How does the Apple Watch water lock feature actually work?

Christine Persaud for Engadget

There are galore smartwatches that are water-resistant, but seldom is thing afloat waterproof. That said, you tin safely aquatics (in freshwater sources) pinch 1 that meets an IPX8, IP68 (or higher) rating. But there's still consequence of harm if nan watch isn't dried retired aft submersion, which is why features for illustration nan Apple Watch's h2o fastener are really handy. With h2o fastener activated, nan Apple Watch not only disables nan surface truthful unit from h2o doesn't inadvertently trigger an unintended action, but it besides ejects h2o from wrong nan instrumentality to thief it barren faster.

It's a useful and underrated characteristic of Apple Watch that each smartwatch should have, particularly those that are rated to beryllium safe to deterioration while swimming. I usage this characteristic often pinch my Apple Watch Series 11, and I emotion that it's automatically triggered immoderate clip I hop successful a excavation aliases wade successful nan ocean. It useful while scuba diving arsenic good if you person nan Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Ultra 2 aliases Apple Watch Ultra 3, each 3 of which are safe for heavy diving (standard Apple Watches are not).

Christine Persaud for Engadget

To manually move connected h2o lock, which is disposable connected each Apple Watch models from Series 2 and onward, property nan broadside fastener to unfastened nan Control Center. Select nan h2o droplet icon (you whitethorn person to scroll down to spot it). When nan h2o fastener is active, you won't beryllium capable to manipulate nan watch screen. It simply won't respond. Once you travel retired of nan water, property and clasp nan Digital Crown to unlock nan watch. You will spot a h2o ejection mode statesman and perceive a bid of tones, which sound benignant of for illustration an '80s video game, until nan process is done.

What's happening wrong nan watch erstwhile you do this? It's beautiful fascinating. When you property and clasp nan button, h2o comes streaming retired of nan mini broadside speaker holes. It's a batch much h2o than you mightiness recognize aliases moreover notice, since it happens truthful accelerated and nan speakers and h2o droplets are truthful tiny. The watch pauses to settee and eject again, repeating this rhythm complete and over. This is why you person to property and clasp nan Crown for astatine slightest a fewer seconds alternatively of a speedy press. It keeps you from initiating this process accidentally.

Christine Persaud for Engadget

When should you usage h2o lock? It's a no-brainer to usage nan h2o fastener characteristic connected Apple Watch if you're a swimmer aliases person a excavation astatine home. In fact, you won't person a choice, since it turns connected automatically erstwhile you're engaged successful a h2o workout for illustration swimming aliases surfing. As an other precaution, you mightiness want to move it connected manually utilizing nan steps noted supra during times erstwhile your wrist isn't wholly submerged, but nan watch still gets wet. This mightiness beryllium if you deterioration it successful nan shower, while washing dishes aliases conscionable during a tally location successful nan rain. Utilizing this characteristic will guarantee that immoderate residual h2o is removed.

What happens if you don't move connected h2o lock? The watch will apt beryllium good (assuming it's a exemplary pinch a precocious water-resistance rating), but you tally nan consequence of h2o pooling wrong and causing eventual damage. While that water-resistance standing gives you nan assurance to deterioration an Apple Watch while swimming aliases doing different water-based activities, you should beryllium alert that water-resistance weakens complete clip pinch immoderate device. Keeping arsenic overmuch h2o retired of nan insides arsenic possible, particularly if you're swimming successful a chlorinated pool, tin thief prolong nan life of your smartwatch. Next clip you spell for a swim, spot if you tin spot nan h2o coming retired of nan broadside speaker erstwhile you property nan button. And see nan intricate process that's happening to support nan watch free of moisture inside.