Apple Watch Not Charging? Here’s The Fix, by The Gadget Brain on YouTube. 2 min 53 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 53 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Put the watch on its charger and leave it alone for at least 30 minutes. A completely dead battery can take a while before the screen shows anything but the red lightning bolt.
Wipe the curved back of the watch and the charger surface with a lint-free cloth. Dirt, sweat and hand cream block the contact and stop charging.
Take off any thick case or metal band that sits between the watch and the charger. The magnets need to sit flat against the back.
Swap in a different Apple charging cable and a different USB power adapter. Test a different wall outlet too, so you rule out the plug and the socket.
Set the charger down on a flat surface and let the magnets snap onto the back of the watch. Nudge it until it sits centred and flat.
Force a restart by holding the side button and the Digital Crown together for about 10 seconds. Release when the Apple logo appears.
Charge in a cool room, away from direct sun or a radiator. The watch stops charging when it gets too warm.
If nothing works, check the battery in Settings, then book a service with Apple Support. A swollen or worn battery needs a repair, not another cable.
Tips and common mistakes
A red lightning bolt is normal on a very flat battery, so charge for half an hour before you assume the watch is broken.
Cheap third-party pucks often charge slowly or not at all, so test with an Apple cable first.
Clean the charger contacts every few weeks if you wear the watch during workouts.
If the watch only charges when you press it down, the cable is likely failing and needs replacing.
Questions
Why does my Apple Watch show a red lightning bolt and nothing else?
That symbol means the battery is too low to boot the watch. Leave it on the charger for at least 30 minutes and it should switch on by itself.
How long should an Apple Watch take to charge?
Most models go from empty to full in about 1.5 to 2 hours with the correct adapter. If it takes much longer, check the cable and adapter first.
Can a dirty charger really stop the watch charging?
Yes. Oil and sweat on the back of the watch or the charger weaken the contact. A quick wipe with a lint-free cloth often fixes it.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
