Apple aware of Apple Watch Series 9 ‘ghost touches’ issue

Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch display is the main way of interacting with the wearable, and occasionally users may find that accidentally touching it may open up menus and trigger features. For some customers, it seems that their devices are suffering from a problem where it does so without such interactions.

In an internal memo provided to Apple Authorized Service Providers and seen by MacRumors, Apple is aware of a touch issue impacting a number of current-gen Apple Watch models.

“Some customers may report their Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 is experiencing false touches on their display,” the note states, with some customers apparently describing them as “ghost” touches. To its users, this manifests as the Apple Watch behaving “erratically” without any interaction.

The problem could be a big one for users, as it could prevent them from entering the device’s passcode correctly.

Apple does not say how many users are affected, nor when a fix for the problem will be on the way. It does tell technicians to advise to customers to update to the latest version of watchOS and to maintain updates regularly, in the hope that a fix will be addressed in a software update.

Apple has also told the technicians not to try and repair Apple Watch units with the issue while an investigation is underway. Instead, technicians are to instruct customers on how to force restart their Apple Watch.

To force restart the Apple Watch, hold down the Digital Crown and the side button simultaneously, until it shuts down and the Apple logo appears onscreen.