You're staring at your wrist, and for some reason, the thing just won't shut up. Maybe it’s buzzing with notifications you don't want, or maybe you're trying to save the last 4% of battery life before you reach a charger. Honestly, learning how to power off iwatch—technically known as the Apple Watch—should be the easiest thing in the world. But Apple changed the buttons. Then they changed the software. Now, if you haven't updated your mental manual since 2021, you’re probably just summoning Siri over and over again while getting increasingly frustrated.
It happens to everyone.
The reality is that powering down a wearable device isn't just about "off." It's about understanding the state of the hardware. Most people don't actually need to turn their watch off; they need to reboot it because a third-party app like Strava or Spotify has hung in the background, draining the battery like a sieve. But when you truly need to kill the power, there is a specific sequence you have to follow, and it varies depending on whether you're on watchOS 10, watchOS 11, or an older version of the software.
The Standard Method to Power Off iWatch Today
Apple’s design philosophy usually leans toward "hide the off button so people don't accidentally turn off their life-saving health monitor." To turn off your Apple Watch today, you need to ignore the Digital Crown entirely. That circular dial is for scrolling and Siri. Leave it alone.
Instead, look at the flat side button. This is the rectangular button right next to the Crown. You need to press and hold the side button until a screen pops up with several sliders. You'll see "Medical ID," "Compass Backtrack," and "Emergency Call." Way up in the top right corner of that screen, there’s a tiny, almost hidden Power Button icon.
Tap that icon.
Once you tap it, the "Power Off" slider appears. Swipe that slider to the right. The screen goes black. It takes a few seconds—sometimes up to ten—for the internals to fully cycle down. It’s not an instant "click" like an old-school flashlight. If the screen is black and the haptics don't buzz when you touch it, you've successfully powered it off.
✨ Don't miss: iPhone 16 Pro Natural Titanium: What the Reviewers Missed About This Finish
Why the Buttons Feel Different Now
Apple changed the behavior of the side button with the release of watchOS 10. Previously, a long press of the side button brought the power slider up immediately. Now, they've tucked it behind that extra tap on the power icon. Why? Because they wanted to repurpose the side button for the Control Center.
It's a classic Apple move: prioritize daily features over the "off" switch.
If you are running an older version of watchOS—say, you have an original Series 3 that can't update anymore—the process is simpler. You just hold that side button until the slider appears directly. No extra icon tap required. But for anyone with a Series 6, Series 9, or the Ultra 2 running current software, that extra step is the "gotcha" that trips most users up.
When Your Watch is Frozen: The Force Restart
Sometimes the screen is totally unresponsive. You’re trying to figure out how to power off iwatch, but the touch screen won't register your swipe. This is the "blue screen of death" equivalent for your wrist. It usually happens when the RAM gets overloaded or a buggy update causes a kernel panic.
In this scenario, a standard power-down won't work. You have to force it.
To force restart an Apple Watch, you must hold down both the Digital Crown and the side button simultaneously. Keep holding them. Don't let go when the screen goes dark. You have to wait until the white Apple logo appears on the screen. This usually takes about 10 to 15 seconds. Once you see that logo, let go.
🔗 Read more: Heavy Aircraft Integrated Avionics: Why the Cockpit is Becoming a Giant Smartphone
A word of caution: Do not force restart your watch if you are in the middle of a software update. If you see that circular progress bar on the screen, leave it alone. Hard-resetting during an update can "brick" the device, turning a $400 piece of tech into a very expensive paperweight that requires a trip to the Genius Bar.
The "Power Reserve" Confusion
For years, Apple Watch had a dedicated "Power Reserve" mode. It turned your smartwatch into a dumb watch—literally just showing the time in tiny green numbers. People often confused this with the device being off.
Apple has effectively replaced Power Reserve with Low Power Mode.
Low Power Mode keeps the watch "on" but kills the Always-On Display, heart rate sensors, and cellular connections. If your goal in turning off the watch is simply to make it through a long flight or a hiking trip, Low Power Mode is actually what you want. You get to keep your data, but the battery drain drops significantly. You turn this on by swiping up (or pressing the side button on newer OS) to get to the Control Center, tapping the battery percentage, and toggling the switch.
What if it won't turn back on?
Occasionally, you'll power off the watch and it won't wake up. This is usually "Snake Mode." That’s what technicians call it when the battery is so low it can't even boot the OS. You'll see a red lightning bolt and a charging cable icon. If this happens, you aren't broken; you're just empty. Toss it on the puck for 30 minutes.
Managing Battery Health Long-Term
If you are looking into how to power off iwatch because you plan to put it in a drawer for a few months, don't just turn it off at 100% or 0%. Lithium-ion batteries are chemically temperamental.
💡 You might also like: Astronauts Stuck in Space: What Really Happens When the Return Flight Gets Cancelled
If you store it at 0%, the battery can fall into a "deep discharge" state, making it unable to ever hold a charge again. If you store it at 100%, the battery can lose capacity over time. The "sweet spot" for long-term storage is roughly 50%. Charge it halfway, power it down using the method described above, and keep it in a cool, dry place.
Common Obstacles and Misconceptions
One of the weirdest things about the Apple Watch is that you cannot turn it off while it is charging.
Try it. Put your watch on the magnetic charger and follow the steps to power it down. The slider will appear, the screen will go black, and then—magically—it will reboot itself. This is by design. Apple assumes that if the device is on a charger, you want it to be active, updating, and ready for the next day. If you truly want the device off while it sits on the dock, you’re out of luck. You have to take it off the charger, power it down, and leave it on the nightstand.
The "Siri" Accidental Activation
If you hold the Digital Crown instead of the side button, Siri will pop up and ask how she can help. If you hold it for too long, she’ll start transcribing your frustrated muttering. Remember: Crown = Siri. Side Button = Power/System.
Practical Steps to Take Now
If you are having trouble with your watch, don't just keep toggling the power. Here is a better workflow for troubleshooting:
- Check your version: Open Settings on the watch, go to General, then About. If you're on watchOS 10 or later, remember the "Top Right Power Icon" trick.
- Close apps first: Before shutting down, double-click the Digital Crown to see your open apps. Swipe left on them and hit the red 'X' to close them. Sometimes this fixes the "lag" that makes you want to turn it off in the first place.
- Update the software: Many power-down bugs are fixed in minor "dot" releases (like 11.1 or 11.2). Check for updates in the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Check the button mechanicals: If the side button feels "mushy" or doesn't click, it might be clogged with sweat or debris. Run it under a tiny stream of warm fresh water for 15 seconds while clicking the button to clear it out.
Understanding the nuance of the hardware interface makes the experience much less "techy" and much more intuitive. Whether you're trying to save battery, prep for a flight, or just get some peace and quiet, knowing exactly how the side button interacts with the latest software is the key to mastering your device. Keep that side button pressed, look for the tiny icon in the corner, and swipe away.
For those planning to store the device long-term, ensure you check the battery level every six months and top it back up to that 50% mark. This simple habit can double the actual lifespan of the hardware, saving you from a costly battery replacement or a dead Series 10 down the road.