If your Apple Watch screen is not working, your fingers might be sweaty or oily. Give them a good clean and check if your Apple Watch screen is responding now.
The issue can also be software-related. You might not have updated your OS in a while, so it could be bugging out.
I haven’t faced the problem in a while, but it did pop up once on the old
Apple Watch 3 that I used to own. It only took me a couple of minutes to figure out that it was software-related.
I have not only discussed how I took care of it, but all the other solutions you can try.
How Do You Fix Apple Watch Touch Screen Not Working?
There are many
ways to fix an unresponsive Apple watch screen, and they include:
Solution 1: Clean Your Hands
Your watch screen won’t register touches if your hands are dirty or covered in oil. Wipe them down, then check whether you’re still having trouble. I advise you to clean your hands with a microfiber cloth for the best results.
Your screen won’t work if you’re wearing gloves either. Make sure to take them off before you use your watch.
Solution 2: Clean Your Apple Watch Screen
On the other hand, your watch screen could be responsible. It may be oily or covered with dirt. Wipe it down with a microfiber cloth.
Your watch also won’t work properly if you’ve installed your tempered glass/screen protector incorrectly. Remove it and see whether this helps.
Solution 3: Close Any Apps that are running
If your
Apple watch touchscreen only acts up when you’re using a specific app, the app might be culprit. It could be stuck on a random glitch. I recommend force-closing to take care of it.
- Press the Digital crown to open the app menu
- Tap the app you want to close
- Press and hold the Side button
- Release the Side button when the Power off menu appears
- Long-hold the Digital crown until the app you want to close disappears, and the homescreen returns
Solution 4: Force Restart (Hard Reset)
You might have a system glitch on your hands.
Turning your Apple watch off and back on can help if it’s something minor. If even that doesn’t help, you may have to restart it. It’s essentially a more comprehensive restart method.
Here’s what you do:
- Press and hold both the Side button and Digital Crown for at least 10 seconds
- Let go of them when the Apple logo appears
Solution 5: Software Update WatchOS
Your Apple watch’s screen could be bugging out because it’s outdated. Before you start updating it, make sure that you have a stable internet connection.
To update and get your watch’s touch screen to start working again:
- Open the Settings app
- Go to General
- Click on Software Update
- Tap Install Now
- Wait for the latest version of WatchOS to download
Solution 6: Unpair and Repair Apple Watch
Although I haven’t had luck with this fix, I know quite a few users who have managed to unpair and re-pair their Apple watch.
Just remember that when you unpair your Apple watch, it automatically reverts to its factory settings.
To remove your watch from the paired iPhone:
- Connect your iPhone to the internet (WiFi or Cellular Data both work fine)
- Keep your Apple watch close to your iPhone
- Launch the Watch app on your phone
- Head to the My Watch tab
- Click on your Apple watch from the top of the screen
- Select the info symbol next to your watch
- Click on the Unpair Apple watch button
Once done, pair your Apple watch to your phone again. Hopefully the issue will be gone.
Here’s how:
- Bring your iPhone near your Apple watch
- Wait for the pairing screen to appear on your iPhone
- Click on the Continue button once you see it
- Tap on the Set Up For Myself option
- Position your iPhone so that your watch appears in its view finder
- Click on the Set Up button, then follow the instructions to pair Apple watch
Solution 7: System Reset
Before moving onto my last fix, I recommend factory-resetting watchOS. This will help if you’re stuck with a complex software problem.
Just keep in mind that when you
factory reset, you will lose all your personal data and files.
Thankfully, Apple watches backup to iPhones
automatically. You should be able to restore your files and data with ease.
To reset:
- Open Settings
- Go to General > Reset
- Click on the Erase All Content & Settings button
- Enter your device passcode to confirm
Solution 8: Contact Apple Store
If all else fails, you could have a hardware issue on your hands. You may have dropped and damaged your watch screen. If so, contact your local Apple store for help.
Depending on your
device warranty, you can get the damages fixed for free.
If you can’t find an Apple store near you, look for an authorized repair center instead.
FAQ
Answered below are some popular questions.
How Do I Fix Touch Sensitivity on Apple Watch?
You watch screen may have just lost its sensitivity. Usually, this happens when you meddle with its display sensitivity settings and forget to change them back.
To fix this:
- Grab your Apple watch and open Settings
- Find and click on the Accessibility option
- Click on the Accommodations menu
- Go through the menu and choose how you want your smart watch to register your touches
Some users have noted that their watch screen loses sensitivity after updating watchOS. You’ll have to let Apple take care of things from their end.
Final Thoughts
There are many reasons why your Apple watch may not be responding to touch. Usually, this is because your fingers are oily or dusty. Give them a good wipe down and try again.
It could also be due to your screen protector being installed the wrong way (or you’ve bought a screen protector that’s too thick). Simply remove it and see whether this helps.
Of course, the display issue can be hardware-related. You’ll have to contact your local Apple store for help in case you’ve damaged your screen.