Digital Crown on my Apple Watch Sport hard to turn or does not respond to pressing

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Digital Crown on my Apple Watch Sport hard to turn or does not respond to pressing

This started last month: my Apple Watch did not respond to tapping the crown and the crown was difficult to turn.

Looking at the crown, there were no traces of dust or dirt or parts sticking out. I nevertheless tried the fix described here: Get help with the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

But rinsing the watch made no change.

Because I was traveling and were far away from any cities with Apple Stores I could not have the watch checked.

Magically, the problem solved itself after I returned home to a moderate climate.

Now I suspect the problem with the digital crown getting stuck might be partially due to using the watch in a tropical climate. During my vacation the temperature during the day was frequently higher than 35°C and the humidity was very high.

This document does not mention the digital crown: Keep Apple Watch within acceptable operating temperatures - Apple Support

Apple Watch Sport 42mm, watchOS 2.2, Space Gray, Sportsband

Posted on Apr 12, 2016 11:08 PM

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Answer 1

léonie Author

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Apr 13, 2016 1:33 AM in response to léonie

I see I need to rephrase my question: 😁 Is there a problem with wearing the watch in a tropical climate? The temperature was not much higher than 35°C, but the temperature differences between the outside temperature and the air conditioned rooms was large.

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Answer 2

Jonathan UK

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Apr 13, 2016 4:28 AM in response to léonie

Hi léonie

The watch can be damaged and battery life shortened if it is operated outside of the temperature range^ specified by Apple.

Apple also advises that you should avoid exposing the watch to dramatic changes in temperature or humidity.

More information (under Operating Temperature):

https://help.apple.com/watch/#/apd707b42a5e

^ Ambient temperatures: between 32° and 95° F (0° and 35° C);

Storage temperatures: between -4° and 113° F (-20° and 45° C).

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Answer 3

léonie Author

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Apr 13, 2016 1:50 AM in response to Jonathan UK

Thank you, Jonathan! That is very helpful.

I have seen the same operating conditions in the Support document I linked to. What I am not sure about is the tolerance around the upper limit 35°C. The temperature was never much higher. And I never saw a high temperature warning on the watch display.

And what are "dramatic temperature changes"? The difference between tropical outside temperature and an air conditioned room?

What still has me puzzled is the problem with the digital crown, that resolved itself after I returned to a moderate climate. The help text does not list the digital crown as an issue of higher temperatures.

Could this problem be caused by the higher humidity rather than the higher temperatures?

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Answer 4

Jonathan UK

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Apr 13, 2016 4:28 AM in response to léonie

In the absence of more detailed published guidance, I'm afraid you would need to seek any further information from Apple:

https://www.apple.com/support/watch/contact/

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Answer 5

léonie Author

Level 10

200,711 points

Apr 13, 2016 4:28 AM in response to Jonathan UK

Thanks again, I'll have to do just that, if no one here can report about experience with using the watch in the warmer regions of the earth. I'm always hoping the combined knowledge of our more than 10 million forum members can reveal more than Apple published in the support documents, based on the own experience with the product.

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