Are you interested to know whether you can shower with your Apple Watch?
Let’s discuss the Apple Watch’s features and attributes and what it can tolerate!
You can shower with an Apple Watch Series two to seven, provided it does not make contact with soap, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, oils, and gels. These products have harsh chemicals that weaken and strip the water-resistant coating found on Apple Watches. Apple does not recommend it.
Apple Watches are so convenient that they become an item that is hard to get by with, similar to a mobile phone. For this reason, it’s only natural to want to keep it on so that we don’t forget it when we rush out the door in the morning to work.
Let’s explore every aspect of an Apple Watch and clarify precisely how and when you can integrate it into your schedule.
Can You Wear An Apple Watch In The Shower?
Apple Watches can do it all – pay for your meal at the restaurant, an item at the grocer, or your gas bill at the gas station – it even measures your altitude and heartbeat!
These features make them worth keeping on, but how do they hold up in the shower? Apple recommends against showering with your Apple Watch, but not because the water may damage the watch. Instead, the soaps, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, oils, and gels have harmful chemicals that weaken and strip the water-resistant coating.
It’s also vital to know that not all Apple Watches have the same level of water resistance. Those with slight water resistance should never be underwater, while those with a lot of water resistance are safe for showering.
Furthermore, if your Apple Watch has a stainless steel or leather band, it’s within your best interest to avoid placing it under the shower, even if it is entirely waterproof. The stainless steel band will rust, while the leather will start to thin and eventually snap.
However, Apple Watches with Rubber or Nylon bands are free to enjoy a refreshing shower with their owners.
Is The Apple Watch Waterproof?
The Apple Watch is appealing for many reasons, particularly its waterproof attributes. If you plan to purchase one for yourself, you’ll want to know: is the Apple Watch waterproof?
First, not all Apple Watch series have the same level of water protection. Without getting technical, the apple watch has some resistance against the effects of water on an electrical device, but submerging it underwater will damage it.
In other words, can does not equal should. You can drive 60 mph in an 80 mph zone, but doing so never ends well. The same Apple Watch that can withstand the rain might not survive if you submerge it in the ocean.
The Apple Watch series zero and series 1 are not waterproof, but they do have some water resistance. You will be able to wash your hands, take a shower, and it will survive if you fall in the water or walk in the rain. However, do not swim with them because they are not waterproof, and submerging them underwater will damage the components.
The Apple Watch Series 2 and up – which includes series 3, 4, 5, and 6 – is entirely waterproof! If you own any of these series, you can submerge it underwater for up to 50m. The water depth makes it ideal for swimming, diving, showering, taking a bath, or a cold dip in the ocean.
What Could Jeopardize Apple Watch Water Resistance?
You can wear your Apple Watch Series 2 or newer when you shower, but avoid getting soaps, shampoos, conditioners, perfumes, deodorants, or lotions since they can harm the water seals. If the Apple Watch comes into touch with anything other than plain water, immediately rinse it with non-salty water and dry it with a lint-free cloth.
As the Apple Watch gets exposed to water, heat, and other elements, it’s natural for the chemicals that provide the water resistance to diminish. For this reason, it is possible to re-seal the Apple Watch to bolster its water resistance.
Look at this list of things to avoid that will preserve your Apple Watch’s water resistance:
- Do not expose your Apple Watch to soapy water while bathing or showering. The chemicals in washing soaps will weaken or remove the protective coating.
- Do not expose your Apple Watch to high-velocity water, for example, that you might find while water skiing. The force from the water can easily wash away the protective water-resistant coating.
- Avoid steam and excessively high temperatures, like in a sauna. The extreme heat levels wear down the water-resistant coating while producing a lot of moisture.
- Ingredients found in solvents, detergents, foods, acids, repellents, lotions, sunscreens, and oils contain harmful chemicals that strip away the protecting coating on the Apple Watch.
- Dropping, cracking, or puncturing the apple watch screen will make it susceptible to water damage.
- After swimming in the ocean, it’s crucial that you rinse your Apple Watch with clean water to remove the salt and other bacteria. If you don’t rinse it, the salt will almost certainly weaken the protective coating!
It’s also worth considering the material of the Apple Watch band. While plastic bands are sustainable underwater, stainless steel and leather bands aren’t water-resistant; exposing them to liquids will cause them to wear.
Furthermore, if water gets into the air vent, Apple Watch Series 3 or newer will have diminished altimeter reading capacity. That said, it will be able to do accurate readings again when the water completely evaporates.
What Is The Apple Watch Water Lock Feature?
The Water Lock feature is what enables your Apple Watch to breathe underwater. You turn it on before entering a body of water and turn the Digital Crown to remove any water from the watch’s speaker.
When using Water Lock, your Apple Watch will not respond to touch, preventing you from accidentally using any functions when you’re in the water. After switching off Water Lock, your watch will disperse any water remaining in its speaker.
How Do You Use The Water Lock Feature?
Switching on Water Lock is quick and straightforward; here’s how:
- Navigate to the Apple Watch Control Center, accessible from any screen.
- Look for The Water Lock button that looks like a water droplet, and tap it.
- The Water Lock icon will now appear at the top of the watch face.
Don’t worry if you leap into the water without first turning on Water Lock. It automatically turns on when you begin a water-based workout, such as surfing, diving, or surfing!
How Do You Switch Off Water Lock?
After your swimming workout, you can switch off Water Lock by turning the Digital Crown on the side of your Apple Watch – keep turning until you see Unlocked on the display. Afterward, you will hear a series of tones that clear any water in the speaker. When the sounds stop, you’re in the clear to use your display like usual.
How Do You Measure Your Apple Watch’s Water Resistance?
Apple Watch Series 1 or earlier have a water resistance rating of IPX7. This water resistance rating indicates you can only submerge them 1 meter underwater and for a maximum of 30 minutes. An Apple Watch Series 2 and up, however, have a water resistance rating of 50 meters.
How Do I Remove Water From My Series 1 Apple Watch?
Since Apple Watch Series 1 has only slight water resistance, having them sink fall and sink into a body of water spells danger. Older Apple Watches like the Series 1 does not have the Water Lock feature, meaning they cannot eject water.
As a result, if it draws too much water, it will affect the watch’s ability to measure your altitude and heartbeat accurately. The audio may also sound muffled, while other functions may become unresponsive.
Although there are no immediate solutions, there is still something you can do to remedy the situation. You need to leave the Apple Watch on a charge through the night, preferably for 24 hours, as the electricity can help to evaporate any remaining water inside the watch.
Furthermore, it might be tempting but avoid using a blowdryer because the heat won’t be able to penetrate the small openings of the watch. In fact, the heat will most likely strip the water-resistant coating from the watch’s surface and leave it more susceptible to future watery accidents.
Conclusion
If you own an Apple Watch Series 2 or above, you can safely shower with it around your wrist. However, Apple does not recommend it because the products you use when you shower, like shampoo, conditioner, gels, lotions, etc., contain chemicals that will strip the water-resistant coating of an Apple Watch.
When it comes to Apple Watch Series 1 and below, they are not waterproof, meaning you should never submerge them underwater for any reason. They have slight water resistance that allows them to tolerate water splashes, water from washing hands, and even drizzles from rain – but not showering.