Water Lock on Samsung Galaxy Watch: What It Is & How to Use It

Water Lock is a built-in feature on Samsung Galaxy Watches (running Wear OS or Tizen) that prevents accidental touches on the screen while you’re in water. It also ejects water from the speaker after you finish. This article explains exactly what Water Lock does, when to turn it on, and how to use it on your Galaxy Watch.

What Is Water Lock?

Water Lock is a software mode that disables the touchscreen and physical buttons while the watch is submerged. It’s not a physical seal – the watch’s water resistance is built into the hardware (e.g., 5 ATM or IP68). Water Lock simply prevents phantom taps from water droplets or the pressure of water against the screen. It also changes the screen to show a water droplet icon, so you know it’s on.

When you turn off Water Lock, the watch plays a series of tones that vibrate the speaker and push water out. This is called the “eject water” function. It helps clear the speaker grille so sound isn’t muffled after swimming or showering.

Why You Should Use It

Water Lock is useful in any situation where the watch might get wet:

• Swimming (pool, lake, ocean)
• Showering or bathing
• Washing dishes or hands
• Exercising in heavy rain
• Any water sport

Without Water Lock, water on the screen can trigger random touches – pausing a workout, opening apps, or changing settings. It also helps avoid accidentally pressing the Home or Back buttons while swimming.

How to Turn On Water Lock

There are two ways to enable Water Lock on most Galaxy Watch models (Galaxy Watch 4 and newer, and older Tizen models like Galaxy Watch 3):

1. Quick Settings: Swipe down from the top of the watch face to open the Quick Settings panel. Swipe left or right until you see the Water Lock icon (a water droplet). Tap it. The watch will show a message that Water Lock is on.
2. During a Workout: If you start a swimming workout in Samsung Health, Water Lock is automatically enabled. You’ll see the droplet icon on the screen.

On some models, you can also access it via Settings > Advanced Features > Water Lock, but the Quick Settings toggle is the fastest.

How to Turn Off Water Lock and Eject Water

Turning off Water Lock is just as easy, but it does something extra:

1. Press the Home (side) button or tap the water droplet icon on the screen.
2. The watch will display a “Water Lock” screen with a message that says “Hold the Home button to turn off.”
3. Press and hold the Home button for a few seconds.
4. The watch will play a short series of tones and vibrate – this is the water ejection. You may see water droplets coming out of the speaker.
5. Once the tones stop, Water Lock is off and the screen is back to normal.

If you’re in a swimming workout, you can also end the workout – Water Lock will turn off automatically and eject water.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

Myth: Water Lock makes the watch more waterproof. No. Water Lock does not increase water resistance. It only prevents accidental touches. The watch’s IP68 or 5 ATM rating is what determines how deep and how long it can stay underwater.

Problem: Water Lock doesn’t eject all water. The ejection tones help, but they don’t guarantee the speaker is perfectly dry. If sound is still muffled, gently shake the watch or tap it against your palm (not hard) to dislodge water. Some users also use a soft cloth to blot the speaker.

Problem: Water Lock won’t turn off. If the screen isn’t responding, try pressing the Home button multiple times. If that fails, restart the watch by holding the Home button for 10-15 seconds. On Tizen models, you can also use the side button.

Misconception: You must use Water Lock for any water contact. Actually, light splashes or rain won’t cause issues. It’s mainly for submersion or heavy water exposure where the screen is fully wet.

Water Lock on Different Galaxy Watch Models

Water Lock is available on all recent Galaxy Watches, but the exact steps vary slightly:

• Galaxy Watch 4, 5, 6, 7 (Wear OS): Quick Settings toggle works as described. The ejection sound is a series of beeps.
• Galaxy Watch 3 and older (Tizen): Swipe down to Quick Settings, tap the water droplet. To turn off, press the Home button and hold.
• Galaxy Watch Active and Active 2: Same as Tizen models – swipe down, tap droplet, hold Home to exit.

If you don’t see the Water Lock icon, swipe left/right in Quick Settings – it might be on a second page. You can also edit the Quick Settings order to move it to the first page.

Safety Tips and Limitations

Water Lock is a helpful tool, but it doesn’t override the watch’s physical limits:

• Don’t press buttons underwater – Water Lock disables them, but repeated pressing could still force water into the seals.
• Avoid saltwater and chlorine – rinse the watch with fresh water after swimming in the ocean or pool, then dry it.
• Don’t use the watch for scuba diving – 5 ATM is for shallow water, not high-pressure diving.
• If the watch gets wet, dry the speaker and microphone area with a soft cloth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Water Lock drain the battery? No. Water Lock only disables the touchscreen and changes the display. It doesn’t run any special processes, so battery impact is minimal.

Can I still receive calls or notifications while Water Lock is on? No, because the screen is locked and touch is disabled. Calls and notifications will still arrive, but you won’t be able to interact with them until you turn off Water Lock.

Will Water Lock work in hot tubs or saunas? Yes, but be cautious – extreme heat and steam can damage the watch’s seals. Water Lock won’t prevent that. It’s better to avoid saunas altogether.

Why does my watch make a weird sound after swimming? That’s the water ejection tone. It uses vibrations to push water out of the speaker. It’s normal and means Water Lock is turning off.

Can I use Water Lock with a third-party watch band? Yes. Water Lock is a software feature, so it works regardless of the band. Just make sure the band doesn’t trap water against the skin – rinse and dry it.

What if I forget to turn on Water Lock before swimming? The watch will still be fine – water resistance is hardware. But you might get accidental touches. If that happens, just turn on Water Lock mid-swim (if the screen is responsive) or wait until you’re out of the water.

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