after the reset or not, it is all up to you!

Fix 7: Update your Watch

If you notice this issue, check for updates. If there are available updates, then install the updates. However, you may have noticed that the problem started right after updating your Watch. If this is the case, it is probably just a bug and will be rectified with the next update. Try any of the other fixes to see if they help!

How do I stop my Apple Watch from locking?

To keep your Watch from locking, make sure you have the right settings on, and ensure that it is well-fitted on your skin. You can also turn OFF the passcode if you want it unlocked at all times, or as an alternative, turn ON “Always ON” from your display settings. Here’s how.

1. Step one: Go to the Settings app ON your Apple Watch.
2. Step two: Click “Display & Brightness”.
3. Step three: Scroll down and click “Always On”. You can turn it OFF and ON at will.

Why is my Apple Watch stuck in sleep mode?

This usually happens as a result of a bug. If you have tried rebooting your Watch and it does not help, follow these steps to work out the problem in the meantime until you get an update that fixes it permanently.

• Step one: Unlock your iPhone and go to the main home screen.
• Step two: Swipe down from the right. This is the same area where the icon for airplane mode is.
• Step three: From that section, you can turn OFF do-not-disturb and bedtime mode.

Read also: Is the Stainless-Steel Apple Watch Worth It?

How to stop Apple Watch locking during a workout

You can do this by either switching to “Always ON” from your display settings as we referenced earlier in the article, or switching OFF the “Running Auto Pause” option in your Watch App from your iPhone. To do this, follow these steps.

1. Step one: Open the Watch App on your iPhone.
2. Step two: Open the “My Watch” tab.
3. Step three: In that tab, click on “Workout”. And then turn OFF “Running Auto Pause”.

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