As an Apple Watch owner, I know how frustrating it can be when your Apple Watch button gets stuck! I recently encountered this issue myself and did some research and testing to see if I could find a solution. I’m here to share with you what I learned, so if you’re having the same issue, you can find out how to fix it. In this blog post, I’ll explain the common causes of a stuck Apple Watch button and provide step-by-step instructions on how to get it unstuck.
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Stuck with Grime | Dirt and gunk build up over time | Turn off the watch, remove the band, and rinse it with warm water while gently pressing the button. |
| Stuck with Salt | Heavy sweating or exposure to seawater | Same as above: rinse with warm water and gently press the button to dislodge salt particles. |
| Pressed Too Hard | Button pressed too hard or broken internally | If the button is broken internally, you may need to have it replaced by a professional. |
Table of Contents
Why Does Apple Watch Button Gets Stuck
There are several reasons why your Apple Watch Button is stuck. Here’s a quick look at some of them:
1. Filled with Grime
Grime and dirt are the most common culprits behind Apple Watch buttons getting stuck. In that case, the button might still be functional but it’ll be extremely heavy.
If you have had the watch for some time, gunk and grime start to build up with time where they find their way into the crevices between the watch and the buttons. Luckily, they’re very easy to remove using the solution provided below.
2. Stuck with Salt
If you’re a heavy sweater or you’ve recently taken a dip into seawater with the Apple Watch on, the water droplets will also find their way inside the crevices of the watch.
As the water evaporates, salt particles will form between the button and the watch, which gets it stuck either in pressed on unpressed mode. Like the previous issues, this one is also very easy to clean up.
3. Pressed It Too Hard
Although Apple Watches are designed to withstand heavy use, the buttons may eventually get stuck if they’re pressed too hard.
The bad news here is that stuck buttons due to hard pressing may not be fixed using available solutions, especially if the button is broken internally. In that case, you’ll need to have the button replaced in order to function properly again.
The good news, however, is that this is the least likely cause of your apple watch button getting stuck.
How to Fix Apple Watch Button Getting Stuck
Now that you know more about the reason behind stuck Apple Watch buttons, here’s a brief guide that shows you how to get it unstuck.
Step 1: Turn Off Your Apple Watch If Possible
The first thing you need to do here is to turn your Apple Watch Off before trying to get the button unstuck.
This is only because you’re going to handle the watch for most of the process, so it’ll prevent the watch from playing with the watch settings.
Step 2: Remove the Watch Band
Now that the watch is turned off, you should also remove the watch band to prevent it from getting damaged.
Ideally, this is only necessary if you’re using a leather band, so if you’re using a silicone band, you technically don’t need to remove it, although it makes it easier to handle the watch while cleaning it.
Step 3: Turn Your Faucet on and Adjust the Stream
You’re going to use water to clean the button and get it unstuck, so you’ll need to adjust the water first.
This may sound like a weird solution but it’s surprisingly effective and shouldn’t damage a healthy Apple Watch in any way, as the watch is originally waterproof.
Turn on the water faucet and adjust the stream pressure so that it’s relatively gentle (not too heavy or too light). Next, adjust the temperature of the water so that it’s somewhat warm but not hot to touch.
Step 4: Keep Your Apple Watch Underwater
Keep your watch under the running warm water for a few seconds (10 to 30 seconds) while pressing or rotating the stuck button gently.
You can also use a toothbrush in order to brush off the grime and dirt and speed up the process, but make sure that the bristles aren’t too hard so that they don’t scratch the watch.
However, avoid using any soap or detergents to remove the grime or salt.
Read more: Can Apple Watch be worn on the inside of the wrist?
Step 5: Dry Your Apple Watch
After some time, you should notice that the button got unstuck and started working like it normally should. Once that happens, turn the water off and start drying the watch.
Make sure that you only use a soft, lint-free absorbent cloth, such as a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the watch’s surface while drying. Once it’s fully dry, you can turn the watch back on!
Read more: Can you use Apple Watch without pairing it to iPhone?
Wrap Up
As you can see, getting your Apple Watch button stuck is pretty common and can happen for various reasons.
However, in most cases, a simple trick can actually solve the problem without causing any problems in the long run.
Simply running some lukewarm water on your Apple Watch while brushing the button should be enough to fix this issue, and since the watch is waterproof, there’s technically nothing to worry about!
