All Watch settings
Settings Pathfinder · Watch
Wrist Detection
Locks Apple Watch automatically when you are not wearing it; it is on by default.
In watchOS 27
Settings then Passcode then Wrist Detection
“Go to the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Tap Passcode, then turn Wrist Detection on or off.” — Apple User Guide
Where it has lived
-
watchOS 10 and later
Settings then Passcode then Wrist Detection
Checked against Apple's User Guides from watchOS 10 onward. Menus can differ slightly by region, language, model and installed apps.
Sources for this page
Last verified 8 Oct 2026
- 1 Lock or unlock Apple Watch - Apple Support support.apple.com · guide for version 10.0
- 1 Lock or unlock Apple Watch - Apple Support support.apple.com · guide for version 11.0
- 1 Lock or unlock Apple Watch - Apple Support support.apple.com · guide for version 26
- 1 Wake and unlock Apple Watch - Apple Support support.apple.com · current guide