Apple Watch keeps locking and asking for passcode

By Callum Stoneman, 30 December, 2016

Forum
watchOS and Apple Watch Apps

Hi,

So after all this time of saying the Apple Watch is pointless, but then reading some great reviews about it, I finally gave in and bought an Apple Watch sport 42mm series 1. I've had it for about a week and so far, it's not been life changing, but I like it.

The only issue I'm having is that it keeps losing connection with my wrist and locking itself when I'm out and about, and asking me to enter the passcode, or unlock it with my iPhone. When using it for things like maps, or to quickly see if a notification is important or not, this gets very annoying and inconvenient.
I'm using the rubber band, and I only have a small wrist so it's currently on the second tightest whole. This feels like it fits how it should be. Yesterday I tried it on the tightest it will go, and it didn't lose connection once but it did feel too tight on my wrist. Has anyone else had this issue with this band? And has anyone found a way of stopping it from locking? The only option I can think of is to turn off wrist detection, but then that will disable some features that I want to use, like Apple Pay, activity tracking etc.

Thanks for any help.

Options

Comments

By Fatima.Hamoud10 on Saturday, December 24, 2016 - 04:54

Try:
1. Restart your Apple watch. Don't hold the side button for 6 seconds otherwise your watch will automatically call 911.
2. Press and hold the side button for 2 seconds. You should be able to hear a voiceover sound.
3. On the power off screen there will be 4 buttons: cancel, power off, power reserve and call sOS. Double tap the power off button.
4. Turn on your Apple watch again by holding the side button for 2 seconds.
5. You should be able to unlock your Apple watch. Make sure that you have your iPhone and Apple watch with you all the time.
Hope this helps and good luck!

By Jamie Pauls on Saturday, December 24, 2016 - 04:54

I've had my watch for a couple weeks now, and I also felt that it was a bit uncomfortable on the top of my wrist at first. I have the same band that you have, and I am able to use it on the second to last hole, or one notch from the tightest setting. My suggestion is to try the last hole, or the tightest setting, for a couple or three days, and see if your wrist adjusts. I suspect it will, but I don't think you will know for a couple or three days, at least. If that doesn't work, you may need to try another band, although this last suggestion is simply a shot in the dark on my part.

By craig hicks on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - 04:54

Hi there. I agree that a good tight wrist setting should solve your issues with the watch locking all the time. personally got myself one after christmas. being a bit of an apple nut, i do love it, however did i really actually need it? truth be told probably not, but it's nice to have, and makes a lovely change from a bog standard braille watch! :)

By Roxann Pollard on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - 04:54

The wrist detection feature is there to help Apple Watch know when to prompt you for the security code. If the watch loses contact with your wrist through normal use, then this is an indicator that the watch band needs to be tightened. I have seen this myself. You don't want your band to be so tight that it's uncomfortable, but, you also don't want it to wiggle on your wrist. Give your wrist a good hard shake. If you feel some wiggle room, then you need to tighten things down some more.

HTH.

By Callum Stoneman on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - 04:54

Thanks everyone for your comments. I've started wearing it on a tighter setting for the last week or so, the problem with asking for my passcode has stopped and I've got used to it feeling quite tight. :)

By Gotallfourapples on Saturday, February 24, 2018 - 04:54

I just got one and found that the case/cover I got kept interfering with it and kept locking it.