1. Make Sure Handwashing is Enabled
By default, this handy feature is disabled. Therefore, the first step is to ensure Handwashing is turned on. Secondly, only Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and the newest Series 6 and SE running watchOS 7 have this option. Note: Though Series 3 supports watchOS 7, it does not have ambient sound detection, and thus Hand Washing feature (and the Noise app) aren’t available. Many publications falsely mention that Series 3 supports this.
2. Do Not Stop Washing to Check the Timer
When you start washing your hands, the Apple Watch sensors read from your hand movements and the sound of flowing tap water. Soon, the 20-second Handwashing timer automatically starts displaying on the screen. You do not have to stop washing to check the timer. If you do, it pauses and asks you to continue. So, make sure to keep washing usually. After 20 seconds, you will feel haptic feedback, sound (if you have turned these on), and also see a message on the screen.
3. Restart, or Force Restart Your Apple Watch
One of the quickest fixes to solve the Handwashing problem is to restart the Apple Watch. Switching off and then switching on the wearable takes care of several temporary glitches. In case a simple restart fails to bring success, go ahead with a hard reboot.
4. Make Sure Microphone is Enabled
Handwashing uses the microphone to recognize the sound of tap water. Thus it is essential to ensure that settings for this are perfect.
5. Turn ON Significant Locations
6. List Home Address in your Contact Card
For the Handwashing reminders feature to work correctly, you must have your home address listed in your contact card. After this, Apple Watch can remind you to wash your hands when you reach home.
7. Remove any Cover or Protector
Many people use full-body cover or case to protect their expensive Apple Watch. Cases from reputed brands have proper cutouts for the speaker, microphone, and the sensor. However, if you use a fully covered case that blocks the microphone, remove it. Secondly, you may also consider cleaning the microphone using a soft, tiny brush or cloth. Make sure to take extreme care.
8. Update to the Latest Software
With each watchOS update, Apple brings bug fixes and improvements. To have the best possible user experience, you must have the latest version of watchOS on your Apple Watch. You can easily update straight from your watch or follow the steps below. Note: If you are running developer or public beta of watchOS, consider switching to the regular (non-beta) version.
9. Unpair and Repair the Apple Watch
Finally, if nothing works, unpair the Apple Watch and pair it again. This will erase everything that is currently on the watch. However, when you unpair using the Watch app, it creates a backup automatically. You can use it to restore and get back the current data. Signing Off These are some of the ways to get Handwashing working again on your Apple Watch. I hope the solutions above worked for you. Kindly share your opinion in the comments section below. People are usually in a hurry, and this handy feature is just a delight to have. Though Handwashing was made available during the pandemic, Apple’s VP of technology, Kevin Lynch, told TechCrunch that this feature was in work for years! READ NEXT:
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