This is the age-old that people search online every single day. So, In case you are one of them, this article is definitely for you. We will discuss how the waterproofing works, things you should avoid when it comes to your Apple Watch, and what to do in case your Apple Watch gets wet. But the major question is: Are Apple Watches waterproof?

Even if you are not an Apple Watch user, this might be useful to you to learn how things work. If you are considering buying an Apple Watch you should definitely know these things to ensure that you don’t lose money.

Are Apple Watches waterproof?

There is a big distinction between waterproofing and water resistance. So, Apple Watch is water-resistance and not waterproof. This basically means you can do shallow swimming and sweat during exercise but it technically doesn’t guarantee 100% that water will not damage the watch at all.

The Apple Watch Series 1 has IPX7 under IEC standard 60529 and the other watches have 50 meters of resistance under 22810:2010.

See Also: How to choose which Apple Watch to buy

In the case of the Apple Watch Ultra which is built by adventurists, you have a water-resistance rating of 100 meters under 22810:2010. In addition to water resistance, devices after the Apple Watch Series 7 have IP6X dust resistance as well.

Another important thing that you need to know is that not every watch strap is water-resistant. Classic Buckle, Leather Loop, Modern Buckle, Milanese, and Link Bracelet Bands are not water resistant and you might not want to jump in the pool wearing that.

Waterproof vs Water-resistant

There is a major component of smartphones where they cannot give you the guarantee of being waterproof because most of the waterproofing mechanisms tend to wear off in time so even if something starts being waterproof, it will eventually not be. So, that’s a major difference.

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  • Water-resistant: Its the ability to resist the penetration of water to a certain degree but won’t guarantee 100% resistance.
  • Water-repellent: This stands between resistance and proofing which means it’s pretty difficult for water to penetrate inside the device.
  • Waterproof: impervious to water and with no chance of water entering at all and doesn’t wear off in time.

Things to Avoid

There are a few things that you need to vary between when it comes to Apple Watch and water resistance. I have listed a few of them below and ensure to try to follow them to keep your Apple Watch safe.

  • Try not to drop your Apple Watch.
  • Avoid exposing your Watch to soapy water.
  • Any acidic substance like solvents, detergents, oils, etc.,
  • Don’t expose normal Apple Watch devices to high-pressure water sources like skiing, depth of water, etc.,
  • Don’t wear Apple Watch in a steam room.
  • Don’t wear Apple Watch in a sauna above 55°C.
  • Don’t wear Apple Watch while diving or Cliff jumping.

These are some things you can do to protect your Apple Watch from water damage.

How to Dry your Apple Watch

The best way to remove water from the Apple Watch is to use a lint-free cloth. Make sure anything you use is at room temperature because higher or lower temperatures can have drastic effects on the device. In case you were swimming, it’s good practice to clean your watch by showing it under running water.

Let’s say that the sounds are not coming properly after getting wet. The best thing you can do is to charge it overnight. This will speed up evaporation. It’s generally a good practice to not shake it to remove water.

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You can press and hold the digital crown after getting wet to eject the water that’s trapped in the ports of the Apple Watch. When it comes to Apple Watch Ultra, the water Lock automatically enables when you to submerge the device under 10cm of water depth.


Since Apple is taking up steps to build devices like Apple Watch Ultra, we can see that we are moving towards waterproof and not just water resistance. I personally don’t think that Apple will ever give us the guarantee that the future Apple Watches are going to the 100% waterproof but they will certainly be better in terms of their resistance.

It’s truly marvelous to think that Apple has managed to build good iterations of an amazing product like the Apple Watch and continues to be the leader in the smartphone market. But to the question: are apple watch waterproof? I gotta say No as of now.

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