How to Fix Apple Watch Keep Freezing, Restarting, or Stuck on Boot Screen

If your Apple Watch keeps freezing, restarting continuously, or getting stuck on the boot logo, you’re not alone. Many users experience this issue across multiple Apple Watch Series, including Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, Series 9, Series 10, Apple Watch SE models, and even Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2. Fortunately, there are several practical fixes that can help restore your watch back to normal. Below, you’ll find easy-to-follow solutions explained in simple steps.

1. Lightly Beat or Shake the Apple Watch (Not Strongly)

This is an unusual method, but many users have reported success. Sometimes, the Taptic Engine or internal processor becomes unresponsive. A light tap or gentle shake may help free any stuck component. This should be done carefully and without applying force to avoid damage. Simply hold your Apple Watch in your hand and lightly tap it with your palm or gently shake it for a few seconds.

2. Use the Water Eject Feature

Apple Watch includes a built-in Water Lock feature that pushes out trapped moisture using sound vibrations. Moisture inside the speaker can cause freezing or delayed response. Swipe up on the watch screen to open Control Center, tap the water drop icon, and turn the Digital Crown to eject water. Once the process completes, check if your watch responds normally.

3. Perform a Soft Reset

A soft reset often resolves temporary system glitches. To do this, press and hold the Digital Crown and the Side Button together for around 10–15 seconds until the Apple logo appears. This refreshes the system without deleting any data and is one of the safest fixes for freezing or restarting problems.

4. Disconnect and Reconnect the Apple Watch

If the connection between your Apple Watch and iPhone becomes corrupted, the watch may freeze or restart repeatedly. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to the 'My Watch' tab, select your watch, and choose 'Unpair Apple Watch'. After unpairing, restart both devices and pair the watch again as new or restore from a backup. This often resolves communication-related issues.

5. Update the Apple Watch Software

A buggy or outdated watchOS version can cause freezing, random restarts, or boot loop problems. Make sure your Apple Watch is updated to the latest software. You can update through the Watch app on the iPhone or directly from the watch if it’s responsive. Software patches often include stability improvements that fix these exact problems.

6. Keep the Apple Watch in a Refrigerator Freezer (10–15 Minutes) – Use at Your Own Risk

This method is not official or recommended by Apple, but many users claim it temporarily fixes overheating sensors or processor overload. Place the Apple Watch in the refrigerator freezer for 10–15 minutes, ensuring it is protected and not exposed directly to ice or moisture. After cooling, perform a soft reset again. This can sometimes revive watches stuck on the boot screen. Remember, this method is experimental and done entirely at your own risk.

7. Hard Factory Reset

If nothing else works, the final method is a full factory reset. This wipes all data and restores the watch to its original state. You can reset from the Settings app on the watch (Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings) or from the Watch app on your iPhone. If your watch is completely frozen, use the unpairing method from the iPhone, which automatically performs a factory reset during the process.

Final Thoughts

Apple Watch freezing, restarting by itself, or getting stuck on the boot screen can be frustrating, but most of the time, the issue can be fixed using simple steps. Start from easy solutions like a soft reset or ejecting water, and move toward advanced options like unpairing or performing a factory reset. If none of these methods work, it may be time to contact Apple Support for a hardware diagnostic.