Water Lock is a helpful feature on Apple Watch that ensures your device operates smoothly while you’re submerged in water, whether you’re swimming, showering, or taking a bath. If your Apple Watch feels unresponsive after a water activity, it’s likely that Water Lock is still enabled. Here’s a simple guide to help you use this feature correctly.
What is Water Lock and Why Should You Use It?
Every Apple Watch from Series 2 onward is water-resistant, but there are times when you don’t want the touchscreen to respond to accidental taps while you’re in water. That’s where Water Lock comes in. It disables the touchscreen to prevent accidental inputs while you’re in the shower or swimming, ensuring your watch’s screen doesn’t behave unpredictably.
Apple explains, “When Water Lock is on, your Apple Watch doesn’t respond to touch on its display. This prevents accidental input while you’re in water.”
How to Enable Water Lock
Access Control Center: Press the side button on your Apple Watch.
Tap the Water Droplet Icon: Scroll down and look for the icon that resembles a water droplet. Tap it to enable Water Lock.
With Water Lock on, the screen will not respond to taps, but you can still scroll notifications using the Digital Crown. If you need to respond to notifications, you’ll have to use Siri, as typing or tapping won’t work.
What to Do If Your Apple Watch Is Unresponsive
Sometimes, you may forget that Water Lock is still on, which can make your watch seem unresponsive. Here’s how to fix that:
Look for the Blue Water Droplet: If you see a blue droplet icon at the top of your watch face, Water Lock is activated.
Unlock the Watch: Press and hold the Digital Crown (the dial on the side of your watch) for a few seconds. You’ll hear a special “bloop” noise, and your watch will emit a sound that helps eject water from its speakers.
Water Lock with Apple Watch Workouts
Water Lock is especially useful during swimming workouts. When you start a Pool Swim workout on your Apple Watch, Water Lock automatically activates to ensure accurate tracking without the risk of accidental taps.
The Apple Watch Ultra takes this further and is designed for more extreme water activities, such as scuba diving. With a water resistance rating of up to 130 feet, the Ultra can replace a dive computer when you’re out exploring underwater. Additionally, the Apple Watch Series 10 offers improved water resistance, making it perfect for snorkeling and tracking your depth down to 6 meters (about 20 feet).
What You Can’t Do With Your Apple Watch in Water
While Apple Watches are built to be resilient, there are limits. Apple advises avoiding these conditions:
- Soapy water, detergents, lotions, perfume, and other chemicals that could harm the water seals.
- High-velocity water, like waterskiing or diving.
- Steam rooms and saunas, as extreme heat and humidity can affect the device.
- The Apple Watch Ultra is more durable and can handle more intense conditions, but older models like the Series 1 shouldn’t be fully submerged.
If your Apple Watch comes into contact with any of these substances, clean it promptly with fresh warm water and dry it with a lint-free cloth to avoid damage.
Conclusion
Water Lock is a handy feature that makes your Apple Watch more usable during water-related activities, from swimming laps to relaxing in the shower. Always remember to turn it off once you’re done, and be mindful of your Apple Watch’s limits in extreme conditions. With the improved water resistance on newer models like the Series 10 and Ultra, Apple Watches are well-suited for water sports, but still require careful handling around chemicals and high-velocity water.
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