To force-restart an Apple Watch Series 11, the method involves holding down two specific buttons simultaneously. Press and hold the side button (located below the Digital Crown) and the Digital Crown itself at the same time. Continue holding both buttons together for at least 10 seconds. During this time, the screen will go dark, and eventually, the Apple logo will appear. Once the Apple logo appears, release both buttons. This action forces the watch to reboot, effectively restarting it even if it is frozen or unresponsive.
This force-restart method is a hard reboot similar to unplugging and replugging a device, and it helps resolve issues such as software crashes, freezes, or when the watch does not respond to normal inputs. It is distinct from a regular restart, which involves using the power-off slider to shut down the watch and then turning it back on.
Important considerations include not attempting a force restart during a software update, as interrupting the update can cause significant problems. The force restart is usually a last resort when other restart methods fail or the watch becomes completely unresponsive.
Here is a step-by-step guide:
1. Locate the side button on the right side of the Apple Watch, just below the Digital Crown.
2. Press and hold both the side button and the Digital Crown simultaneously.
3. Keep holding both buttons for at least 10 seconds.
4. Wait until the screen goes black, and then the Apple logo appears.
5. Release both buttons when the Apple logo shows on the screen.
6. The Apple Watch will then reboot and should become responsive again.
The force restart method works across all versions of the Apple Watch, including the latest Series 11. It is a standard troubleshooting step recommended by Apple support when the device is not functioning normally.
A normal restart differs in that it requires the user to press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears, slide to power off the watch, and then press and hold the side button again to turn the device back on. The force restart skips the shutdown process and forcibly reboots the device.
To summarize, the force restart on an Apple Watch Series 11 is done by pressing and holding both the side button and the Digital Crown simultaneously for at least 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears, and then releasing the buttons. This procedure is effective in resolving freezes, crashes, or unresponsiveness without data loss and does not affect user settings or stored data. If problems persist after a force restart, additional troubleshooting such as resetting the watch or contacting Apple support may be necessary.
This is the official and recommended method to force restart the Apple Watch Series 11 according to Apple Support and multiple authoritative sources as of 2025.