Apple Watch Crown: Turning Very Stiff or No Response to Pushing the Crown & Stiff

Clean and dry the Digital Crown

If the Digital Crown gets stuck or won’t move, check for debris and wipe down your Apple Watch. If you find substances around the Digital Crown, follow these steps to clean it, and repeat as needed:

1. Turn off your Apple Watch and remove it from the charger.
2. If you have a leather band, remove it from your Apple Watch.
3. Hold the Digital Crown under lightly running, warm, fresh water from a faucet. Soaps and other cleaning products shouldn't be used.
4. Turn and press the Digital Crown continuously as water runs over the small gap between the crown and the housing. 

When the debris or substance has been washed away, dry your Apple Watch with an absorbent, non-abrasive, lint-free cloth. Rotate and press the Digital Crown as you dry it, and be sure to remove water from the surface of the Digital Crown, the space between the Digital Crown and the watch case, and the surrounding surfaces.

You’re most welcome! Thanks for feeding back.

it looks the restart helped.

The Apple Watch crown is stiff, but it's only when the AW are turned on. When they are turned off it's smooth like before...isn't it SW issue, where they make it more stiff to avoid accidental turns for the widgets ?

I am having the same problem with my Apple Watch Ultra and it’s only a few weeks old. Has Apple not done a recall or resolved this issue yet?

There is no debris stuck in my watch but I am still having problems with a notchy crown that won’t depress from time to time (no pun intended). What should I do?

If the Apple recommended cleaning instructions do not work then send it to Apple or take it to an Apple Store for inspection.

Tap the Support link in the black margin above.

Thank You! This was super helpful! My digital crown was harder to turn then normal and felt funny. Now it is perfect like new! Saved me a trip to the apple store! Great info 💪🏻

It may be a perception, try turning off Crown Haptics.

Thank you!!! This worked like a charm!