Apple Watch screen flashing in direct sunlight.

add my month old apple watch 5 edition to the list. Noticed my watch flashing today while sitting outside. Its not hot or overheating.

Thought it was broken but lifting the wrist stops the flashing, just starts flashing again when gone back to sleep and in the sun. Even happens when partially covered with sleeve cuff.

Having a watch that doesn't work properly outside isn't very useful. May have to return it.

My watch is doing the same thing at flickers in the sunlight. When I called Apple they have no idea what it’s doing they say it’s not normal return it back to AT&T. What AT&T says if there’s a warranty to be put on it it Hass to go through Apple. Honestly believe this is happening due to the OS 6.2

Its not a WatchOS issue, its a hardware issue with sunlight, the problem exists since WatchOS 6.0 from the start of Watch series 5. You can find lot of Videos and discussions. Best is to return the Watch and wait for Series 6...

Same here. Apple Watch S5 alu 44mm (GPS). Doing work from home due to COVID 19, and while outside saw that my watch screen started flashing. As mentioned by others, it stops when I lift up my arm. Watch was bought in Hungary in November 2019. Does AppleCare+ covers the repair/refund?

I have some issue here in the Netherlands. I've already sent my Apple Watch Nike Series 5 to Apple Support and they returned it back saying that no issue was found. I've reset the Apple Watch and the issue persist. It is pretty annoying.

Hi !

It can be quite difficult to reproduce the issue, personally it only does it with a bright light source like the sun or car headlights, and only when it hits the bottom right corner of the display at a certain angle. The watch has no malfunction but it’s a defect at the engineering level I guess, and no software update ever fixed it so far. Getting it replaced by another series 5 doesn’t seem to solve anything from what I read.

Same issue here. Series 5. European version. I've the watch since the launch but didn't noticed anything until today. It's not something serious but definitively a bug. I'll file a ticket anyway.

I hope they will fix this in a software update.

I purchased an Apple watch series 5 two weeks ago and I have noticed the same thing. Whenever I go outside into the direct sunlight the screen goes black and will not turn on until I take the watch off my wrist. I have restarted it many times, it is updated to the latest software and i have also tried repairing it to my iPhone but the problem persists. I haven't noticed that the screen flickers just that it goes black and does not display anything once in the sunlight.

Just wanted to throw my hat in the ring, hope Apple acknowledges this issue. Had my watch for a few days and noticed it doing this today in direct sunlight. WASN'T able to recreate the issue indoors with a flash light though.

Same here with my series 5 44mm Nike. Just had sent into to Apple to look and unfortunately being sent back to me due to not being able to replicate. Mine was also flickering whilst being used. Apple really need to sort this out and recognise that it is an issue

I talked with the Apple support today and there was a really good supporter at the phone. He told me that the light sensor has issues and Apple has no solution now. He saw the same problem also on his personal Series 5 watch. The only way now is to deactivate always on display. I dont believe that Apple will/can solve it in the Series 5.

That's good to know. I don't even want a refund or anything -- I just wish Apple would acknowledge it and throw us like a $20 App Store gift card or something. :-D

It's a minor thing, but definitely annoying. I'm just going to disable always-on for now. :-)

Agree, some sort of voucher or a discount for other apple products would be great! What I do is that i turn theater mode ON when I go under the sun and turn it off when indoors or at night! A little bit annoying but looking at it from the right angle, you save a good amount of battery at the end of the day 🤪.

This is what I do just put it in Theater mode if I'm going to be out in direct sun for a long period of time - has helped with battery life so just have to find the positives.

Having the same issue as everyone here in this thread - had my Apple Watch Series 5 for about a month now, but not the end of the world for me this issue just wanting some acknowledgment from Apple!

Just wanted to update my side of the story since I hope this thread will catch Apple's attention.

Had this issue since purchasing my watch a month or so ago. Took it into a store and I was told they could send it off for me and maybe exchange it for a new device. The fellow did warn me that it may not even solve my issue as it appears to be fairly common.

The fellow serving me and 2 other Apple members of staff had the same issue as me on their own watches.