Why does my Apple Watch lock itself with a sleeve tattoo?

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patrickw1995 Author

Level 1

59 points

Why does my Apple Watch lock itself with a sleeve tattoo?

Can we please get an OS update that makes the watch not lock itself if it senses your phone on you for example?.

I have a sleeve tattoo and the watch locks itself every 3 mins to be honest and its annoying during a workout which I do a lot off and track a lot even before I got the tattoo done. I understand that I can turn wrist detection off but that also turns off a lot of useful features which I want on.

When running or cycling I have to pause often to put my pin in or if I don't my workout route on the map is incomplete and so are the times etc because it stops the workout.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

There is no reason why all those features should be automatically turned off when turning wrist detection off, maybe that can change that in the future update?.

Thanks

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Posted on Feb 25, 2025 08:05 AM

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Answer 1

Ingo2711

Level 9

77,727 points

Feb 25, 2025 09:53 AM in response to patrickw1995

If you use the Feedback link, you can tell Apple directly about your wishes for future watchOS updates.

This is the only way to reach them, as Apple does not follow theses user to user communities.

Feedback - Apple Watch - Apple

You can turn off the passcode or wrist detection on your watch, but for security reasons, not all features will be available after that:

...

copied from: Lock or unlock Apple Watch - Apple Support

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Answer 2

KiltedTim

Level 10

220,506 points

Feb 25, 2025 10:03 AM in response to patrickw1995

You can turn off wrist detection, but that’s pretty much it.

The materials in the ink of your tattoos prevents wrist detection from working. No OS update can fix that.

And yes, there IS a reason why all those features should be turned off when wrist detection is disabled.

This is a user forum, by the way. You are not talking to Apple.

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Answer 3

patrickw1995 Author

Level 1

59 points

Feb 25, 2025 10:13 AM in response to KiltedTim

I've submitted feedback using the actual feedback link.

But tell me how features such as noise notifications, gesture controls, fall detection and background respiratory rates should be turned off with wrist detection??.

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Answer 4

KiltedTim

Level 10

220,506 points

Feb 25, 2025 10:20 AM in response to patrickw1995

Because without a way for the device to determine you’re actually wearing it, there is no way to ensure that the measurements would be accurate, and in the case of fall detection, it could easily end up calling emergency services without a valid reason.

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Answer 5

patrickw1995 Author

Level 1

59 points

Feb 25, 2025 10:11 AM in response to Ingo2711

Thanks

I've submitted feedback.

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Why does my Apple Watch lock itself with a sleeve tattoo?

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