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Apple Watch ‘water lock’

Is it recommended to enable the ‘water lock’ on my Apple Watch Series 3 when I go swimming?

Posted on Feb 21, 2018 8:18 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Feb 21, 2018 8:31 AM

Hi

Apple Watch Series 2 & 3 models remain equally water resistant regardless of whether or not Water Lock is turned on.

Water Lock prevents accidental screen interactions during exposure to water and also expels any water from the speaker afterwards.

Planned water exposure (except swimming workouts)


If you plan to get Apple Watch Series 2 or 3 wet under other circumstances than a swimming workout (such as during general wear in a pool), then you can manually turn on Water Lock first and then turn it off again afterwards (which is when water is cleared from inside the speaker):


  • Swipe up from the bottom of the watch face to open Control Center > tap on Water Lock to lock the screen.
  • When finished: turn the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and to clear water from the speaker.

Swimming workouts


Starting a swimming workout in the Workout app on Apple Watch Series 2 or 3 models automatically enables Water Lock, which locks the screen to prevent accidental interactions during your workout. To finish a workout and expel any water:

  • Press the Digital Crown and the side button at the same time (which pauses the workout).
  • Turn the Digital Crown, which unlocks the screen and clears any water from inside the watch's speaker (it may make a sound).
  • Swipe right and tap on End.


Accidental / other exposure to water


If the watch is exposed to water accidentally at any time or if you forget to enable it before planned exposure to water, Water Lock can be enabled afterwards and then immediately turned off again to expel any water from inside the speaker (by following the same steps as above).


After swimming or exposing it to anything other than fresh water, be sure to clean your Apple Watch Series 2 or 3 by gently rinsing it with warm tap water. The watch and band should also then be dried using a soft, lint-free cloth.


Note that leather and stainless steel bands are not water resistant, so should not be worn in water.


More information:

Work out with your Apple Watch - Apple Support

About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support

Important handling information

7 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Feb 21, 2018 8:31 AM in response to slb_clip

Hi

Apple Watch Series 2 & 3 models remain equally water resistant regardless of whether or not Water Lock is turned on.

Water Lock prevents accidental screen interactions during exposure to water and also expels any water from the speaker afterwards.

Planned water exposure (except swimming workouts)


If you plan to get Apple Watch Series 2 or 3 wet under other circumstances than a swimming workout (such as during general wear in a pool), then you can manually turn on Water Lock first and then turn it off again afterwards (which is when water is cleared from inside the speaker):


  • Swipe up from the bottom of the watch face to open Control Center > tap on Water Lock to lock the screen.
  • When finished: turn the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and to clear water from the speaker.

Swimming workouts


Starting a swimming workout in the Workout app on Apple Watch Series 2 or 3 models automatically enables Water Lock, which locks the screen to prevent accidental interactions during your workout. To finish a workout and expel any water:

  • Press the Digital Crown and the side button at the same time (which pauses the workout).
  • Turn the Digital Crown, which unlocks the screen and clears any water from inside the watch's speaker (it may make a sound).
  • Swipe right and tap on End.


Accidental / other exposure to water


If the watch is exposed to water accidentally at any time or if you forget to enable it before planned exposure to water, Water Lock can be enabled afterwards and then immediately turned off again to expel any water from inside the speaker (by following the same steps as above).


After swimming or exposing it to anything other than fresh water, be sure to clean your Apple Watch Series 2 or 3 by gently rinsing it with warm tap water. The watch and band should also then be dried using a soft, lint-free cloth.


Note that leather and stainless steel bands are not water resistant, so should not be worn in water.


More information:

Work out with your Apple Watch - Apple Support

About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support

Important handling information

Feb 21, 2018 9:47 AM in response to slb_clip

No problem! 🙂


In respect of use at the beach, whilst Apple Watch Series 3 is suitable for use when shallow water swimming, keep in mind that:


  • After contact with anything other than fresh water, the watch, band and your wrist should be cleaned with fresh water and dried.
  • Apple Watch can be damaged by contact with abrasive materials, such as sand.
  • Some users have reported experiencing issues with the Sport Band having come undone during swimming in the ocean, so if you have this type of band, then you may prefer to use a band with a different type of fastening.

    Leather and stainless steel bands are not water resistant and should not be worn when swimming.


More information:

About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support

Important handling information

Feb 21, 2018 8:40 AM in response to slb_clip

Yes.


The Apple Watch (Series 2 and 3) will enable Water lock automatically when starting a Swimming workout.


About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support

Apple Watch Series 2 and Apple Watch Series 3

When you start a swimming workout, your Apple Watch automatically locks the screen with Water Lock to avoid accidental taps. When you're done, turn the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and clear any water from your Apple Watch. You hear sounds and may feel some water on your wrist.

To manually clear water from Apple Watch, swipe up on the bottom of the watch face to open Control Center, tap Water Lock, then turn the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and clear water from the speaker.

Feb 21, 2018 11:24 AM in response to slb_clip

I use a 3rd party app swim.com when I'm swimming, which doesn't automatically engage water lock. I've used this with my previous Watch 2 and now my watch 3 with no problems. I will sometimes engage water lock after I've finished, just to expel any water that might be lurking in the speakers, but it's really not necessary.

Apple Watch ‘water lock’

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