Water Lock is a feature on the Apple Watch that temporarily locks the screen while in water, protecting it from damage. When Water Lock is on, the watch doesnt respond to touch on its display, preventing accidental input while youre in water. This feature is especially useful during water-based workouts, such as swimming or surfing, as it prevents water droplets from interacting with the display. Water Lock also turns on automatically when you begin a water-based workout or a scuba dive with your Apple Watch Ultra.

To turn on Water Lock, you need to open Control Center by pressing the side button (for watchOS 9 or earlier, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up), and then tap the Water Lock button. The Water Lock icon appears at the top of the watch face. To turn off Water Lock and eject water, press and hold the Digital Crown on the side of your Apple Watch until the display says Unlocked. A series of tones plays to clear any water that remains in the speaker, and then you can use your display as usual. If your Apple Watch has watchOS 8 or earlier, rotate the Digital Crown instead of pressing it.