It’s not fun when your Apple Watch won’t swipe up. When that happens, you cannot use the control center, change modes, or locate your iPhone.
Fortunately, this can be a relatively easy problem to fix. This guide walks you through several troubleshooting steps you can try to fix the problematic swipe-up gesture on your Apple Watch.
Why Will My Apple Watch Not Swipe Up?
Several reasons, like a software update, may explain why you cannot swipe up on Apple Watch. For instance, many Apple Watch users have reported that the issue started after they installed the watchOS 8.5.1 update.
Before we get into troubleshooting your Apple Watch gestures problems, we recommend cleaning the screen and edges, removing the screen protector, and swiping up gently.
How Can I Fix My Apple Watch Won’t Swipe Up?
If you are experiencing the same issue, this article will discuss various solutions you can use to fix the “Apple Watch won’t swipe up” problem.
Here are all the tips that will help you fix it when your Apple Watch won’t swipe up:
1. Force Reboot the Apple Watch
Rebooting the Apple Watch may solve many minor issues, such as swiping up/down gestures.
- Press and hold the Side Button.
- Slide the Power Off slider to turn off your Apple Watch.
3. Wait at least 5 minutes and press and hold the Side Button to turn on the Apple Watch.
4. Let the Apple Watch boot and check if the problem has been solved or not.
2. Force Restart the Apple Watch
Many users reported force restarting the watch solved the problem with the swipe-up gesture not working.
- Press and hold the Digital Crown + Side Button simultaneously.
- Keep doing it until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
- Release the buttons.
- Wait for the Apple Watch to boot up completely.
Check to see if you can now swipe up on your Apple Watch.
3. Unpair and Re-Pair the Apple Watch
If the problem of swiping up the Apple Watch didn’t solve by restarting, you must try to unpair and repair your Apple Watch.
Unpairing your Apple Watch and re-pairing it may solve many issues. Remember, when you want to re-pair your Apple Watch, set it as a new watch, and don’t restore it from the backup.
- Open the Watch app.
- Choose General.
- Scroll down and tap on Reset.
- Choose Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings.
- Confirm the pop-up message.
- Enter your Apple ID Password, and let the process finish.
- Pair your watch again and check if your Apple Watch still won’t swipe up.
4. Change the Watch Face on Your Apple Watch
Perhaps you’re wondering how changing the Apple Watch’s face relates to the swipe-up gesture not working.
However, some users have reported success after changing the face of their Watch.
Here’s how to change the watch face on your Apple Watch:
- Go to the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Choose Face Gallery (the tab in the bottom middle).
- Choose one face from the gallery and tap Add to make it your current watch face.
- Swipe left or right on your Apple Watch to change the watch face.
- Check if you can now swipe up to reveal the Control Center on your Apple Watch.
5. Check for watchOS Update
Apple published watchOS 8.6 for compatible Apple Watches. If you have a problem swiping up your Apple Watch, try to install the latest watchOS and update your Apple Watch.
Here’s to check for and install software updates on your Apple Watch:
- Go to the Watch app.
- Choose General.
- Tap on Software Update.
- Download and install the update.
Do you have trouble updating your Apple Watch? Here’s what you need to do when your Apple Watch is unable to check for update.
6. Clean and Dry Your Apple Watch
Sometimes, soaps, alcoholic hand sanitizers, chemicals, sharp materials, compressed air, cleaning tools, and external heat sources may damage your Apple Watch screen, and they must be avoided.
If you feel your Apple Watch Digital Crown is stuck and can’t move, there must be dirt or gunk on your watch.
Start cleaning your Apple Watch right away with a damp and clean cloth. Remove the band, the screen protector, or any other extra accessories, and clean all parts of your Apple Watch gently and carefully.
Final Thoughts on Apple Watch That Won’t Swipe Up
Although many users have reported the problem that the Apple Watch won’t swipe up, Apple didn’t publish an official statement on this.
Users claimed this problem occurred after updating their Apple Watch to watchOS 8.5.1, and Apple Support Community didn’t say anything about the fix. The newest watchOS version is now available, and it seems the problem has been solved after the update.
Updating your Apple Watch first is recommended to check if the problem is solved. If the issue persists, try other solutions mentioned above or contact Apple Support.
Let us know if this helped fix this problem. If you found success doing something else, leave me a comment down below!
Reset worked for me, thanks!
The first solution worked for me!!