Apple Watch Ultra 2 screen goes black for a second when I raise my arm.

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Level 1

69 points

Apple Watch Ultra 2 screen goes black for a second when I raise my arm.

As stated in the title, my Apple Watch Ultra 2 screen sometimes goes black for a second when I raise it to look at the screen. When it reappears it is at full brightness. Before I raise my arm, the screen is dimmed as it should be. Other times the screen smoothly goes from the dimmed setting to full brightness as I raise my arm. The "always on" setting is ON. "Wake on wrist raise" is ON. Anyone else notice this? I wouldn't bet my first born female child on this. But I don't think this "screen briefly going black" behavior occurred when I first got the Watch.

Apple Watch Ultra 2, watchOS 11

Posted on Mar 20, 2025 9:56 AM

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Answer 1

Ingo2711

Level 9

75,237 points

Mar 20, 2025 10:29 AM in response to Mr. Luigi

Is this the Titanium or the Black Ultra 2?

Do you have a screen protection on your watch?

Did you try to force restart by pressing and holding the Digital Crown and the Side button together for about 10sec, until the Apple logo comes back again?

If this does not work, unpairing the watch would be the next step, to rule out a software issue.

Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Mr. Luigi Author

Level 1

69 points

Mar 20, 2025 7:46 PM in response to Ingo2711

Hi Ingo, 2023 Ultra 2. So titanium. No screen protector. Force restarting does not change the behavior. It's one of those things that I wonder if folks would even notice since it lasts only a second and doesn't happen every time. Still, it's an "unrefined" aspect of the Watch's performance and "unApplelike." I would love to see if anyone else has observed this before unpairing and erasing. But if no one else responds to my post, I may try that "nuclear option."

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Answer 3

Ingo2711

Level 9

75,237 points

Mar 21, 2025 3:42 AM in response to Mr. Luigi

Does your Ultra 2 also do that, if you do not use the Always On Display?

On my Ultra 2 it is disabled, and if I raise my wirst, the watch is dark and comes up with the correctly adjusted brightness.

But, if I raise my wrist and the watch is still covered by my jacket for example, the display is adjusted to the dark inside of my jacket and only slightly lit. Then I have to turn my wrist again to get the adjusted settings for being outside the jacket.

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Apple Watch Ultra 2 screen goes black for a second when I raise my arm.