Apple Series 4 watch - 1 day after 5.3 upgrade - won't charge

Updated my Apple Series 4 watch (which I bought in Nov, 2018) to 5.3 - upgrade went OK, no problems. Took the watch on a trip to a beach resort, went for a swim with it (never swam with it on before, but have got it into the water mode, where you have to turn the crown to expel water before). After the swim it didn't get into water mode (thought that strange), but I wasn't swimming, just splashing around in a swimming pool with my daughter. Tried to charge that evening, and got the Green Snake of Death charge screen. Using the charger that I have been using, ever since I got the watch/the one that came with the watch. Won't charge. Tried to let it sit for a couple days and charge overnight (a youtuber said this worked for him). That didn't work. Tried the hard reboot push two buttons on the watch at the same time for 10 seconds - multiple times - that didn't work. My most favorite and first Apple Watch - Bricked, sadly...

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Posted on Jul 26, 2019 7:44 PM

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6 replies

Jul 27, 2019 3:25 AM in response to Bangkok_Bruce

I think the recent update is coincidence not linked to your watch failing, and Water Lock only locks the screen it doesn’t change the physical water resistance of the watch so that would not cause any real problems.


There is no way to know what caused the failure until it is examined by Apple’s official service center. It might be due to water ingress, but it might be some other internal failure and you should not assume anything until it has been properly checked. Please be aware the only service for Apple Watch is direct from Apple, there are no trained and approved third party repairers.


Check all the suggestions in If your Apple Watch won't charge or it won't turn on - Apple Support before you abandon hope, and remember your watch is still in warranty so it might be worth starting with (link) Contact Support even if it means mailing the watch into Apple’s official repair center to be checked.

Jul 27, 2019 8:58 PM in response to Branta_uk

brought my BlackScreenOfDeath Series 4 watch into the local Studio 7 Apple OEM store (what Thailand had before the first real Apple Store opened in Bangkok) at a shopping mall in Pattaya (where I bought my girlfriend's Series 4 watch), and they hooked it up to a watch charger and tried to hard reboot it a couple times... They told me to take it to the iCare store in the same mall, where they do Apple product repair... The rep there heard my tale of black screen woe, tried hooking it up to a charger and tried to hard boot it... same result - black screen... she looked up the serial number of my Apple Watch and found it is still under the 1 year warranty... She said they will send it to Bangkok, where they will examine the watch (guess that is an official Apple service center), and either repair it or replace it... Will take somewhere between 1 and 2 weeks...

Aug 8, 2019 9:32 PM in response to Bangkok_Bruce

Picked up my Apple Series 4 watch from iCare at Central Festival Mall in Pattaya, Thailand. To my surprise and utter amazement, instead of my repaired Apple Series 4 watch, they provided me with an vintage hour glass, a web link for the online manual, and said - good luck, buddy. So much for Apple support. Only kidding - they were TOTALLY SUPERB, in this case. They provided a new Apple Series 4 watch (same model I had, same color, same features - GPS/LTE, etc). Working fine now, and I will be VERY CAREFUL while charging it to make sure it doesn't heat up too much - not leave it charging over night, etc - not that that is what caused the problem, and iCare didn't provide info on what the Apple repair shop in Bangkok found with the watch - so not sure whatALL the problem was (maybe the Apple magyk fairy dust sand in the internal hour glass, ran out - only kidding)... Now I think forward, what will Apple have in the Series 5 watch... I am thinking thinner, more powerful processor, of course 5G cellular, maybe a high res camera, even better/louder speakers (Dolby ATMOS???!!!)... Can't wait to see what Apple comes up with for the Series 5, and also can't wait until Thailand approves ECG support for Apple Watch Series 4 in Thailand (we don't have it yet)...

Jul 26, 2019 7:48 PM in response to Bangkok_Bruce

One more thing - tried my girlfriend's Apple Series 4 watch charger - same result - just sits there with a very sad black screen. Probably will take it to an Apple OEM store, Studio 7 (I am living in Thailand - only official Apple Store is in Bangkok), and see what they can do, recommendations for a fix, etc. I fear that they will say the battery is dead and I need to get a new one, and the cost will be SkyHigh (relatively). And I am thinking if that is the case, I will just go without an Apple watch until the Series 5 model comes out. Hope that isn't what happens. Miss my Apple Series 4 watch on my wrist giving me all kinds of useful information and with cellular, keeping me linked even when I am not carrying my Apple iPhone X.


Jul 28, 2019 7:08 AM in response to Branta_uk

Yes, good service, so far... I am without my trusty Apple Watch (my first one), which I have come to depend on for many things... But I pulled out my old but still trusty/still works Garmen ForeTrex 401 wrist held GPS, and used it today for my walk/exercise to measure the distance (and also provided elevation and other useful tidbits)... it's bulky but field/combat proven (not by me but others who served in the military)... so wait and hope for the best outcome... miss my Apple Series 4 watch, ferSURE!!!

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Apple Series 4 watch - 1 day after 5.3 upgrade - won't charge

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