What IP67 Really Means for GPS Watches and Smartwatches

If your GPS watch or smartwatch got wet and stopped charging, stopped turning on, showed moisture under the screen, or started behaving strangely, it is natural to wonder how that can happen if the device is rated IP67.

The short answer is that IP67 means water resistant under specific test conditions. It does not mean the watch is waterproof, and it does not mean the device is protected against every type of real-world water exposure.

This guide explains what IP67 really means, what to do immediately if your watch gets wet, why water damage can still happen, and why liquid damage is not covered under warranty.

What to Do Right Away if Your GPS Watch Gets Wet

If your GPS watch or smartwatch gets wet, what you do next matters. The biggest risk often happens after the water exposure, when a wet device is turned on or charged before it has fully dried.

Important: Do not plug in or charge a watch that may still have moisture inside. Applying power too soon can cause permanent damage or a short circuit.

If the watch has dried completely but still will not charge, review our GPS watch battery and charging guide before assuming the watch itself is defective.

What Does IP67 Mean?

IP ratings are used to describe how well an electronic device is protected against dust and water under controlled test conditions.

In an IP67 rating:

• 6 means the device is rated for protection against dust.
• 7 means the device has been tested for limited water immersion under controlled conditions, typically in still fresh water up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

That sounds reassuring, and it is useful protection. But IP67 does not mean the device is waterproof, and it does not mean the watch can safely be used in every real-life water situation.

IP67 Does Not Mean Waterproof

The most important thing to understand is that IP67 is a laboratory rating. Testing is done under controlled conditions, usually with clean, still, fresh water. Real life is different.

Temperature also matters. IP67 testing is performed under controlled conditions, not on a hot summer day beside a pool, after the watch has been sitting in direct sunlight, or after repeated exposure to heat, cold, humidity, and daily wear. Heat can affect seals, adhesives, plastics, and gaskets, while sudden temperature changes can create pressure differences that make moisture intrusion more likely.

A GPS watch or smartwatch may be exposed to:

• running tap water
• soap, shampoo, or hand sanitizer
• chlorine from pools
• salt water
• sunscreen or lotions
• hot water, steam, or temperature changes
• impact from drops, bumps, or daily wear
• pressure from swimming, jumping, or water spray
• wear around buttons, speakers, charging contacts, seals, or SIM covers

These real-world conditions can reduce or defeat the water protection that existed when the device was new.

Why an IP67 Watch Can Still Be Damaged by Water

Water protection depends on seals, adhesives, covers, ports, buttons, and the condition of the device. Over time, everyday use can affect those protective barriers.

For example, water may be more likely to enter if:

• the SIM cover is loose, damaged, missing, or not fully closed
• the watch has been dropped or bumped
• the case, screen, or back cover has even a small crack
• the charging contacts are worn, corroded, or dirty
• the watch is exposed to soap, chlorine, salt, sunscreen, or other chemicals
• the watch is used in warm water, a shower, bath, hot tub, or sauna
• the device is charged before moisture has fully dried

Even a small amount of moisture inside a powered device can cause corrosion, erratic behavior, charging failure, or a short circuit.

Common Signs of Possible Water Damage

If a GPS watch or smartwatch has been exposed to water and then begins acting differently, possible signs of liquid damage may include:

• the watch will not charge
• the watch gets unusually warm while charging
• the screen flickers or stops responding
• moisture or fog appears under the screen
• the watch randomly powers on and off
• the speaker or microphone stops working properly
• the charging contacts show corrosion or discoloration
• the device stops reading the SIM card or loses mobile connection
• the watch works briefly, then fails again after charging

If any of these symptoms appear after water exposure, stop using the watch and avoid charging it until it has fully dried and support has reviewed the situation.

Can the Watch Be Worn in the Rain?

Light rain or accidental splashes are usually the types of situations IP67 protection is meant to help with. However, the watch should still be dried before charging, and it should not be treated as waterproof.

IP67 should be understood as accidental water protection, not permission to swim, shower, bathe, or regularly expose the watch to water.

Can an IP67 Watch Be Used for Swimming or Showering?

No. We do not recommend swimming, showering, bathing, hot tubs, saunas, or water parks with a GPS watch or smartwatch, even if it has an IP67 rating.

Swimming and showering involve movement, pressure, soap, heat, chemicals, or repeated water exposure. These conditions are very different from the controlled lab test used for the IP67 rating.

Why Water Damage Is Not Covered Under Warranty

Lil Tracker’s warranty covers manufacturing defects. It does not cover damage caused by water or other liquids.

This is because liquid damage depends on real-world conditions that cannot be verified after the fact, including how the device was used, whether it was charged while wet, whether the SIM cover was fully closed, whether the watch had been dropped, and whether seals, ports, buttons, or covers were affected by wear, impact, pressure, heat, or chemicals.

Water resistance can also change over time. A device that passed an IP67 test when new may not have the same level of protection after months of normal use, impacts, scratches, exposure to soap or sunscreen, or repeated contact with water.

Liquid-damage exclusions are common across the consumer electronics industry, including phones, watches, and smartwatches. Even when a device is marketed as water resistant, manufacturers generally limit or exclude liquid-damage coverage because real-world water exposure is unpredictable and cannot be recreated or verified after the fact.

How to Help Prevent Water Damage

To help protect your GPS watch or smartwatch:

• avoid swimming, bathing, showering, hot tubs, and saunas while wearing it
• avoid exposing it to soap, shampoo, sunscreen, chlorine, salt water, or cleaning products
• make sure the SIM cover is fully closed before use
• dry the watch completely before charging
• do not charge the watch if it was recently wet
• inspect the charging contacts regularly for debris, oxidation, or corrosion
• avoid using the watch if the screen, case, back cover, or SIM cover is cracked or damaged

Quick Reference Guide

Final Takeaway

IP67 water resistance is helpful protection against accidental splashes, light rain, and limited exposure under controlled conditions. It is not the same as waterproof protection, and it does not guarantee that a GPS watch or smartwatch will survive swimming, showering, chemicals, heat, pressure, wear, or charging while wet.

If your watch gets wet, power it off, do not charge it, remove the SIM tray if your model has one, and allow it to dry for at least 48 hours before attempting to power it on or charge it. When in doubt, contact support before applying power.

If the watch is completely dry but still will not charge, see our GPS watch battery care and charging troubleshooting guide.

Understanding the limits of IP67 can help protect your device, avoid preventable damage, and keep your GPS watch working reliably when your family needs it most.