Apple Watch Series 2 and newer models are water resistant and can be worn for shallow water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean, but that doesn't mean water can't get inside.

water lock apple watch
If your Apple Watch gets wet in the rain or after a swim or a heavy workout, its speaker may sound muffled. There's no need to insert anything into the openings though, and you don't need to shake your watch to remove any water that may have got inside.

‌Apple Watch Series 2‌, Series 3, Series 4 and Series 5 include a Water Lock feature, which locks the screen so you can swim without activating it. You can also use this feature at any time to eject water out of the speaker holes and prevent moisture from causing long-term issues.

To manually clear water from Apple Watch, follow these quick steps.

  1. Bring up the Control Center on your ‌Apple Watch‌: Swipe up on a watch face, or when in an app, press the bottom edge of the screen then drag up the Control Center.
  2. Tap the Water Lock icon (it looks like a water droplet).
    Apple Watch

  3. When you're back in a dry environment, press and hold the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and clear water from the speaker.
    Apple Watch

As you turn the Digital Crown, you'll hear noises and see an animation on the screen that will indicate when the speaker is clear of water and when the process is complete.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

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