Apple watch randomly turns off

Hi

Apple Watch displays the time and a lightning bolt (and cannot be used for any other functions) when it has entered into Power Reserve mode, which either happens automatically when the battery reaches a low charge level or happens when the mode is enabled manually.

To turn off Power Reserve mode, restart your Apple Watch by pressing and holding the side button until you see the Apple logo. You may need to charge your Apple Watch before it can be restarted.

• Check your battery and charge your Apple Watch - Apple Support
• If your Apple Watch won't charge or it won't turn on - Apple Support

Battery life varies depending on use and other factors. Examples are detailed here:

http://www.apple.com/watch/battery.html

Apple's tips for maximising battery life on Apple Watch are detailed here:

http://www.apple.com/batteries/maximizing-performance/#watchtips

If your Apple Watch is shutting down unexpectedly and/or experiencing significantly shorter battery life than Apple's examples suggest that you should expect or than you were experiencing before, then it may require service.

Before contacting Apple, it may help to follow these steps, which have previously resolved battery life issues for other users,including those experienced after installing software updates, when their usage has not changed (check after each):

If you have not yet done so, update your iPhone and Apple Watch to the latest software, starting with your iPhone (be sure to make a backup first):

• Update the iOS software on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
• Update the software on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Restart both your iPhone and your Apple Watch, turning both off together and then restarting your iPhone first:

• Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
• Restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support
• If the issue persists, next close all open apps on your iPhone and then restart both devices again.

If you have ever (not necessarily recently) previously used the Workout app and/or any third-party fitness or sleep tracking apps to record workouts on your watch, check on your watch to see whether there is a paused activity within any of them. If there is, end that activity from within the app on your watch (not your iPhone).

• If in doubt, remove any such third-party apps from your Apple Watch.

Unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch:

• The Watch app on your iPhone takes a backup of your watch automatically when unpairing via the app.
  • When setting it up again, initially choose to Restore from Backup. Most data and settings will be restored, with some exceptions (eg Apple Pay cards, passcode).
  • If the issue persists, consider instead unpairing and setting it up as a new watch.
• Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone - Apple Support
• Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Some users have previously experienced battery life issues in connection with using corporate profiles and/or Exchange Calendars. If you are using an Exchange Calendar, one or more of these steps may help:

• Archive your Exchange Calendar for all items before today.
• Remove / delete all old inbox messages relating to calendar invites (accept and decline notifications).
• Create a rule in your Outlook Mail account that moves all future accept and decline replies, immediately upon receipt, into a separate mail folder that does not sync with your iPhone and Apple Watch.
• Check your Exchange Calendar for errors.

Finally, it may help to:

• Remove third-party apps from the Dock and/or from your watch and then monitor performance after adding them back, one at a time.
  • Open apps
• Remove watch face complications and monitor performance as you add them back:
  • Change the watch face on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Having tried the previous steps, if the issue persists, I suggest contacting Apple Support (remote diagnostics and/or mail-in service may be available, if required), making a Genius Bar reservation or visiting an Apple Authorised Service Provider for assistance, including - if recommended - to have your watch inspected and serviced:

Apple Watch Service Answer Center - Apple Support

Is it still happening to you? I've only had my Series 1 Watch since November last year, and it was fine at first but since the last firmware update its been doing a random shutdown. No warning, so you dont even know its not functioning except as a timepiece with those horrid green numerals, until you want to check something like your steps, or the weather.

Does Apple even *look* at these discussions?

I have exactly the same problem... the Watch randomly turns off. Sometimes it works for a week, then it turns off. I already did three resets but it didn't solve the problem..

Did you find a solution?

I have been having the same issue since updating to IOS 10. Randomly throughout the day, my Apple watch will just turn off. The charge can be at 90% or 30%. There are no patterns to the shut down, other than it happens almost every day, at different times, and circumstances. It is very disappointing to pay $600.00 for a watch you can not rely on to function the way it is supposed to.

After a reset it's back

But this just happened today

Thanks Jonathan. Battery life is fine. Excellent in fact. I'll look into the other solutions.

You're welcome! 🙂