Apple Watch Status Icons: Red Dot, Water Drop & More
Your Apple Watch uses small status icons at the top of the watch face to tell you about notifications, connections, and system settings. The red dot means you have unread notifications, and the water drop means Water Lock is on, which prevents accidental screen taps while you’re in water. This article explains each icon, what it means, and how to make it go away.
Red Dot (Unread Notifications)
The red dot is the most common icon you’ll see. It appears at the top of the watch face whenever you have one or more unread notifications. It’s the watch’s way of saying “check me.” The dot stays until you clear the notifications.
To clear it:
- Press the Digital Crown to open the notification center.
- Scroll through your notifications.
- Tap “Clear All” at the top, or swipe left on each notification and tap the X.
If the red dot still shows after clearing, try restarting the watch by holding the side button and swiping to power off, then turning it back on.
Water Drop (Water Lock)
The water drop icon appears when you enable Water Lock, which is designed for swimming or showering. It locks the touchscreen so water doesn’t trigger accidental taps. It also automatically ejects water from the speaker after you turn it off.
To turn it on: swipe up to Control Center and tap the water drop icon. To turn it off: rotate the Digital Crown until the screen clears and you hear a series of tones. That’s the water ejecting from the speaker.
If you forget to turn it off, the watch will still work, but the screen may be unresponsive until you rotate the crown. You don’t need Water Lock for everyday rain or handwashing—only for submerging the watch.
Other Status Icons
Beyond the red dot and water drop, you’ll see several other icons depending on your watch model and settings. Here’s a quick reference:
- Green leaf – The watch is charging and the battery is in a low-power state.
- Lightning bolt – The watch is actively charging.
- Red lightning bolt – The battery is critically low (below 10%).
- Moon – Do Not Disturb mode is on. You won’t receive alerts or sounds.
- Mask – Theater Mode is on. The screen stays dark until you tap it.
- Bell – Notifications are muted (silent mode).
- Airplane – Airplane Mode is on, disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- Wi-Fi – The watch is connected to a Wi-Fi network (only on GPS + Cellular models or when away from your iPhone).
- Green phone with arrow – A phone call is active.
- Red X – No connection to your iPhone or cellular network.
- Lock – The watch is locked with a passcode.
- Timer – A timer is running.
- Alarm – An alarm is set.
How to See Icon Meanings
If you’re unsure what an icon means, you don’t need to memorize this list. On your watch:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap “Control Center.”
- Tap any icon to see its name and a brief description.
You can also check the Apple Watch User Guide on Apple’s website for a complete, up-to-date list. The icons are consistent across watchOS versions, but new features may add new ones.
Common Problems and Fixes
Sometimes icons appear when you don’t expect them. Here are common issues and solutions:
- Red dot won’t go away – Even after clearing notifications, restart the watch. If it persists, unpair and re-pair the watch (this resets the notification state).
- Water drop stuck – If the screen is frozen, force restart by holding both the side button and Digital Crown for 10 seconds.
- No icons at all – If the status area is blank, you may have turned off “Notifications” in the watch face settings. Edit the watch face and make sure “Complications” are set to show status.
- Red X appears – Your watch is disconnected from your iPhone. Move closer, check Bluetooth, and open the Control Center on the watch to see if Wi-Fi is on.
How to Choose Which Icons Show
You can’t hide the red dot or water drop, but you can control which modes appear in Control Center. For example, you can remove the Theater Mode toggle if you never use it. Go to Settings > Control Center, tap Edit, and remove icons you don’t want. This doesn’t remove the functionality—just the shortcut.
For watch faces, you can choose which complications appear, but the status icons (red dot, water drop, etc.) are always at the top. You can’t remove them, but you can change the watch face style to make them less prominent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Apple Watch show a red dot even after I read all notifications?
Sometimes the watch doesn’t sync the “read” status with your iPhone. Open the Notification Center on the watch, scroll to the bottom, and tap “Clear All.” If that doesn’t work, restart both the watch and iPhone. If it still persists, unpair and re-pair the watch—this forces a full sync.
What does the water drop icon mean on Apple Watch?
It means Water Lock is enabled. This locks the touchscreen to prevent accidental taps when the watch is wet. You turn it off by rotating the Digital Crown, which also ejects water from the speaker.
How do I turn off Water Lock on Apple Watch?
Swipe up to open Control Center and tap the water drop icon to turn it on. To turn it off, rotate the Digital Crown clockwise until you see the unlock animation and hear a series of tones. The watch will then beep and vibrate as water is ejected.
What does the green leaf icon mean on Apple Watch?
The green leaf appears when the watch is charging and the battery is in a low-power state. It’s normal and disappears once the battery reaches about 80% or when you unplug the charger.
Can I hide the red dot on Apple Watch?
No, the red dot is a system indicator that cannot be hidden. It’s designed to alert you to unread notifications. The only way to remove it is to clear all notifications. You can, however, turn off notifications for specific apps in the Watch app on your iPhone, which will prevent the dot from appearing for those apps.
What does the red X mean on Apple Watch?
The red X means your watch is not connected to your iPhone or a cellular network. It appears when Bluetooth is off, the iPhone is out of range, or there’s a network issue. Check your iPhone’s Bluetooth, move closer, or enable Wi-Fi on the watch.
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