Watch Ultra 3, Series 11, and SE 3, possess varying degrees of water resistance, allowing you to navigate your day without the need to fret over rain, perspiration, or a quick hand wash damaging your valuable smartwatch. While the pricier Watch Ultra models offer superior water resistance, capable of withstanding depths of up to 100 meters, the other recent Apple Watch models are rated for resistance up to 50 meters in depth.
Nevertheless, your Apple Watch provides more than just hardware-level protection for potential water exposure; it features a useful tool known as Water Lock.
Water Lock has been incorporated into the Apple Watch collection since the launch of Series 2 in 2016. This is a software feature integrated into watchOS, ensuring that every Apple Watch you possess (aside from the original Apple Watch and Series 1) comes equipped with it right from the start.
Water Lock is tailored to avert unintentional touches when your Apple Watch is submerged. It effectively secures the display from registering touch, so whether you are swimming or just enjoying water activities, you won’t need to stress about unintentionally activating something on your watch. The feature activates automatically at the beginning of a water-based workout, but you can also enable it manually if necessary.
To activate Water Lock, access the Control Center on your Apple Watch by pressing the side button (or by swiping up from the bottom of the display on watchOS 9 or earlier). You will see a water droplet icon in the Control Center; tap it to turn on Water Lock.
An additional noteworthy element of the Water Lock function is its capacity to expel any water that might have entered your Apple Watch through the speaker vents during your aquatic escapades. As you exit the water and deactivate the feature, it initiates a hardware response.
