Apple Watch Water Lock: What It Does & How to Use It

Apple Watch Water Lock is a feature that prevents accidental taps on the screen while you’re in water and, more importantly, it uses sound to eject water from the speaker after you’re done. You turn it on before swimming or showering, and turn it off afterward by turning the Digital Crown, which triggers a series of tones that push water out of the speaker grille.

Why Water Lock Exists

Apple Watches from the Series 2 onward are water resistant to 50 meters (ISO standard 22810:2010), meaning they can handle swimming, showering, and rain. However, water in the speaker can muffle sound until it dries. Water Lock solves two problems at once: it disables the touch screen (since water droplets can cause phantom taps) and provides an active way to clear water from the speaker using sound vibrations. It does not make the watch more water resistant—it’s a software feature that works with the existing hardware seals.

How Water Lock Works

When you enable Water Lock (by swiping up to Control Center and tapping the water drop icon), the watch immediately locks the touch screen. The screen still shows the time and complications, but taps and swipes are ignored. This prevents accidental actions like pausing a workout or sending a message while swimming.

When you’re done, you turn the Digital Crown. The watch plays a series of tones at specific frequencies designed to vibrate the speaker membrane and force water out. The screen shows a progress ring while this happens. After the tones finish, the touch screen unlocks and the speaker should sound clear again. If you don’t turn the crown, the watch will remain in Water Lock mode indefinitely—it doesn’t automatically eject water.

How to Turn On and Off Water Lock

Here are the exact steps for turning Water Lock on and off:

1. Turn on: Swipe up from the bottom of the watch face to open Control Center. Tap the water drop icon (it’s blue with a drop). The watch will confirm with a message that Water Lock is on.
2. Turn off: Turn the Digital Crown. Keep turning it until the progress ring completes. The watch will emit a series of tones and then unlock the screen.

If you’re in a workout that’s water-based (like swimming), the watch may automatically enable Water Lock when you start the workout. In that case, you still need to turn the crown to exit Water Lock after the workout.

When to Use Water Lock

Use Water Lock whenever your watch will be submerged in water or exposed to heavy splashes for an extended period. Common situations include:

• Swimming (pool or open water)
• Showering (though it’s not necessary for brief splashes)
• Water sports like surfing, kayaking, or paddleboarding
• Washing dishes or cleaning with your hands submerged

It’s not needed for rain, handwashing, or sweat from a workout—those don’t typically cause phantom touches or speaker issues. But if you’re going to be in water for more than a few minutes, it’s a good habit to enable Water Lock.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that Water Lock makes the watch waterproof. It doesn’t—no Apple Watch is fully waterproof. Water resistance can degrade over time due to wear, impacts, or damage to the seals. If you drop your watch or hit it hard, its water resistance may be compromised.

Another issue: after turning off Water Lock, you might still hear muffled sound. This can happen if the speaker is clogged with debris or if the water wasn’t fully ejected. Try turning the crown again, or gently tap the watch against your palm (speaker side down) to help dislodge water. If the problem persists, it could be a hardware issue—contact Apple Support.

Also, note that Water Lock does not protect against soap, shampoo, or other chemicals. Soaps can damage the water-resistant seals over time, so it’s best to rinse your watch with fresh water after swimming in a pool or showering with soap.

Water Lock on Different Apple Watch Models

Water Lock is available on all Apple Watch models that are water resistant to 50 meters, which includes Series 2 and later, and Apple Watch SE. The original Apple Watch (Series 0) and Series 1 are splash resistant but not suitable for swimming, so they do not have Water Lock. The feature works the same way across models, but the speaker design differs slightly, so the tone sequence may vary. On newer models (Series 4 and later), the speaker is designed to eject water more efficiently.

Alternatives and Related Features

If you’re worried about water damage, there’s no alternative to Water Lock—it’s the only built-in water ejection feature. However, you can take extra precautions:

• Rinse your watch with fresh water after swimming in salt water or chlorinated water.
• Dry the watch with a soft cloth before charging.
• If you’re going to be in extreme water conditions (e.g., deep diving), consider a waterproof case or a dedicated diving computer—Apple Watch is not designed for scuba diving.

There’s also a related setting in the Watch app on iPhone: under “General” > “Wake Screen” you can enable “Auto-Launch Water Lock” for swimming workouts. This automatically turns on Water Lock when you start a swimming workout, so you don’t have to remember to do it manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Water Lock drain battery?

No, Water Lock itself uses negligible battery. The tones that eject water are brief and only occur when you turn the crown to exit. Keeping Water Lock on for a long swim won’t noticeably affect battery life.

Can I use the touch screen while Water Lock is on?

No, the touch screen is disabled while Water Lock is on. This is intentional to prevent accidental taps. You can still use the physical buttons (side button and Digital Crown) to do things like pause a workout, but you can’t interact with the screen.

What if I forget to turn off Water Lock?

If you forget to turn off Water Lock, the watch will remain in that mode indefinitely. Your screen will still show the time, but you won’t be able to tap anything. You’ll need to turn the Digital Crown to exit Water Lock and eject water. There’s no automatic timeout.

Is it safe to use Water Lock in a hot tub or sauna?

Apple Watch is not recommended for hot tubs or saunas. The heat and steam can damage the seals and cause condensation inside the watch. Water Lock won’t help with that—it’s only for water exposure, not extreme temperatures.

Why does my watch make a beeping sound after I turn off Water Lock?

That beeping is the water ejection tone. It’s a series of high-frequency sounds designed to vibrate the speaker and push water out. It’s normal and expected—it usually lasts a few seconds.

Can I swim with my Apple Watch without Water Lock?

Technically, the watch is water resistant even without Water Lock, but it’s not recommended. Without Water Lock, water droplets on the screen can cause accidental touches, and water in the speaker will muffle sound. It’s best to always enable Water Lock before swimming.

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