Apple Watch Series 6 Not Turning On? Here's The Fix.

Colin Boyd

MAY 27, 2021

You went to activate your Apple Watch, but the screen stayed black. You tried tapping the face, pressing each button, and voice control but it still won't power on. In this article, I'll show you how to fix an Apple Watch Series 6 not turning on.

If Your Apple Watch Was Recently Harmed

As strong as Apple Watches are made, they're not invincible. If you found that your Apple Watch stopped turning on after it was dropped or damaged some other way, this might be the only explanation you need.

Even the Apple Watch Series 6's water resistance has a certain limit to it. Think back to any recent spills or splashes that have happened nearby. Was your Apple Watch within range?

If you have a specific event in mind that could have hurt your device, the safest thing to do is go straight to Apple to inquire about repairs.

How To Repair An Apple Watch Series 6 That Won't Turn On

5 Steps Total
1.

Hard Reset Your Apple Watch

When an Apple Watch malfunctions, sometimes a hard reset is all it takes to repair it. While this might not be a permanent solution, it's a quick and easy measure to take before getting too deep into the repair process.

How Do I Hard Reset My Apple Watch?

  1. Press and hold the Digital Crown and Side button simultaneously.
  2. Continue holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears, then let go.
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2.

Check That Power Reserve Is Turned Off On Your Apple Watch

Many people activate Power Reserve assuming it's a similar function to the battery saving features on the iPhone. It might be quite a surprise to find that, after activating this function, basically every "smart" feature on your Apple Watch has stopped working.

When this happens, it's easy to mistake your Apple Watch for being powered off rather than in Power Reserve mode. Making sure that your Apple watch isn't experiencing this problem can be a very quick and helpful troubleshooting step.

If your Apple Watch is currently in Power Reserve mode, the following steps should get it working again:

  1. Press and hold the side button.
  2. Continue holding the side button until the Apple logo appears on the watch face.
  3. If your Apple Watch turns back on and looks normal, you've successfully deactivated Power Reserve.
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3.

Turn Off Screen Curtain On Your Apple Watch

While this feature can be useful in a movie theater, it can give off the impression that your Apple Watch won't charge or turn on. Check to make sure Screen Curtain is off before trying a more in-depth troubleshooting step.

How Do I Turn Off Screen Curtain On My Apple Watch?

  1. Open the Watch App on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. Tap VoiceOver.
  4. Turn off the switch next to Screen Curtain.
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4.

Try Another Apple Watch Charging Cable

Apple's magnetic charging cables can be pretty fragile. It's possible that a damaged Apple Watch cable could be the reason for the problems you're experiencing. Taking the time to test your charging cable a few different ways could save you some time and effort down the line.

There are a couple steps you'll want to take to fully troubleshoot your Apple Watch's charging cable:

  1. Clean any dirt or debris off of your Apple Watch and charging cable.
  2. Clean out the USB end of your magnetic charging cable with an anti-static brush.

If that doesn't work:

  1. Try using a different charging cable if you have access to one.
  2. If your Apple Watch charges with one cable and not another, you know that your original charging cable was causing the problem.
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5.

Repair Your Apple Watch With Apple

If you've tried every other troubleshooting step and you still haven't been able to resolve the problem, the safest thing to do is go directly to Apple. Giving a professional the opportunity to diagnose and repair your device is your best option for keeping the problem from worsening.

How Do I Repair My Apple Watch With Apple?

There are a few way to get in touch with Apple about repairs. If you're willing to go out to an Apple Store:

  1. Set up an appointment at your local Genius Bar.
  2. Bring your Apple Watch in for a free diagnosis and repair quote!

If you'd prefer a mail-in repair service:

  1. Visit Apple's support website.
  2. Look in to Apple's mail-in repair servicing options.
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Apple Watch: Back On!

It's surprising how many different explanations there are for why an Apple Watch appears not to work. Follow these steps closely, and you should have a clearer idea of what's wrong before too long. This has been everything you need to know if your Apple Watch Series 6 is not turning on, good luck!

AUTHOR

Colin Boyd

I'm Colin, the Creative Coordinator for Payette Forward.

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