Why Does My Apple Watch Keep Locking While I’m Wearing It (watchOS 10)

If your Apple Watch keeps locking while you’re wearing it, you may be wearing your watch band too loosely. Fortunately, a locked Apple Watch still tracks your steps, heart rate, and activities. However, I’ll teach you ways to prevent your Apple Watch from locking accidentally (or at all) and an automatic way to unlock it, just in case!

Jump To:

• Why Does My Apple Watch Keep Locking While I’m Wearing It?
• Quick Fixes: Apple Watch Keeps Locking On Its Own
• How to Turn Passcode Off on Apple Watch
• FAQ

Why Does My Apple Watch Keep Locking While I’m Wearing It?

If your Apple Watch thinks it has been removed from your wrist, it will lock itself to keep your data safe. A locked Apple Watch can still track your activities, such as measuring your respiratory rate while you sleep, but it can't access your messages, Apple Wallet, or any other sensitive information. Your Apple Watch may lock automatically if the band is loose, if you have a tattoo right under the sensors, and if your Apple Watch gets wet.

To prevent your Apple Watch from locking, you can try fastening your Apple Watch band more tightly. When the sensors lift off your skin, they assume that the watch has been removed. But how tight should an Apple Watch be? For your Apple Watch sensors to be as accurate as possible, your watch should fit comfortably on your wrist. If your watch keeps shifting, it is likely too loose.

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Unfortunately for ink lovers, if the skin touching your Apple Watch sensors is tattooed, you may experience various Apple Watch problems. The substances in tattoo ink can interact with the sensors and result in your Apple Watch locking or tracking your activities incorrectly. The only solution is to place your Apple Watch on your other wrist. If that is tattooed as well, you could consider a different fitness tracker, such as the Oura Ring.

Is your Apple Watch locked after getting wet? This is a different type of automatic lock. If you get your Apple Watch wet or enable Sleep mode on your iPhone, your Apple Watch will lock automatically. To unlock Apple Watches that are in Water or Sleep mode, you'll have to press and hold the Home button on the Digital Crown to unlock it. For more Apple Watch tips and tricks, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter.

Quick Fixes: Apple Watch Keeps Locking On Its Own

If you want to prevent your Apple Watch from locking on your wrist, you have several options to take.

1. Tighten your Apple Watch band or switch to an infinitely adjustable band. A loose Apple Watch will not only lock itself automatically, but it won't offer accurate tracking. 
2. Enable your Apple Watch to open with your iPhone. This way, if your Apple Watch locks itself, it will unlock automatically if your iPhone is within range and unlocked.
   
   
3. If you don’t mind taking the risk, you can turn off your Apple Watch passcode.
   
   

If you enjoy the feature that lets you unlock your Apple Watch with your iPhone, check out our article on the unlock with Apple Watch feature next.

How to Turn Passcode Off on Apple Watch

While we don't recommend turning your passcode off for security and privacy purposes, it is possible, and it will prevent your Apple Watch from locking. To do this:

1. Open Settings on your Apple Watch.
   
   
2. Select Passcode.
   
   
3. Tap Turn Passcode Off.
   
   
4. Confirm by tapping Turn Off.
   
   

That's it! Your Apple Watch won't lock anymore, even if you take it off or lose it. You can always turn the passcode back on at a future time.

Now you know what to do if your Apple Watch keeps locking! We hope our tips helped you fix this annoying problem. Next, learn how to lock Apple Watches manually. Also, consider checking out our Apple Watch gear buyer's guide to find the best equipment for your device.