Apple Watch Water Resistance Explained: Protect Your Watch With These Essential Safety Guidelines

Water resistance is one of Apple Watch’s most useful features, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Learning what your specific watch model can actually handle—and what it cannot—protects your investment and keeps you confident wearing it around water.

What Is Apple Watch Water Resistance?

Apple Watch water resistance is measured according to international standards and rated in meters of water depth. Unlike waterproof devices, water-resistant watches have been engineered to withstand specific water conditions but will eventually fail if exposed to water beyond their limits.

Apple uses two different rating systems depending on your watch model:

For Apple Watch Series 1: IPX7 rating (IEC standard 60529), which means splash and rain resistance only—NOT suitable for submersion.

For Apple Watch Series 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9: 50-meter rating under ISO standard 22810:2010, suitable for swimming and shallow water sports.

For Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2: 100-meter rating under ISO standard 22810:2010, certified for recreational scuba diving to 40 meters maximum and high-speed water sports.

Importantly, Apple does NOT use ATM (atmospheres) ratings in their official specifications—they use ISO meter standards instead. This distinction matters because ISO standards account for the specific movement patterns and water dynamics that smartwatches experience, unlike traditional depth ratings.

Current as of: watchOS 10 - February 2026

Why Understand Your Watch’s Water Resistance Rating?

• Prevents permanent damage: Water resistance cannot be rechecked or resealed after manufacture. Using your watch beyond its rated depth can compromise the internal seals irreversibly, rendering it unusable.
• Enables confident daily use: Knowing your exact rating means you can shower, swim, or rinse your watch without anxiety. Most modern Apple Watch owners can enjoy water sports their model is rated for.
• Protects expensive repairs: A water-damaged Apple Watch often requires full replacement rather than repair, costing significantly more than following simple precautions.
• Extends your watch’s lifespan: Proper water maintenance (rinsing with fresh water after saltwater exposure) preserves the water-resistant seals for years of reliable use.

Critical Limitations Every Owner Should Know

• Water resistance degrades over time: Physical impacts, exposure to extreme temperatures, or normal wear can compromise the seals. Your watch may become less water-resistant as it ages, even if never misused.
• Saltwater and chlorinated water require immediate attention: These chemicals accelerate seal degradation. Always rinse your watch with fresh water immediately after exposure to chlorine or saltwater.
• Dynamic water forces exceed depth ratings: Diving, jet skiing, or water skiing create water pressure and impact forces that far exceed what the depth rating indicates. Even an Ultra model is not rated for high-speed water sports beyond recreational depths.
• Soap and detergent can damage seals: Never clean your watch with soaps, detergents, or solvents—use fresh water only. The chemical compounds can degrade the rubber seals that create the water-resistant barrier.

Know Your Watch’s Limits Before You Get Wet—Step by Step

Step 1: Check Your Exact Water Resistance Rating

1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap About and scroll down to find your water resistance rating listed as either “Splash resistant,” “Water resistant (50m),” or “Water resistant (100m).”
4. Take a screenshot or write this rating down so you know exactly what your model can handle.

Step 2: Bookmark Apple’s Official Water Resistance Guidelines

1. Visit Apple’s official water resistance support page on your iPhone or computer.
2. This page breaks down specific activities by water resistance level (splash only, swimming, diving, high-speed sports) and includes critical warnings about saltwater and chlorinated water exposure.
3. Bookmark this page for quick reference before any water activity.
4. For specific Water Lock instructions, also save this Apple Support article.

Step 3: Enable Water Lock Before Submersion (if Your Model Supports It)

Water Lock prevents accidental screen touches when your watch is submerged. However, the method to access it depends on your watchOS version:

If you have watchOS 10 or later (most current watches):

1. Press the flat side button on the right side of your watch.
2. Look for the water droplet icon in Control Center.
3. If Water Lock appears as available (not already enabled), tap it to activate.

If you have watchOS 9 or earlier:

1. Swipe UP from the bottom of your watch face to open Control Center.
2. Tap the water droplet icon to enable Water Lock.

Note: Water Lock activates automatically during swimming workouts and scuba diving on most models, so you don’t always need to manually enable it.

Step 4: Rinse With Fresh Water Immediately After Saltwater or Chlorine Exposure

1. Remove your watch and hold it under gently flowing fresh water for 10–15 seconds.
2. Use a soft, lint-free cloth to dry the watch thoroughly, including the band attachment points where water can hide.
3. Leave the watch open to air dry for 15–30 minutes before wearing it again.
4. Never use compressed air, heat sources, or air dryers—these can force water deeper into the casing.

This step is critical: saltwater and chlorine are the primary culprits behind seal degradation. Rinsing within minutes of exposure can add years to your watch’s water-resistant lifespan.

Step 5: Unlock and Eject Water From the Speaker (watchOS 10+)

After exiting the water, your watch will have residual water in the speaker chamber. Ejecting this water protects audio quality:

1. Press and hold the Digital Crown (the knob on the right side) until the watch displays “Unlocked” and you hear a series of high-pitched tones.
2. These tones vibrate residual water out of the speaker—this typically takes 10–15 seconds.
3. Once you hear the final tone and see “Unlocked,” release the Digital Crown.
4. Your watch is now ready to use normally.

For watchOS 8 or earlier, rotate the Digital Crown instead of pressing and holding it.

Step 6: Know the Special Rules for Older Apple Watch Models (Series 1 Only)

If you own an original Apple Watch Series 1 (IPX7 rating):

• Avoid intentional submersion—it’s splash and light rain resistant only.
• Stick to splashes, light rain, and hand washing only.
• Remove your watch before showering or swimming.

If you own Apple Watch Series 2, 3, or 4 (50-meter rating):

• These are just as water-resistant as modern models (Series 5+) and are suitable for swimming and water sports.
• Treat them the same as your care guidelines for current-generation watches.

Quick Reference: Understanding Your Watch’s Water Rating

Apple Watch Series 1 (Splash resistant)

• Suitable for: Light rain and splashes only
• NOT suitable for: Showering, swimming, or submersion

Apple Watch Series 2–9 and SE (50 meters)

• Suitable for: Swimming, showering, snorkeling, water sports in calm water
• NOT suitable for: Diving, jet skiing, water skiing, high-speed water sports

Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 (100 meters)

• Suitable for: Recreational scuba diving to 40 meters, high-speed water sports, extreme conditions
• NOT suitable for: Professional diving or diving beyond 40 meters

Important to remember: The meter rating represents depth under passive conditions (standing still in water). Dynamic forces—like diving, jumping into water, or high-speed water sports—create pressure spikes that can exceed the rated depth. Always check your specific model’s guidelines before attempting any water activity.

Sources: Apple Support – About Apple Watch water resistance | Apple Support – How to use Water Lock | Apple Watch Ultra Technical Specifications

Your Apple Watch is built to handle real-world water exposure—but only when you respect its limits. By checking your model’s exact rating, following Apple’s official guidelines, and practicing simple maintenance (rinsing after saltwater, using Water Lock, and properly ejecting water), you’ll keep your watch functioning reliably for years. The five-minute investment to understand your watch’s capabilities now prevents frustrating and expensive damage later.