Apple Watch: iCloud password prompt during pool workout

Question

Level 1

12 points

Apple Watch: iCloud password prompt during pool workout

APPLE WATCH: When I am working out in the pool, I sometimes get a message on my Watch screen asking if I want to put in my iCloud password. It comes out of nowhere. I can't press "not now" because the water lock is on. Because this takes over my watch screen, I can no longer track my workout time. This happened with both my Apple Watch Series 9 and now my new 11. Both ran on the latest iOS, 26.5 (as of July 11, 2026).

Why is it asking me this in the middle of my pool workout? This never happens outside of the pool. There's no issue with my password. I can't accidentally be touching buttons while in the pool because water lock is on.

This is a really annoying little glitch because, like I said, it takes away my ability to see my workout stats and track my time in the pool, which is important to me.

Things I have tried on my 9 (before upgrading to the 11 recently):

Turning off wifi via my phone so it doesn't try to connect to it during my pool workout
Updating my iCloud PW on my devices (my password works fine)
Making sure my watch is not loose on my wrist
Updating iOS on both the phone and the watch(es)

I was hoping this wouldn't happen with my new watch (Series 11) but it happened earlier today.

Help would be greatly appreciated!

-Erin

Apple Watch Series 11, watchOS 26

Posted on Jul 11, 2026 1:34 PM

Reply

Answer 1

sberman

Level 10

278,320 points

Jul 11, 2026 3:36 PM in response to galbsy

Try this.

In your iPhone’s Watch app, go to My Watch > Display & Brightness > Wake on Wrist Raise and turn it “off”.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

278,320 points

Jul 19, 2026 4:10 PM in response to galbsy

Check Settings > Passcode > Wrist Detection. This should be “on” and the Apple Watch must remain snugly secured to your wrist. Underlying tattoos could cause issues.

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Answer 3

galbsy Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 13, 2026 12:04 PM in response to sberman

I turned it off for my pool session yesterday and today and did not get prompted with anything. The issue was sporadic before, though, so I will see if it happens again, but so far so good. I really hope this is what completely resolves the issue!

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Answer 4

galbsy Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 19, 2026 10:44 AM in response to sberman

Unfortunately, it happened again. I have been turning off the "raise to wake" in the Watch settings each time I've been back to the pool (including today) and everything was fine until today when it prompted me in the middle of my workout. It was always an intermittent problem, so I guess I was just lucky the times I've gone this past week.

Can you think of anything else I could try?

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Answer 5

sberman

Level 10

278,320 points

Jul 19, 2026 12:09 PM in response to galbsy

galbsy wrote:

I have been turning off the "raise to wake" in the Watch settings each time I've been back to the pool (including today)

I cannot imagine what action you took to disrupt the Wake on Wrist Raise setting. Do you manually turn it on each time you leave the pool? What happens if you leave it off?

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Answer 6

galbsy Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 19, 2026 1:16 PM in response to sberman

So I keep my watch "on" all the time, so raise to wake doesn't even matter anyway, but I usually do have it set to on. I guess because sometimes I'll manually turn off the screen? Yeah, you can easily toggle it on/off in the settings. I'd turn it off before I went into the pool and turn it back on when I got out (after I unlocked the water lock).

My watch never asks me if I want to verify my iCloud password otherwise. Only sometimes in the water. It doesn't prompt me to put it in, it just asks if I want to verify it and I always click "not now" (after I get out of the pool, when I can). Changing the password has not helped and there's no issue with my password across devices. I keep my watch band tight and it never goes off my wrist to prompt me to put in my passcode... buttons and the screen are disabled because of the water lock. I just can't make any sense of it.

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Answer 7

sberman

Level 10

278,320 points

Jul 19, 2026 2:01 PM in response to galbsy

I don’t really understand your response after re-reading it several times. I think you’re saying you turn on Wake on Wrist after leaving the pool.

If so, try keeping it off. When you want to see the screen, tap it or tap the Digital Crown.

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Answer 8

galbsy Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 19, 2026 4:13 PM in response to sberman

Sorry, yes I used the wrong verbage and was very confusing. Sorry about that. I'm including a screenshot of my regular settings -- the ones I always have selected. Before the pool, I tried toggling OFF the "Wake on Wrist Raise." That was what I thought you were suggesting. I then toggle it back on after my pool workout, rather than just always keeping it off.

Toggling it off did not resolve the problem.