5 Things You Should NEVER Do to Your Apple Watch

Apple products are known to "just work." They're simple, intuitive, and relatively easy to take care of. But, at the end of the day, they're still technology products. That means there are definitely best practices when it comes to caring for your Watch.

There are a number of things you should keep in mind to keep your Apple Watch experience comfortable, as well as avoiding damage your Apple Watch or compromising your personal data privacy. Continue reading to learn 5 Things You Should NEVER Do to Your Apple Watch.

5 Don’t Use Cheap Bands

There are times when you can get away with using cheaper third-party accessories, including with the Apple Watch. But in the majority of cases, you’ll want to avoid it (or at least exercise caution).

• Unless they’re properly vetted, many of these third-party options could contain skin irritants.
• In some cases, they could even damage your Apple Watch (or simply break, dropping your Watch to the ground in the process).

Even in the best case scenarios, there are quite a few third-party options that just won’t fit properly. Which brings us to…

4 Don’t Skimp on the Fit

Like with any wristwear accessory, a good fit is crucial for your comfort. But on the Apple Watch, a proper fit is actually more important than a traditional timepiece.

• A properly fitting Apple Watch will keep you (and your wrist) comfortable. If it’s too tight, it’ll obviously be a pain to wear and might not let your skin breathe properly.
• But a fit that’s too loose will interfere with the Apple Watch’s ability to read your heart rate via its onboard sensor — a crucial feature. Aim for a snug but comfortable fit.

3 Don’t Let It Overheat

The Apple Watch, like most Apple products, won’t be permanently damaged if you leave it on the charger for a while. But the Watch still contains a lithium-ion battery, so it’s still important to exercise caution.

As a precaution, don’t leave it on the charger for extended periods of time. But, more importantly, you should be really mindful about not letting it overheat. That’s especially true if you live in a hot climate.

• Don’t charge your Apple Watch in direct sunlight or in other hot environments.
• Keep an eye on third-party Apple Watch chargers.

Your Apple Watch will warn you if it gets too hot, but it can lead to permanent battery damage over time (and shorten its battery life) if left unattended for too long.

2 Don't Neglect to Clean It

You should be cleaning all of your technology products. But for a device that sits as close to your skin as an Apple Watch, good hygiene and cleaning practices are especially important.

• Try to keep your Apple Watch, watch bands and skin clean and dry.
• Do your best to avoid liquids like soap, sunscreen or lotions — or at least wipe them off thoroughly after contact.
• When it comes to cleaning, use nonabrasive products and a smooth lint-free cloth. Apple recommends avoiding soap or other cleaning products. Instead, just use lightly running, fresh water.

1 Don’t Disable the Passcode

While most of the earlier tips have been about physical care of your Apple Watch, digital care is just as important. In particular, you may want to take precautions when it comes to your data privacy.

Like with all Apple products, you shouldn’t use the Apple Watch without a passcode protecting it. Sure, it may be on your wrist all day, but there are undoubtedly times when it’s not.

Without a passcode, someone who has physical access to your Apple Watch will be able to view your sensitive or private data like emails and messages. And that’s true even if you take the normal precautions, like Face ID or Touch ID, to protect the data on your connected iPhone.