The Digital Crown on your Apple Watch may occasionally experience issues such as being stuck or being resistant to rotation. If you encounter these issues, here’s a guide to resolve them and restore its functionality.
Clean your Apple Watch
Apple says that if the Digital Crown on your watch gets stuck or won’t move, it’s likely due to dirt, debris, dust, lotion, or something similar. If you’re experiencing this problem, Apple recommends lightly running warm, fresh water over the Crown for no more than 15 seconds. Repeat if necessary.
Here are a few important things to keep in mind:
- Turn off your Apple Watch and ensure it’s not on its charger.
- If you’re using a leather band with your Apple Watch, remove it before putting your watch under running water.
- Press the Digital Crown under lightly running fresh water to help clear stuck dirt and debris.
- Don’t use soap or other cleaning products.
- Finally, dry off your Apple Watch using a soft cloth.
Remove the Apple Watch case
If you’re using a full-body case or thin plastic cover on your Apple Watch, consider removing it; it should help restore rotational motion to the Digital Crown.
Restart or force restart your Apple Watch
For those who can rotate and press in on their Digital Crown, but their Apple Watch itself isn’t responding, Apple recommends turning the device off and then on again or performing a force restart.
Unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch
If the Digital Crown isn’t responding because of watchOS bugs or other system abnormalities, go ahead and erase your Apple Watch using your iPhone. Once that’s done, pair it again.
Take it to an Apple Store
Finally, if nothing helps, take your Apple Watch to an Apple Store or an authorized service center for inspection.