How do I fix the digital crown on my Apple Watch?

To fix the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch, follow these steps:

  1. Clean your Apple Watch: Ensure the watch is turned off and disconnected from its charger, then lightly rinse the Digital Crown with fresh water for 15 seconds; repeat if needed. Avoid soaping agents and remove bands containing leather while cleaning.

    Steps to clean:

    • Turn off your Apple Watch.
    • Disconnect it from the charging cable.
    • Hold the Digital Crown under running water. Do not submerge your entire watch unless it is explicitly marked as waterproof.
    • Remove any attached bands, especially when dealing with non-breathable materials like leather.
  2. Remove protective covers or cases: Take off any casings, especially those covering the dial, since they could restrict movement.

  3. Perform a restart or force restart: Depending on whether or not your watch is responsive overall, either turn it off normally and on again, or conduct a forced restart if the watch itself doesn't respond. Here's how:

    • Hold the side button until the sliders appear > slide to power off. Wait until the watch turns off completely > press the side button again to turn on. (Normal restart.)
    • Quickly press and release the volume up button, quickly press and release the volume down button, then firmly press and hold the side button. Continue holding until the Apple logo appears. (Forced restart).
  4. Reset and repair iCloud data: Try to unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone:

    • Open the Apple Watch App > My Watch section > Choose your Watch > Hit the 'info' button beside the connected watch > Select Unpair Apple Watch. Restart your iPhone and watch and re-pair them. During repairs, choose restoration from existing backup configuration files.
  5. Software Updates: Make sure both your Apple Watch and iPhone are up to date. Follow these instructions:

    • For Apple Watch: Open Settings > General tab > Software Update.
    • For iPhone: Open Settings > General tab > Software Update.

If none of these remedies solve the issue, it's possible that there is a physical fault with the Digital Crown and your watch might require official maintenance or service from Apple:

  • Use support resources offered online on Apple's website or reach out to Apple Support or an approved Service Center.

Remember, for persistent problems beyond simple fixes, professional evaluation is often required.