Apple Watch suddenly running slow? Before you contact Apple customer service or look into buying a newer model, you should try and fix the issue on your own.
As your Apple Watch gets older, and as Apple releases new watchOS software, its performance may start to degrade. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to fix bad performance and prolong the life of your smartwatch.
We should note that if these steps don’t work, you’ll want to hunt around for other potential fixes. If nothing works, you’ll want to make an appointment and bring your Apple Watch into an Apple Store to see if they can diagnose the issue(s).
Without further ado, here are steps you can try in an effort to improve your Apple Watch’s performance.
Restart Your Watch
Before you do anything else, try restarting your Apple Watch. A simple restart can have a positive effect on your Apple Watch’s performance.
Power down your Apple Watch, leave it off for a minute or so, and then power it back on and see if you notice a change. If you’re still running into issues, move onto the next steps.
Download the Latest Software
Throughout the year Apple will release new watchOS software. Point updates (x.x.x) typically fix bugs and security issues while milestone upgrades (x.x) generally deliver a nice blend of new features, security updates, and bug fixes.
Apple may not call out performance fixes in an watchOS 10 update’s change log, but new software always has the potential to help (or, some cases, hurt) your Apple Watch’s performance.
For more about the latest version of watchOS 10, see our guide.
Disable Background App Refresh
Background App Refresh, as its name implies, keeps the applications on your Apple Watch updated in the background. The process makes your device work and work can slow it down.
If you don’t want or need your apps constantly working in the background, we suggest turning this feature off and see if your Watch gets a performance boost.
- Open up the Watch app on your iPhone
- Tap General
- Tap Background App Refresh
On this screen you can choose if you want to completely disable the feature or turn it off on an app-by-app basis. If your performance issue are really bad, you’ll probably want to toggle it off completely at the top of the screen.
Clear Website Data
The Apple Watch doesn’t come with a full blown version of Safari, but lets you to open up website links you receive in emails as well as messages from friends and family.
Over time, the data from these links can buildup and if you’re running out of storage space, getting rid of these files could have a positive impact on your Apple Watch’s performance.
Here’s how to get rid of website data on your Apple Watch. You can do this from the Watch app on your iPhone or from the Apple Watch itself.
- Open up the Settings app on your Apple Watch
- Tap General
- Scroll down and tap Website Data
- Tap Clear Website Data
- Confirm your decision
Apple notes this will remove website cookies, credentials, and other browsing data. We recommend doing this every once in awhile to help keep your Apple Watch fast.
Delete Apps You Aren’t Using
Speaking of freeing of space, you might also want to delete apps you don’t use from your Apple Watch. Here’s how to delete an app from an Apple Watch:
- Go to your Apple Watch’s home screen
- Press and hold down on the icon of the app you wish to delete
- Once the apps start wiggling, tap on the X symbol
- In the popup, tap Delete app
Turn Off Workout Reminders
We also recommend turning off automatic Workout Reminders to cut down on the amount of work your Apple Watch is performing. That is unless you rely on the feature. If you don’t, here’s how to turn it off.
- Go to your Apple Watch’s home screen
- Open up the Settings app
- Scroll down to Workout and tap
- Toggle Start Workout Reminder off
You can always toggle it back on as needed.
Start From Scratch
If nothing here works, and you can’t find a solution elsewhere, you can try resetting your Apple Watch to start from scratch.
This process is fairly involved and will take time to complete and it should only be used as a last resort. If you want to go through with it, you’ll want to check out this guide.
5 Reasons to Wait for Apple Watch 10 & 4 Reasons Not To
Wait for a Brand New Design |
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One of the biggest changes from Gurman’s report about the Apple Watch X is a new design. Since its inception, the Apple Watch design has remained largely the same, save for incremental improvements the company’s made over the years. According to Gurman, Apple’s designers are working on a thinner watch case. He hasn’t elaborated on the exact dimensions. Obviously this would be a huge change as it would cut down on the device’s bulk and probably help the device feel lighter on the wrist. The report also notes that we could also see Apple change the way bands are attached to the Watch. As it stands, Apple Watch bands have slid into the sides of the device’s chassis and are kept in place with a locking mechanism. Gurman says the company is exploring a new magnetic band attachment system, but it’s unclear if the change will be ready in time for the these models. It’s still early and Apple’s plans could certainly change between now and launch and we’ll let you know what we hear in the months ahead. |
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