Apple Watch: What to do if it gets wet

What should I do if my Apple Watch gets wet?

If water splashes on to your Apple Watch, wipe it off with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. Don’t use heat, compressed air, or sprays. Clean and dry your Apple Watch, the band, and your skin after workouts or heavy sweating. After swimming, gently rinse Apple Watch Series 2 and Apple Watch Series 3 with warm tap water. Dry Apple Watch and the band thoroughly if they’re exposed to fresh water. Learn more about cleaning your Apple Watch.

If your Apple Watch got wet and now its speaker sounds muffled, follow the steps below. Don’t insert anything into the openings, for example the microphone or speaker ports, and don’t shake the watch to remove water. Allowing your Apple Watch to charge overnight may speed up evaporation.

On Apple Watch Series 3, measurements from the barometric altimeter may be less accurate if water gets into the air vent, for example during swimming. Normal altimeter performance will return after the water has evaporated.

Apple Watch Series 2 and Apple Watch Series 3

When you start a swimming workout, your Apple Watch automatically locks the screen with Water Lock to avoid accidental taps. When you’re done, turn the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and clear any water from your Apple Watch. You hear sounds and may feel some water on your wrist.

To manually clear water from Apple Watch, swipe up on the bottom of the watch face to open Control Center, tap Water Lock, then turn the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and clear water from the speaker.

Apple Watch Series 1 or earlier

Check to see if water is in the microphone or speaker by placing the device, speaker side down, on a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth to see if any water drips out. Water in the port may degrade speaker or microphone performance until it completely evaporates.