The Apple Watch can be one of your best tech companions, especially if you own an iPhone. Whether you’re getting your first Apple Watch or have been wearing one for the past 10 years, there are some things you should stop doing and should never do with your Apple Watch, ranging from basic precautions like avoiding deep cleaning to specific precautions like going to the sauna with it.
Even though the Apple Watch was made for outdoor people who want to hike, do a trail or play sports, especially with the Ultra model, taking care of the device beyond its battery life is essential if you want it to last longer. Because the Apple Watch is a wearable device that is always exposed to the world outside the user’s bag or pocket, it can wear out more quickly than a phone. However, there is a difference between using an Apple Watch correctly and incorrectly, in a way that could be dangerous to you or the life of the device. Here are some smartwatch habits you should stop immediately.
Allow contact with water if Apple Watch is damaged
The Apple Watch is a great product for swimmers and people who participate in water sports. The latest models, like the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE 2 or newer, have a water resistance rating of 50 meters and can be used while swimming in a pool or in the ocean. However, scuba diving, water skiing and other extreme activities can be problematic. The Apple Watch Ultra is an exception, as Apple says you can use it to “participate in high-speed water sports and recreational scuba diving up to 40 meters,” even though it has a water resistance rating of 100 meters.
However, none of this matters if your Apple Watch is damaged after a hard fall, fall, or hitting a wall quite hard, as this could compromise the device’s water resistance. Apple states that “water resistance is not a permanent condition and may decrease over time.” Most importantly, the water resistance cannot be remade or resealed, meaning what you have at the time of purchase is what you get until the device breaks. And among the situations that could reduce this resistance are the fall of the Apple Watch, being subjected to physical impact and wearing it while practicing extreme sports.
If your watch is not in its best condition, the best thing to do is to avoid contact with water and focus on physical activities that don’t involve getting wet, like cycling, playing basketball, and running with your Apple Watch. When playing these sports outdoors with a damaged Apple Watch, also stay out of the rain.
Abrasive products and soap can pose a risk to your watch
One thing that isn’t necessarily clear to Apple Watch owners is that Apple doesn’t recommend using soap or other abrasive products on the Watch. While you could say you took showers with your Apple Watch every day and nothing happened, Apple explains that soap and abrasive products like pastes and powders can weaken the watch’s water resistance. Apple doesn’t detail what happens when you use such products on the watch body, but the company makes it clear that the device relies on precision seals to maintain its water resistance.
Apple recommends cleaning watches with a non-abrasive, lint-free cloth and fresh water. This could indicate that the company is concerned that a possible chemical interaction with the case, sensors, or seals could compromise the experience and the product.
This care also includes keeping Apple Watch away from solvents, perfumes, detergents, hair dyes, sunscreen, insect repellents, or lotions. That said, Apple recommends that users clean and dry the Apple Watch, its band, and their own skin after every workout or heavy sweating. Most importantly, you should never clean Apple Watch while it is charging or near external heat sources or cleaning products. You should also skip cleaning if other objects are inserted or connected to the Apple Watch.
Wear it to the sauna
If you swim with your Apple Watch, you probably also shower with it or wear it to the sauna. I don’t blame you; I have also done this several times. Since the Apple Watch’s speakers are capable of playing music and podcasts, I took it to the sauna just to listen to podcasts when no one else was there. However, you should know, as I probably should have, that saunas and the Apple Watch don’t match.
The Apple Watch performs best up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, while Apple Watch Ultra models manage a higher temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit. A steam room can reach temperatures of up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, while a dry sauna can reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning you’re well above the ideal temperature for using your Apple Watch.
Such extreme heat can damage Apple Watch’s gaskets, degrade the battery, and overheat a device that should not have been in these conditions. Other issues you might experience with your Apple Watch in such extreme temperatures are a dark screen, a warning screen that requires you to cool down your Apple Watch before using it, and a cellular connection that stops working.
Keep it in an old version of the software
This one might not seem as bad as the other items on the list so far. However, not updating your Apple Watch could put another very important thing at risk: your data. Updates are made to improve the experience of a technology device, fix security vulnerabilities, add new features, and fix bugs. However, when you have an Apple Watch on watchOS 10 when it could actually run watchOS 26 – and, soon, watchOS 27 – you’re missing out on so much more.
In late June, Apple released the small iOS 26.5.2 update focused on fixing vulnerabilities for potential AI-assisted attacks. Even though your Apple Watch typically focuses on health data, a hacker could use a vulnerability to gain access to your phone and other important personal data.
Additionally, if you update your phone but keep your watch on an older version, you might run into compatibility issues, which could cause the features you’ve been using for so long to fail and not work as expected. So you should regularly go to the Watch app on iPhone, tap General, select Software Update and see if new versions of watchOS are available. This will ensure that your Apple Watch has the latest features and that you are safe from the latest attacks.
Put a solid case around it
If you want to protect your Apple Watch from physical damage, you might think that a hard case would protect it. Many people use one and you can find it in different colors, frames and styles. But don’t you find it interesting that Apple has never released an official hard case for the Apple Watch? Don’t get me wrong, but they might have a reason to skip this product, not least because this is a company that likes to take a few extra bucks from customers with official accessories.
However, Apple never offered cases for the Apple Watch because they could affect how you use the buttons, digital crown, connectors, and other ports. Apple says you should never apply too much pressure to a button or the Digital Crown, as this could cause the device to break. Even though it has an active warranty, this type of damage is not covered.
Although I never had any issues with the buttons on my Apple Watch, I remember breaking the power button on my iPhone 5 because I put the phone in a case that required me to press the button so hard that damaging it was inevitable. Apple also recommends that users do not apply force to any connector or port, so keep an eye on your device if you use accessories that don’t fit well.
