Isn’t it astonishing how many cool features the Apple Watch comes with?
It’s like having a phone strapped to your wrist, complete with added bonuses like fall detection and heart rate monitoring, among other things!
Indeed, the Apple Watch has shown itself to be both handy and beneficial.
However, it’s not perfect as its touch screen can sometimes suffer from responsiveness problems.
Has your Apple Watch screen frozen solid? Or perhaps only the swipe-up gesture is giving you trouble while everything else works fine? Either way, I’ve got a list of fixes just for you.
A good initial step might be to simply clean the screen and gently swipe upwards – don’t dismiss this, it can work wonders!
However, if the problem appears to be more software-related, we’ll need to delve into a deeper solution.
The Clever Fix
Disable the Zoom function of the Apple Watch. On your iPhone, go to Apple Watch app > My Watch > Accessibility > Zoom (turn this off). Alternatively, you can do it on your Apple Watch by going to Settings > Accessibility > Zoom (turn this off).
Surprisingly, constantly rebooting your device isn’t necessarily the first remedy if your Apple Watch won’t swipe up.
Sure, a restart can iron out any software glitches, but it’s quite a hassle to do every time, wouldn’t you agree?
Fortunately, switching off the Zoom function can often provide a swift resolution – a fix that takes a mere six seconds!
I promise you, this is arguably the best solution available right now.
Other Apple Watch aficionados can attest that ever since they turned off the Zoom function, they haven’t had any more swipe-up issues.
Mind you, this is a bit of a makeshift solution as you’re giving up your Zoom feature just to keep the swipe-up action working. It’s ultimately your decision whether to keep this setting off or switch it back on.
If you’d rather keep your Zoom feature or if turning it off didn’t mend the problem, there’s no need to fret – there are other strategies you can give a shot.
Why won’t my Apple Watch swipe up?
The problem could be quite simple, such as a low battery, a dirty screen, or even trying to use your Apple Watch with wet fingers. The solutions for these are pretty straightforward.
Here are a few other possible culprits:
1. Water damage
Remember, the Apple Watch is water-resistant, not waterproof.
Any exposure to moisture can interfere with its swiping ability. While some models are safe for light water use, none should be fully submerged underwater.
2. Thick screen protector or case
Did you recently add a screen protector or case to your Apple Watch?
Its thickness might be preventing the screen from recognizing your touch input. Try taking it off and swiping the screen to see if that helps.
3. Software issues
Sometimes, the hitch comes from internal factors like a software bug, an outdated operating system, pairing hiccups, or certain settings – these are what we’ll tackle next.
Can I access the Control Center without swiping up?
Our main mission is to restore the swipe-up functionality since it’s crucial for accessing the Control Center.
Sadly, there’s no other way to get to it without swiping up.
We really need to address this to take full advantage of the Apple Watch’s features.
Sure, you can control your Apple Watch using your iPhone, but that sort of defeats the whole purpose of having an Apple Watch, doesn’t it?
The convenience lies in accessing your iPhone’s features (like calls, notifications, messages, music) from your wrist, not the other way around.
How to fix it when your Apple Watch won’t swipe up
In some scenarios, the screen is responsive (you can go through the settings, change the watch face, open apps, and so on), but it’s just the swipe-up gesture that’s acting up.
However, there are times when the screen won’t respond to any touch at all.
Pick the solution that matches your Apple Watch’s current situation.
1. Disable the Water Lock
One of the Apple Watch’s standout features is the Water Lock.
The Water Lock is designed to stop the screen from registering accidental touches.
It’s possible that you enabled this feature accidentally while scrolling through the Control Center.
If there’s a blue droplet symbol at the top of your Apple Watch screen, that means Water Lock is on. Check to see if this icon is there.
If it’s not, move on to the next step.
If you see a droplet icon, let’s turn it off. Just press the Digital Crown until your watch reads “Unlocked.”
For those with an Apple Watch running on watchOS 8 or earlier, you’ll need to turn the Digital Crown, not press it (either clockwise or counterclockwise – both directions will do!).
2. Restart the Apple Watch
Restarting the watch is a reliable go-to.
It can typically fix a variety of problems, including when the swipe-up function isn’t working.
For Apple Watch with unresponsive screen
Try a force restart if no type of touch seems to get a reaction from the screen.
To do this, press and hold the side button and the Digital Crown simultaneously until the Apple logo appears – that’s it!
Be mindful not to force restart your Apple Watch if it’s in the middle of updating its software.
Let it finish before you attempt a forced restart.
For Apple Watch with responsive screen
Restart your Apple Watch by following these steps:
- Long press the side button.
- Swipe the Power off slider.
(For those using watchOS 9, you’ll need to tap the Power button in the top right corner after holding down the side button in order to see the slider.)
- While it’s turned off, press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.
If the swipe-up action is still giving you trouble, don’t worry, there are other options to explore.
3. Turn off and on the haptic feature
There isn’t a clear explanation as to why the swipe-up movement and the haptic feature are connected, but many Apple Watch owners have found that toggling the haptic feature off and on again is a pretty effective workaround when dealing with swiping issues.
For Apple Watch with unresponsive screen
Launch the Apple Watch app, then follow this sequence:
- Go to My Watch > Sounds and Haptics > System Haptics (tap the toggle to turn off for a few seconds, then turn it back on).
For Apple Watch with responsive screen
Open your Apple Watch and follow this sequence:
- Go to Settings > Sounds and Haptics > System Haptics (tap the toggle to turn off for a few seconds, then turn it back on).
If this doesn’t solve the problem, there are a couple more solutions we can attempt.
4. Update the watchOS
Carrying out a system update can clear out glitches and bug errors, so it’s key to keep your Apple Watch updated.
Be aware that this solution can take a bit of time.
Depending on your internet connection, it could take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour to complete, so make sure you have some time and a strong Wi-Fi signal.
Your Apple Watch needs to be charged to at least 50% before you can start the system update.
For Apple Watch with unresponsive screen
Place the Apple Watch near your iPhone, then follow these steps:
- Launch the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to My Watch > General > Software Update.
- Start downloading the update if available.
For Apple Watch with responsive screen
Open your Apple Watch, then follow this sequence:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Install (if available).
Let’s see if that does the trick.
If there aren’t any updates available or if updating your watchOS didn’t solve your swipe-up issue, let’s move on to the next potential fix.
5. Unpair and re-pair the Apple Watch
Unpairing your watch is kind of like returning it to its factory settings.
It wipes out all the current settings, content, and activation lock.
But don’t worry, your Apple Watch data is automatically backed up to the iPhone it’s paired with, as long as they’re close together. No need for you to manually do this.
Once you’ve set up your Apple Watch again, you can easily retrieve your data.
However, note that there are a few things that won’t be backed up: Bluetooth pairings, credit and debit cards you’ve used for Apple Pay on your Apple Watch, your Apple Watch passcode, and messages (unless they’re set to be stored in the cloud).
For Apple Watch with unresponsive screen
Keep your Apple Watch near your iPhone for a few minutes to make sure all the data is backed up, then do the following:
- Launch the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to My Watch > All Watches > (choose the Watch you want to unpair) > i (Info) > Unpair Apple Watch.
- For GPS+ Cellular models, choose to keep your cellular plan.
- Input your Apple ID password to disable the Activation Lock, then tap Unpair.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to go through the setup process again.
For Apple Watch with responsive screen
Open your Apple Watch and follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
- For GPS+ Cellular models, choose to keep your cellular plan.
- Tap Erase All.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to go through the setup process again.
If none of these self-help solutions work, it’s time to bring in the experts from Apple’s service provider.
Wrapping Up
Apple hasn’t officially addressed this particular problem yet, so the solutions offered here are some of the best workarounds for your swipe-up issue.
If you suspect that the issue can’t be fixed by simply cleaning your watch and swiping slowly, it’s worth checking your Apple Watch’s software and settings.
The top solution is to disable the Zoom feature.
If that doesn’t do the trick, you can also try the following:
- Disable the Water Lock.
- Restart the Apple Watch.
- Turn off and on the haptic feature.
- Update the watchOS.
- Unpair and re-pair the Apple Watch.
If the swipe-up function still won’t cooperate after trying all these steps, it’s time to seek help from Apple.
Thankfully, Apple makes it easy to request service. You can give them a call at 1-800-275-2273 or head over to Apple Repair.
The Apple repair page will guide you through the process, whether you want to chat with an Apple support advisor, schedule a visit to the nearest Apple service provider, or set up a courier to deliver your watch directly to the Apple repair center.
They even provide an estimated cost for their service right on the page.
