The zoom feature is something most Apple Watch users have never thought much about- until it gets stuck. Typically, since it’s an accessibility feature, it’s quite easy to activate it even if you don’t intend to use it. If you don’t know how to deactivate it, you may find yourself stuck with the zoom feature enabled on your Apple Watch.
So, how do you fix Apple Watch stuck on zoom? You can either double-click the digital crown, double-tap the screen with two fingers, or use the Apple watch on your iPhone to deactivate it. After trying these methods, you can try restarting the Watch if the Watch is still stuck on zoom.
All these fixes are relatively easy and don’t take much time. However, you might want to read on to learn more about why your Apple Watch is stuck on the zoom feature and how to prevent it from happening again in the future.
What Are the Possible Causes of Apple Watch Getting Stuck on Zoom?
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1. You Activated the Zoom Feature Accidentally
As mentioned earlier, most Apple may watch users have never used the zoom feature on their Watch or iPhone. However, it comes in handy when you want to enlarge text on the small watch screen.
As an accessibility feature, Apple has added several shortcuts that you can use to activate the zoom feature. One of them is by triple-clicking the digital crown or triple-tapping the screen with two fingers. You might also have set it as a shortcut in the settings, which could be why your Watch is stuck on zoom.
It’s also possible that you or somebody else was messing around with the Apple Watch app settings and activated it.
2. A Software Glitch
It could also be you intentionally or unintentionally activated the zoom feature, but you’re trying to disable it but can’t. It could be that multiple processes are running on your Apple Watch, causing the screen to freeze and preventing the zoom shortcuts from responding.
It might also be that the Watch was updating while the zoom was on. An interrupted update usually causes issues like the Apple watch getting stuck on the logo or won’t start. But it can also cause the screen to freeze.
How Can You Fix an Apple Watch Stuck on Zoom?
The approach you will take to unstuck the Apple watch depends on what might have caused the issue. Fortunately, the fixes are relatively straightforward.
Solution 1: Deactivate the Zoom Feature
You have a few options here:
- Use the Watch’s digital crown shortcut
- Double-tap the screen,
- Use the watch settings, or
- Use the My Watch app on your iPhone
a) Using the Watch’s digital crown shortcut
If the zoom accessibility feature shortcut is the digital crown, you can use it to disable it. All you need is to double-click it, and the Watch zooms out.
b) Double-tap the watch screen
This is another shortcut to activating the zoom feature on your Apple Watch. You can double-tap the screen with two fingers to zoom in and double-tap again with two fingers to zoom out.
c) Use the Watch Settings
It’s also possible to get your Apple watch unstuck on zoom using its settings. But that will work if your watch screen is responsive.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Click the digital crown once to bring up the apps menu
- Select ‘settings, and scroll down to ‘accessibility.’
- Tap ‘Zoom’ and turn it off.
d) Use the My Watch App on your iPhone
If you can’t reset the zoom on your Watch, you can use the My Watch app on your iPhone to deactivate the zoom feature. But remember, this method will only work for a paired Apple watch.
Here are the steps:
- Open the ‘My Watch’ app on your iPhone,
- Tap the ‘My Watch’ tab,
- Tap ‘Accessibility,’
- Scroll down and tap ‘Zoom,’
- Switch the toggle to ‘Off,’ and the zoom feature is disabled on your Apple Watch.
Solution 2: Restart Your Apple Watch
If tapping the screen or double-clicking the digital crown does not help, you can restart the Watch. It might be hard to navigate, but you can do it.
Here are the steps:
- Press and hold the side button until you see the power off slider,
- Using two fingers, swipe to power off,
- Wait for your Apple watch to turn off completely,
- Press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.
This should do the trick. However, if the Apple Watch is stuck on zoom and the screen is frozen, the only way around this is to force a restart. This will kill any process freezing the Watch to stop.
Here is how you can do it:
- Press and hold both the side button and digital crown simultaneously for at least 10 seconds,
- Wait for the Apple logo to appear,
- Release the buttons and wait for your Watch to restart.
Once you have restarted your Apple Watch, the zoom should be disabled, and your Watch should be restored to normal.
What Can You Do To Prevent It From Happening Again?
Apple watch getting stuck on zoom is uncommon, but it can happen. You can take a few measures if you don’t want this to happen again.
1. Turn off Zoom Feature
If you don’t use the zoom feature, it’s best to turn it off. This way, you won’t be tempted to use it accidentally and end up with a frozen watch. You can do this through the My Watch app on your iPhone or the phone itself.
Turning off Apple watch Zoom on iPhone:
- Open the ‘My Watch’ app,
- Tap the ‘My Watch’ tab,
- Tap ‘Accessibility,’
- Tap ‘Zoom’ and turn the toggle to ‘Off.’
Turning Off Apple watch Zoom on the Watch:
- Open the Settings app,
- Tap ‘Accessibility’ and tap ‘Zoom,’
- Switch the toggle to ‘Off.’
2. Change Zoom Accessibility Shortcut
If you don’t want to turn off the zoom feature, you can change the accessibility shortcut. This will make it harder to activate the zoom and freeze your Apple watch accidentally.
Here is how you can do it:
- Open the settings app on your Watch,
- Tap ‘Accessibility,’
- Scroll down and tap ‘Accessibility Shortcut,’
- You should see a list of accessibility features,
- Choose the feature you want to use as a shortcut, and that’s it.
From your iPhone:
- Open the ‘My Watch’ app,
- Go to ‘General,’
- Tap ‘Accessibility,’
- Scroll down and select ‘Accessibility Shortcut,’
- Choose the feature you want to replace the zoom, and you’re done.
3. Update Your Apple Watch
Make sure your Watch is up to date with the latest software and won’t cause any issues. You need to delete the updated files and re-update if there was a failed update.
You can do this through the Watch itself.
- Press the digital crown to bring up the apps menu,
- Tap ‘Settings,’
- Scroll down and tap ‘General,’
- Tap ‘Software Update,’
- If an update is available, tap ‘Download and Install’ to update your Watch.
Updating the Watch using the My Watch app on your iPhone is also easy.
- Launch the ‘My watch’ app,
- Tap ‘General’,
- Tap ‘Software Update’ and check if there is an update available,
- Tap ‘Download and Install’ to start the installation process.
4. Keep the Watch Clean and Uncluttered
Clean up all unnecessary apps and files from your Watch to ensure it runs smoothly. Avoid running too many apps or widgets on your Watch, as it could cause it to freeze.
- Open the watch app on your iPhone,
- Tap the ‘My Watch’ tab,
- Scroll down and tap ‘Manage Storage,’
- You should see a list of all the apps installed on your Watch,
- Tap any app you want to delete and select ‘Delete App.’
Make sure to keep your Watch clean and free from any clutter. Once you have done that, restart it to ensure all changes are applied. This should help prevent the Watch from getting stuck on zoom again.
Final Thoughts!
And that is how you can fix and prevent your Apple watch from getting stuck on zoom. Follow the steps mentioned above, and you should have no more trouble with a frozen watch. Good luck!
