Raise To Wake Not Working On Apple Watch In watchOS 9? Fix!
Raise to wake not working Apple Watch
Raise to wake not working on Apple Watch after watchOS 9 update? Screen won’t turn on when you flick your wrist? Issue persists in version 9.2? You’re not alone!
Raise To Wake Not Working On Watch?
This issue has been reported by Rachel (watchOS 9.2):
“Since the update, watch won’t awaken when I raise my wrist, I have to hit the crown button. Really annoying.”
We couldn’t replicate this issue but have found similar complaints on Apple’s discussion forums:
1:
“My Apple Watch has stopped waking when I raise my wrist. I have double-checked the settings.”
and
2:
“Wake on wrist raise won’t work.”
How To Fix Raise To Wake Not Working
This doesn’t seem to be a widespread issue. Here is what you can do to fix it:
1. Check For Theater Mode
First, you should check if Apple Watch isn’t accidentally running in Theater Mode. This will prevent the display from lighting up when you raise your wrist to avoid disturbing other persons nearby.
Fix: Swipe-up from the bottom of the screen the Control Center and check if the two-mask icon is enabled. If it is, tap it to turn it Off and Raise to wake on watch should work again!
2. Reboot Apple Watch
If problem persists, you should go ahead and restart the gadget! Use the force restart combo:
Press & hold Digital Crown + Side button until the Apple logo is displayed on the screen.
Tip: Be patient until watch reboots, provide Passcode and check if Raise to wake has been fixed!
3. Is AOD Enabled?
Newer Apple Watch models should display all the time. If screen is black it means that Always On Display isn’t enabled.
Check it directly on the watch in Settings -> Display & Brightness -> Always On.
4. Use Other Options
Else, you should use the following workarounds until Apple addresses this issue:
- Tap the screen.
- Click the Digital Crown.
- Rotate the Digital Crown upward. (Only works if enabled in Settings -> Display & Brightness -> Wake on Crown Rotation.)
Have you managed to fix Raise to wake not working in watchOS 9? Do you have a better solution or other problems to report? Share your feedback in the comments.
Related: For more watchOS 9.2 bugs and available fixes check our extended review.
Great! Finally, got it to work again by turning off Theater mode. You were the only source that suggested checking that.
Glad we could help. Enjoy your Apple Watch!
Yes – you were the only one that helped with this fix. It is working! Thanks!
Glad it does! Enjoy your device!
Yep worked for me too!
After updating my series 5 to 9.3 now the compass app is not working same with the raise to wake up is not working… so disappointed.tried to reset 2x already and still the problem was still there… haysss
Did everything been said above and the problem still there
Thanks for reporting:
1. Compass won’t open? stuck on loading? crashes after opening?…. please provide more details.
2. Have you checked for Theater Mode in the Control Center? That’s usually the main problem. Setting gets enabled accidentally.
It was Theater Mode. I was wondering why I had the masks showing after my grandson was playing with the watch. Thank you very much for the very helpful information.
A heartfelt Thank You! After chasing every google located thread on my Raise2Wake and Always On issues, a relief to learn this simple fix. I had tried everything I read: set and reset the settings, restarted the watch again and again), let the battery completely drain, all to no avail on my Apple Watch 8. I will keep this site handy for future reference, to be sure. Thank you, thank you!
Glad we could help! Enjoy your Watch properly!
Thanks fixed the problem
You’re welcome! Let us know if you have any other issues.