Apple Investigating Ghost Touches on Series 9/Ultra 2 Watches: What You Can Do

If you’ve recently acquired an Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2, you might be one of the unlucky users experiencing an irksome issue known as “ghost touches.” This problem involves your smartwatch registering phantom taps and swipes, causing it to open apps, adjust settings, or perform other actions without your input.

Apple has acknowledged the issue and is presently investigating a solution. In the meantime, there are a few ways to try to mitigate the effect of ghost touches on your Apple Watch.

Understanding Ghost Touches

Ghost touches can occur seemingly at random, leaving you confused as to why your Apple Watch is behaving unpredictably. The source of these phantom inputs isn’t completely clear, but there’s speculation that it may stem from a software bug or, in a smaller number of cases, a potential hardware defect.

Troubleshooting Ghost Touches on Your Apple Watch

Here are some actionable steps you can take to address the ghost touch issue on your Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2:

1. Force Restart Your Apple Watch

A force restart clears your Apple Watch’s temporary memory (RAM) and reloads its operating system. Often, a glitch in the software or an app can cause erratic, unintended behaviors, including ghost touches. A force restart provides a way to potentially resolve these temporary software bugs.

Here’s how it’s done:

• Press and hold both the Digital Crown and the side button simultaneously.
• Keep holding the buttons for about 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
• Release the buttons and allow your Apple Watch to restart.

2. Keep Your Apple Watch Software Up-to-Date

Apple will likely address the ghost touch issue through a future watchOS update. Ensure your device is running the latest software. Here’s how:

• Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
• Go to General > Software Update.
• If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install it.

3. Clean Your Apple Watch Screen

Dust, dirt, or debris on the screen could interfere with touch input. Thus, cleaning the Apple Watch screen can also help. Here’s what you should do then:

• Remove your Apple Watch and gently wipe its screen with a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth.
• If needed, slightly dampen the cloth with clean water. Avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaners.

Additional Tips

• Remove screen protectors: Sometimes, third-party screen protectors can disrupt proper touch responsiveness.
• Reset your Apple Watch: (Note: This will erase your data.) Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the on-screen instructions.

If the Issue Persists

Should the steps above fail to resolve the ghost touches, it’s advisable to contact Apple Support for further assistance. They might suggest additional troubleshooting techniques, provide instructions for repair, or replace your device if a hardware fault is to blame.

Stay Informed

Apple is actively investigating the root cause of ghost touches on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 and is expected to release a fix in a forthcoming software update. Keep an eye out for announcements and update your Apple Watch as soon as new software becomes available.