Yes—if you have an Apple Watch Series 2 or newer, you can use it for ordinary swimming in a pool or at the surface of the ocean. The first-generation Apple Watch and Series 1 are splash resistant, but Apple does not recommend submerging them. Every model is water resistant rather than waterproof, and that resistance can weaken over time or after damage.
Yes—if you have an Apple Watch Series 2 or newer, you can use it for ordinary swimming in a pool or at the surface of the ocean. Apple Watch is water resistant, not waterproof, and that resistance can weaken with age, impact, chemicals, or damage.
The first-generation Apple Watch and Apple Watch Series 1 are rated for splashes and brief water exposure, but Apple does not recommend submerging them. Apple Watch Ultra models support a broader range of water activities, including recreational scuba diving to 40 meters (130 feet), but that does not make every Apple Watch suitable for diving or high-speed water sports.
Which Apple Watch models can you swim with?
| Model | Water guidance | Suitable for ordinary swimming? |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch (1st generation) and Series 1 | IPX7 splash and water resistance. Submersion is not recommended. | No. Treat these models as splash resistant rather than swim-capable. |
| Series 2 and later | 50-meter water-resistance rating under ISO 22810:2010. Intended for shallow-water activities such as pool and surface swimming. | Yes. Pool swimming and normal surface swimming are within the stated use case. |
| Apple Watch Ultra and later | 100-meter water-resistance rating under ISO 22810:2010 and EN13319 compliance. Apple identifies these models for swimming, snorkeling, higher-speed water activities, and recreational scuba diving to 40 meters (130 feet). | Yes. It supports more demanding water activities, subject to Apple’s limits and appropriate safety equipment. |
The 50-meter and 100-meter figures are water-resistance classifications measured under standards; they are not blanket permission to dive to those depths. For a normal swimmer, the model generation and Apple’s activity guidance matter more than treating the number as a guaranteed operating depth.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →If you are buying specifically for swim tracking, choose a current swim-capable model such as an Apple Watch from the Series line or an Ultra model, and pair it with a band designed for water. The current U.S. Apple lineup identified in the research includes Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3; availability and model names can vary by country and change over time.
Can you swim in a pool with an Apple Watch?
Yes. Apple Watch Series 2 and later can track a pool swim, including sets, rest periods, stroke types, and total distance. The most important setup detail is the pool length: the watch uses it to interpret turns and calculate distance.
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- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
How to start a Pool Swim workout
- Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
- Turn the Digital Crown until you reach Pool Swim.
- Enter the pool’s actual length. Select the correct measurement rather than accepting an inaccurate default.
- Tap Start.
- Swim normally. The watch will track sets and rest periods automatically.
- When you finish, press and hold the Digital Crown to unlock the watch, then tap End.
The on-watch summary shows information such as stroke types and total distance. In the workout summary on your iPhone, you can see pace for each set. Distance estimates can suffer if the pool length is wrong, if you do not complete recognizable lengths, or if your turns and strokes are unusual.
Can you track an open-water swim?
Yes. For a lake, ocean, or another outdoor swim, select Open Water Swim in the Workout app. Apple’s built-in swim workouts distinguish between Pool and Open Water.
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How to start an Open Water Swim workout
- Open the Workout app.
- Select Open Water Swim.
- Start the workout before entering the water or once you are safely at the starting point.
- End the workout after returning to a safe location.
Open-water tracking works differently from pool tracking. There are no fixed pool lengths or lane turns for the watch to use, so GPS reception and the swimming environment affect route and distance estimates. Buildings, cliffs, trees, waves, arm position, and time spent with the watch underwater can all make the recorded route less precise than a clear outdoor run.
Third-party apps are also available for swimmers who want additional metrics. For example, apps such as Swim.com and MySwimPro advertise features including Apple Watch recording, stroke or drill tracking, open-water and pool workouts, guided training, or analytics. Those are developer-described app features, not independent accuracy guarantees, and they are optional: Apple’s Workout app is sufficient for basic swim recording.
What does Water Lock do?
When you start a swimming or other water-based workout, Apple Watch automatically turns on Water Lock. It prevents accidental taps because the touchscreen does not respond normally while Water Lock is active.
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- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Water Lock does not improve the watch’s physical water resistance. It is an input-locking and speaker-clearing feature—not a waterproofing mode.
How to unlock the watch and eject water
- After the swim, press and hold the Digital Crown.
- Keep holding it until the display says the watch is unlocked.
- The watch will play tones to help eject remaining water from the speaker.
If the speaker sounds muffled afterward, repeat the Digital Crown water-ejection procedure. Do not shake the watch forcefully, use heat or compressed air, or insert anything into the speaker or microphone openings.
Which water activities should you avoid?
For Apple Watch models other than Ultra models, Apple advises avoiding:
- Scuba diving, diving, and high diving
- Water skiing and other high-velocity water activities
- Activities involving submersion below shallow depth
- Steam rooms and, for non-Ultra models, saunas
Even an Ultra is not a general-purpose dive computer. Recreational scuba diving has risks that are not solved by wearing a watch, and Apple recommends appropriate dive equipment and training. Do not assume a protective case can make an unsupported model safe for diving or high-speed water use.
Apple Watch Ultra and the Depth app
The Depth app is available on Apple Watch Series 10, Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra models. It can show current depth, maximum depth, time underwater, and water temperature.
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- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
| Model group | Maximum Depth-app depth |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 10 and Series 11 | 6 meters (20 feet) |
| Apple Watch Ultra models | 40 meters (130 feet) |
The Depth app is not a dive computer. It does not provide decompression-stop information, gas analysis, or the other functions needed for recreational scuba-diving planning and monitoring. For an activity where device failure could cause serious injury or death, use a secondary depth gauge and timer or dive watch as Apple recommends.
Check the band before swimming
A water-resistant watch case does not make every band suitable for swimming. Apple specifically identifies leather bands, the Milanese Loop, and some Modern Buckle variants as not water resistant. Apple’s care guidance also says FineWoven bands should not be soaked.
Sport Band, Sport Loop, Solo Loop, Braided Solo Loop, and Ocean Band are more appropriate choices for water exposure when used and cleaned according to their care instructions. Ultra owners who regularly participate in water activities can consider the Apple Watch Ocean Band; Apple describes the Ocean Band, Alpine Loop, and Trail Loop as bands designed for rugged Ultra activities, including water-related use. None of these bands changes the water-resistance limits of the watch itself.
Make sure the band matches the case size and holds the watch securely against your wrist. A loose watch can move enough to affect heart-rate readings and can be easier to lose during vigorous swimming.
What should you do after swimming?
For Apple Watch Series 2 and later, Apple recommends this aftercare routine:
- Rinse the watch gently with lightly running, warm, fresh water.
- Rinse away salt, chlorine, and other residue without using a strong spray.
- Dry the watch and band thoroughly with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth.
- Use Water Lock’s Digital Crown procedure if the speaker sounds muffled.
Do not use a hair dryer, heater, compressed air, sprays, or cleaning chemicals. Do not push cotton swabs, paper, pins, or other objects into the speaker, microphone, or other openings.
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- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Water, chemicals, and damage: the risks people overlook
Apple Watch water resistance is not permanent and cannot be restored by Apple through a routine recheck or resealing service. Treat an older watch more cautiously, especially if it has been dropped, repaired, opened, or otherwise damaged. Impacts can reduce the effectiveness of the seals even when the watch still appears to work normally.
Keep the watch away from substances that can harm seals or acoustic membranes, including:
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- Soap and detergent
- Perfume and lotions
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- Oils and hair dye
- Acids and similar chemicals
Swimming in clean pool or natural water is a different exposure from showering with soap, using a hot tub, entering a sauna, or applying sunscreen directly around the watch. Rinse off residue after swimming and keep chemicals away from the case and band where possible.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you buy if swimming is the priority?
For lap swimming and occasional recreational swims, prioritize a Series 2-or-newer model with a water-appropriate band. You do not need an Ultra merely to record pool lengths. Choose an Ultra when you also need its larger water-resistance classification, rugged design, or support for the broader activities Apple associates with Ultra models.
Replacing an unsuitable band can be sensible if the watch is already swim-capable. A water-appropriate Apple Watch band, such as a Sport Band, is an accessory choice—not a way to turn a first-generation Apple Watch or Series 1 into a swimming watch.
Do not buy a generic waterproof case as a substitute for choosing a swim-capable model or following Apple’s activity limits. A case cannot change the watch’s underlying rating, make its sensors work correctly underwater, or make diving safe.
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![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Quick pre-swim checklist
- Confirm that your watch is Series 2 or later, or an Ultra model.
- Use a band suitable for water; avoid leather, FineWoven, Milanese Loop, and other non-water-resistant options.
- For a pool, enter the exact pool length before starting.
- Choose Pool Swim or Open Water Swim in Workout.
- Stay within shallow-water swimming guidance unless you have an Ultra and the proper equipment, training, and safety plan for the activity.
- Afterward, unlock Water Lock, rinse with fresh water, and dry the watch thoroughly.
The short version: Apple Watch Series 2 and later are suitable for ordinary pool and surface swimming, while the first-generation Apple Watch and Series 1 should not be submerged. Water Lock helps prevent accidental touches and clears the speaker, but it does not make the watch waterproof. Avoid high-speed water and diving on standard models, inspect the band and watch condition, and treat an Ultra’s diving capability as a specialized feature—not a replacement for proper dive equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I swim with any Apple Watch?
Apple Watch Series 2 and later can be used for ordinary pool swimming and surface swimming in the ocean. The first-generation Apple Watch and Series 1 are splash resistant, but Apple does not recommend submerging them.
Does Water Lock make Apple Watch waterproof?
No. Water Lock prevents accidental screen taps and plays tones to eject water from the speaker after you unlock it. It does not increase the watch’s water resistance or make an unsupported model safe to submerge.
How do I track laps with Apple Watch?
Yes. Open Workout, choose Pool Swim, enter the actual pool length, and tap Start. When finished, press and hold the Digital Crown to unlock the watch, then tap End.
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Apple Watch Ultra models support recreational scuba diving to 40 meters (130 feet), but the Depth app is not a dive computer. It does not provide decompression-stop information, gas analysis, or equivalent scuba-diving functionality.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: You can swim with an Apple Watch Series 2 or newer in a pool or at the surface of the ocean. The first-generation Apple Watch and Series 1 should not be submerged. Apple Watch is water resistant rather than waterproof, and Water Lock only locks the screen and ejects water from the speaker—it does not increase the rating.
