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A Few Apple Watch Users Experiencing Band Locking Issues

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Apr 12, 2001
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Less than a week after the release of the Apple Watch, a few issues with the wrist-worn device have been spotted by early adopters. The first issue involves full sleeve tattoos interfering with the Apple Watch's heart rare sensor and skin contact registration, while MacRumors forum member Smickers has shared a new video that shows an Apple Watch with a nonfunctioning band locking mechanism.
"So, I took off my jacket Sunday and out of the sleeve comes my SS Apple Watch and drops on the floor and slides for a bit before stopping. Turns out the locking mechanism wasn't locking the strap," writes MacRumors forum member Smickers. "On closer inspection it requires a number of tries, pulling and pushing the strap to get it to lock. It's just the top strap. One scratched casing, with the glass fine."
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The user claims that after he contacted Apple on Monday to have the Apple Watch replaced through AppleCare, the company requested that he ship the device to Ireland for inspection by an engineering team. Three days later, he allegedly received confirmation from Apple that the Apple Watch was indeed faulty, and the company will be expediting him a brand new device in sealed retail packaging within 24 hours.

Fortunately, this issue does not appear to be widespread and is only affecting a limited number of users. "I had this same problem when I first received my SS Apple Watch with Milanese Loop," said MacRumors forum member Ryxmd. "I had it on my wrist and noticed that the top strap had some movement. I took off the watch and tried to get it to lock in. After 3-4 tries, it finally locked into place."

It is largely unsurprising that the first-generation Apple Watch has a few isolated issues that Apple will inevitably fix, especially given that the wrist-worn device is Apple's first new product category since 2010. Yesterday, it was reported that defective Taptic Engines from one of Apple's suppliers has contributed to Apple Watch supply constraints, but fortunately no faulty devices were shipped to customers.

Article Link: A Few Apple Watch Users Experiencing Band Locking Issues
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/04/30/apple-watch-broken-band-locking-mechanism/
I'm guess I'm the only person who slides the lug back and forth to make sure it clicks in place in the first place because it seems logical...

I had to do it first thing with my Milanese loop to make my watch left-handed.
 
I was helping my mom set her watch up the other day, 38mm SS WSB, and this happened. Looked exactly like it does in the video. Even after I locked it in and it didn't slide out any more, it still felt as if it wasn't as tight as it should be. I think it is certainly something to look into.
 
These type of issues are why Apple has a rapid response team for launches. They'll get it sorted and make adjustments in the manufacture/assembly if needed.
 
Growing pains. Any product has them. Ford with their first gen ecoboost in the F-150, direct injection carbon build-up....even well established programs have issues. Look at Russia and their cargo supply issue at the moment.
 
Is it just me or does it seem like websites are now trying their best to find "issues" with an Apple product release? Like if even one product has an "issue" it's a new article and a new "gate".
 
ghostface147 said:
Ford with their first gen ecoboost in the F-150, direct injection carbon build-up....even well established programs have issues. Look at Russia and their cargo supply issue at the moment.
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Ford has 40 product lines and issued 4 recalls this week. That's 10% of everything they've made in the past year, in a single week. If they were always as bad as they have been recently, that would mean every product would be recalled every 3 months.

Ford is not a gold standard company. They're crap, and on the list of companies that I mistakenly bought a product from, but won't ever do so again.
 
This isn't an issue, he's putting the band on the opposite side of the Watch. I thought I had a problem too until I realized I'm putting the locking part of the band on the wrong side!
 
Can we stop attaching the word gate behind every little mishap? Not everything is a scandal or a "gate". When millions of products are produced, some defects are bound to happen.
 
randymac09 said:
I was helping my mom set her watch up the other day
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I didn't even think about this being a thing now. One more thing for my mom to call about and need setting up. At least getting her off that Dell and onto an iPad a few years ago results in far less tech calls now! I think she still has PTSD from the viruses because about half her iPad calls are "I'm worried my iPad might get a virus because _________."
 
I would tell everyone all about this problem and how to fix it, but I can't. Tim refuses to ship me my watch, so I have not been able to obsess over every milimeter or to have already solved this. So sorry everyone, but it really is Tim's fault. ;):D
 
GladePlugins said:
This isn't an issue, he's putting the band on the opposite side of the Watch. I thought I had a problem too until I realized I'm putting the locking part of the band on the wrong side!
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What are you talking about? He is putting it on the right side. And I can confirm this is a defect because I too am experiencing this issue. Went to the Apple Store, was there for about an hour. The Genius had to call AppleCare and they both can confirm it's an issue. He even swapped the band from the display and put it on my watch and it wasn't locking. Doesn't matter if you put the bottom piece on the top or vice versa. It doesn't lock. Apple is "preparing for shipment" so far.
 
Does every time someone thinks they have an issue need to become a story? Seriously? I'll bet 99.9% of Watch owners have no issues with the bands. Good grief.
 
macduke said:
I didn't even think about this being a thing now. One more thing for my mom to call about and need setting up. At least getting her off that Dell and onto an iPad a few years ago results in far less tech calls now! I think she still has PTSD from the viruses because about half her iPad calls are "I'm worried my iPad might get a virus because _________."
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LOL, got my parent's off a shared Dell and they now have each an iPad Air of their own. Best purchase ever from my perspective because they very rarely have any issues or questions for me. And they're on their iPads way, way more than they ever were on their PC.
 
Rogifan said:
Does every time someone thinks they have an issue need to become a story? Seriously? I'll bet 99.9% of Watch owners have no issues with the bands. Good grief.
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Well, it being a story seems to make sense. On the other hand it being some sort of a blown up problem and some sort of a "-gate" thing that's another thing.
 
I removed my leather band and the buckle side would not lock to the top of my SS watch. It was only the buckle side on top of the watch. Every other band (from friends and family) I tried, including two sports bands, Milanese loop and the hole side of the leather band locked without issue on the top of the watch. The buckle side of the band even locked on the bottom. After many, many, attempts I finally locked the buckle side of the band in the top and refuse to touch it again until I get one of my extra straps. The issue is real.
 
During my watch fitting this afternoon I did discuss the issue with the staffer helping me. The staffer started checking the connection on the display SS 42mm watch with link bracelet and found it not securely connected to the top section to the watch. She was unable to get the watch and band to stay connected.

:eek:
 
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