Apple Watch Ultra 4 action button has long delay for flashlight when screen is in standby

Hi there

Please try this

Turn off "Hold to Turn On" for the Siren: In your watch Settings, go to Action Button and toggle off Hold to Turn On. Sometimes the system adds a lingering processing delay because it is waiting to see if you are performing a prolonged press to activate the emergency siren. 

Use a Shortcut as a Proxy: Instead of mapping the Action Button directly to the native "Flashlight" function, try creating a simple one-action Shortcut on your iPhone that turns on the flashlight. Map the Action Button to execute that Shortcut. Shortcuts often handle system wake commands using a different API process that might bypass the deep-sleep lag. 

Toggle Always-On Display: If you currently have Always-On Display disabled, enabling it can sometimes keep the low-power processor states slightly more responsive to physical button triggers.

No doubt a software problem. I have had AWU1 & 3 watches, no issue with action button. On my second AWU4. Same behavior. My temporary work around is to roll the crown a bit if the action button is non-responsive. That always works for me.

While I did return my new ULTRA4 and got a new one, and I believed the issue had gone away and now realize it is almost certainly software related. It’s not that bad if you know to touch the crown at the same time, but I’m sure they will fix this issue in the next update or soon.

update: talked to the Genius Bar crew and they said it’s a software issue. Since the button works, it’s not a hardware issue. He said it’s a new device and most likely all the kinks will be worked out in about a month. He says weird stuff happens to new devices and software updates usually get the bugs out.

I work for Apple and returned my ultra 4 because of this issue. Got a new one and have the same issue. Thought maybe it was hardware, but after doing some browsing I’m seeing lots of people with this issue. Will ask the techs tomorrow for their opinion. I assume since it’s so widespread it’s gotta be a software issue.

So I returned my brand new ULTRA 4 and bought another one. The new one is perfect

No issues with action button delay in stand-by mode or not. Flashlight works perfectly again.

This is a safety issue for me. I walk in the dark every morning and use the action button all the time for light crossing streets etc.

Happy.

I have the exact same issue. I thought it was just me so it must be a bug. It didn't happen on my Ultra 3 running WatchOS 27 but got the Ultra 4 on Friday and noticed all today that pressing the action button does nothing. I have to raise my wrist and tap it a few times before the flashlight kicks in. Hoping it gets fixed soon.

I'm thankful I'm not alone. I have the same thing on BRAND NEW 2 DAY OLD ULTRA 4

Ive owned the ULTRA 1 and ULTRA 3 so I am very used to the response time on the action button (for the flashlight)

now it does not work half the time. I walk in the dark each day crossing streets etc. It's a safety thing.

If it's hardware I will need to replace this one.

Spoke to Apple last night and we went through some diagnostics on my phone and watch. The info is going to be passed on to the technicians. I’m stating to think if we just got a bad batch of these watches. I don’t know anyone who also has it to test this out.

Is it just the action button flashlight that’s a problem? Not changed mine to anything other than flashlight but in standby. It never works. As soon as the screen lights up it works which makes me think it’s not hardware? Although Watch OS 27.0.1 hasn’t fixed it.

So I exchanged my Apple Watch Ultra 4 yesterday and got a different color band thinking I might escape this action button issue but it’s still there. Unfortunately or fortunately I guess Apple messed up on my trade in credit so I have to go back today to clear that up. I’ll be returning this watch for another but if the problem is still there I’m just going to assume it’s a bug that Apple is late to fix. I’m starting to see more post on FB about other users having the same issue.

I have the same exact issue happening to my Ultra 4. I thought about getting it replaced but it sounds like it’s a bug. Did I understand correctly? You already got your watch replaced?

Same here

I personally think software issue and hoping it gets sorted soon in WatchOS 27.0.1 whenever that releases :)