How to troubleshoot Apple Watch charging issues

If you have an Apple Watch and you notice that it isn’t charging properly, there are multiple things you can try to troubleshoot these issues.

You can tell when an Apple Watch has problems charging when you place it on its magnetic charging dock but don’t see the green charging sign on its screen.

Since the Apple Watch doesn’t plug directly into a charger, it can sometimes be difficult to troubleshoot problems. Here’s how to troubleshoot the Apple Watch if it isn’t charging.

Check the connections and reposition the Apple Watch

1. The first thing to do when you have charging issues is check the connections. Make sure the charging dock cable is inserted correctly into the adapter. Also check to see whether the adapter is properly charged into the outlet.
2. Try positioning the Apple Watch down flat instead of a 90-degree angle.
3. Make sure the surface of the charger and the back of the watch are clean.

Restart your Apple Watch

1. If your watch still has some juice left, restart it to see if that fixes the problem.
2. Press and hold the Side button of the watch to get to the Power menu.

1. Swipe the “Power Off” slider to the right. The watch will now turn off. Allow it to power down for a couple of minutes.
2. Turn the watch back by holding the Side button down.
3. Try charging the watch again to see if the problem is solved.

Related: How to charge your Apple Watch

Try with another charger

This could be difficult because unlike in the case of other gadgets that use USB or Lightning cables, you may not have an extra charging cable for your Apple Watch lying around.

If you have a third-party charger for your Apple Watch, try that. If you don’t try to borrow a charger from a friend or family member. If you usually charge your Apple Watch with a third-party charger, try the one provided by Apple instead.

Check for damage if the watch still won’t charge

If the watch still won’t charge, it’s time to have a look at the watch, USB power adapter, and charging cable to check for damage. If you notice that the display of the watch is cracked or has other signs of visible damage, that might be the reason it’s not charging.

Check the power adaptor for signs of damage such as bent prongs and the charging cable for fraying or another type of damage.

If you’ve done all of the above and the watch still won’t charge, it’s time to contact Apple Support for help.