Fitting your Apple Watch strap

Apple Watch straps do not use spring bars, and you will not need a tool. The strap slides into a channel on the back of the watch and locks in place on its own. The whole job takes about ten seconds once you know where to press.

Taking the old strap off

Turn the watch over so you are looking at the back.

  1. Find the band release button. There is one at the top of the case and one at the bottom, sitting just above and below the sensor.
  2. Press and hold it in. Keep holding: the strap will not move if you let go halfway.
  3. Slide the strap sideways, straight out of its channel. It comes out to the side, not downwards, so do not pull it away from the watch.
  4. Repeat for the other half.

If it will not budge, the button almost certainly is not pressed all the way in. Apple Watch straps slide out with very little force, so if you are having to pull hard, stop and check the button rather than pulling harder.

Putting the new strap on

  1. Hold the strap so the curve follows the shape of your wrist, the same way round as the one you took off.
  2. Slide it into the channel from the side until you hear and feel a click. You do not need to hold the release button down to put a strap in, only to take one out.
  3. Give it a gentle tug to check it is seated. A strap that has clicked in will not move at all.
  4. Do the same with the other half.

The two halves are not interchangeable. One carries the buckle or the pin, the other carries the holes or the slot, so if the strap ends up facing the wrong way, swap the two halves over.

Which size do I need?

Apple Watch straps come in two sizes, and which one you need depends on your watch, not on your wrist. Your wrist size is handled by the adjustment on the strap itself.

Our size Fits these watches
Small Series 1 to 9: 38mm, 40mm and 41mm
Series 10 and 11: 42mm
Large Series 1 to 9: 42mm, 44mm, 45mm and 49mm, including Ultra, Ultra 2 and Ultra 3
Series 10 and 11: 46mm

Watch out for 42mm. This is the one that catches people out. A 42mm Series 10 or 11 takes the small strap, while a 42mm Series 1 to 9 takes the large one. Apple reused the number on a different case, so check which series you have before you order, not just the millimetres.

Not sure which series you have? On your iPhone, open the Watch app, then tap General and About. The model is listed there.

A few things worth knowing

  • Every Apple Watch since the original uses the same two strap sizes, so a strap bought for a Series 4 will still fit a Series 9 of the same size group.
  • You cannot fit a normal watch strap to an Apple Watch without an adapter, because there are no lugs and no spring bars.
  • Sports Loops, Ocean Loops and Solo Loops all fit the same channel. The difference is how they fasten, not how they attach.

Still not sure, or something does not feel right? Use the chat on our website. We would much rather talk you through it than have you force something.