Apple Watch Ultra locking while on wrist

Thank you so much for the tip - worked for me too! My series 6 started locking on my wrist after an update. I’ve never had this issue before and none of the suggestions in this (nor several other discussion threads on the topic) helped, including unpaid and reset. However, turning off “wake on wrist raise” fixed it!!! Ridiculous solution, but whatever works 😀

Thanks again!

Garym_86 wrote:

It’s not your tattoos. There is some sort of issue here as I bought a series 8 today. I took off my series 6 (which has been running perfectly). Put on the 8 and it’s been doing it to me since.

If the poster to whom you replied has tattoos, it could well be that that is the root cause of their problem. Tattoos are a known issue for this type of device (not just Apple's). That doesn't mean that it is the only possible cause.

Posting again to make sure you see this. I have a new Ultra, no tats, and had the exact same situation that most of you have described. The steps in this article resolved my screen locking issue 14 days ago and I have been very satisfied since.

https://screenrant.com/apple-watch-keeps-locking-fixed-solutions-settings-cleaning-explained/

If an Apple Watch is locking unexpectedly, then the most likely issue is the current settings. Specifically, the Wrist Detection feature might not be turned on or working as it should. To check this, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap 'Passcode,' and find the 'Wrist Detection' option at the bottom of the page. If the toggle is turned off, tap it to enable Wrist Detection. If Wrist Detection is already enabled, turn the feature off and back on again (mine was already enabled - cycling through disabled, and back to enabled was the magic ticket for me!).

It was touch & go for a little while there, but I love my Ultra now. Good luck

Yes!! My ultra watch locks up every 10 seconds. Tech support with apple walked through every step still no resolution—- sent it off twice only to get “can not duplicate” —- although every time I get it back out it on my wrist it does same thing! Yes band is tight, wrist Detection is enabled —- completely frustrated and my watch is only 7 months old. Don’t understand why they won’t just replace my watch??

did you get it resolved ??

YUP. Personally... I think the SW updates somehow changed the sensitivity of these watches. Apple even replaced my watch and it didn't resolve anything. Ended up switching wrists. Give that a try. It will help... no clue why. Or at the very least, it will reduce the locking drastically. I still, on occasion, look down and see my watched locked but it is better than on my left wrist.

And no I don't have tattoos.....

RayFinkle32 wrote:

Yes my ultra watch has worked just fine. Got a tattoo on that same arm to include the wrist and now it’s locking me out it seems like every 30 seconds. It’s getting aggravating.

Tattoos are a known issue and have been since the first Apple Watch. Other devices (e.g. Fitbits) have the same problem. The watch's sensors use color to detect things like heart rate and to enable wrist detection. Consider wearing the watch on your other wist.

have same exact problem. all people here saying "you wear it too loose" just wasting everyone's time.

I wear it on my both hands switching between. it works absolutely perfectly on my left hand and falls to sleep frequently on my right hand. I wear it tight on both hands.

I never had this problem with previous watch series and it only started to happen with Ultra.

It is obvious it is A FALTY SENSOR and/or SOFTWARE problem and not some bad wearing.

apple's products quality has been degrading over past few years not going to lie.

The fact is the ultra 2 does NOT work with tattoos. Period. Apple just chooses to ignore it. Wearing it super tight helps a little but I have to slide it to a perfect spot above a certain part of the ink or it’s a no go. Too many times it locks in a workout and it pusses me off. For all that **** money and they keep blowing me off. Never buying that again. I might just go to another brand for my workout watches anyway.

I have small tattoos on my wrist that my Watch SE had zero problems with, ever. My Ultra 2 only works if I wear it slightly forward, away from the small tattoo mark. Strange how an SE can deal with dark skin, but an Ultra 2 cannot.

After talking to my tattoo artist, she also said the tattoo interfers. She told me to order bottle cap stickers off Amazon and use them on your watch. It establishes that connection and won’t continuously lock itself.

Hey, I am new to the apple watch ultra after making the leap from garmin now that there is a competitive alternative that also syncs with my apple universe (not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing!) I have very skinny wrists and also have tattoos so I was already combatting this issue with my garmin, my heart rate would never track unless I wore my watch on the underside of my wrist which has a bit more meat on it. I have gotten around this by having the garmin HRM pro to track my heart rate instead. I found with the apple watch ultra I was having major issues while running due to the 'wrist detection' feature. My runs would pause all the time and the watch would lock, initially I turned passcode off completely but that also leave you vulnerable if you lose your watch and disables the apple pay feature. I now keep my passcode on and have turned off 'wrist detection' (settings, passcode, scroll to the bottom and see wrist detection). Having wrist detection off disables features like sleep tracking and 'double tap' and fall detection alert but it is the best solution I have found so far. I do like to track my sleep so right before I go to bed I turn on wrist detection and then turn it off again when I get out of bed.

Nothing. Some people put stickers but then you block the sensors. Apple is completely either in denial or just flat out not helpful and have thrown their hands up. The answer is either don’t buy one or remove your tattoos. If you can still return yours I would. Get a regular one. They don’t have the issue as badly

So I found that if you tattoos, I ordered on Amazon bottle cap stickers. Little clear sticky things and put them on the sensor. Don’t feel them, doesn’t mess with the sensors, seems to be working fine.

If this is the case and there is no disruption with the sensors would you share the link to the product on amazon bc I have yet to find what these magical stickers are and never hear of them before. thank you

So I actually turned of the focus under the settings and I haven’t had it lock out on me yet. I had the bottle cap sticker on that I mentioned previously but removed it this morning and no issues yet. Maybe your on to something here.