This article was reviewed by Luigi Oppido
and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly
. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 1,487 times.
It takes about 30 minutes for an Apple Watch to charge after it's dead. If your watch stays off for longer than that, it could indicate an issue with your charging cable or power source. Luckily, there are a few things you can try to turn your watch on again. Here's what to do if your Apple Watch is not charging after being dead for Series 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Why Won't My Apple Watch Charge?
If you're trying to charge your Apple Watch after it's been dead for a while, it won't appear to start charging instantly. Leave it to charge for at least 30 minutes using an Apple-certified charging cable and working power outlet.
Steps
-
A dead Apple Watch will take some time to boot up again. Usually, you'll see a green lightning bolt on the screen while it's charging, or a red lightning bolt if it needs charging. If you don't see these icons, or if it's stuck on the charging cable icon, leave it alone to charge for 30 minutes to an hour before checking again. [1] X Research source
- If it turns on, consider disabling some features to improve its battery life .
-
Make sure you're using an Apple-certified charging cable. Some third-party cables are not compatible even if they say they are. Use the Apple Magnetic Charging Cable or USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable that came in your Apple Watch box. If needed, you can order a new one from the Apple website .
- Also inspect both the end of the magnetic charger and the back side of your Apple Watch watch for any build-up or dirt preventing it from making contact. If you need to, you can wipe your Apple Watch and the charger clean with a soft, lint-free cloth. [2] X Research source
-
Plug the cable into a different outlet. If you're using a wall outlet, try a different one. You can also charge an Apple Watch using a computer or laptop that's turned on, though it may take longer.
- Check that the charging cable is plugged all the way into the USB power adapter or device.
-
If the watch is relatively new, you may be covered under Apple's warranty. You can contact Apple on their website at https://getsupport.apple.com/ .