Your Apple watch generally relies on your iPhone's Watch app to allow the two to communicate so it can bring you alerts about incoming text messages, emails, phone calls, etc. This guide will go over some basic troubleshooting steps if your Apple Watch app is not functioning properly.
Make sure to test your devices after performing each one of these steps. Any one of these steps may individually resolve the issue you're experiencing. If you feel like a particular step has resolved your issue, feel free to skip to the end of this guide.
2. Check Connection
If you don't get notifications, messages, or calls on your Apple Watch, your Apple Watch and iPhone might not be connected.
To open Control Center, swipe up from the bottom of the watch face.
If your Apple Watch is not connected, you will see a green iPhone icon in the top left corner of the screen:
If your Apple Watch is not connected, you will see a slashed red iPhone icon in the top left corner of the screen:
Or even a red X in the top left corner of the screen:
If you see the airplane icon lit up within Control Center, Airplane Mode is on. Tap it to turn it off.
3. Check Connection
Keep your Apple Watch and paired iPhone close together to make sure that they're in range.
On your iPhone, make sure that Airplane Mode is off and that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on. To check, swipe up to open Control Center.
4. Restart
To restart your device:
Restart your iPhone X
Press and hold the Side button and either volume button until the slider appears.
Drag the slider to turn your iPhone X completely off.
After your iPhone X turns off, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.
Restart your iPhone 8 or earlier, iPad, or iPod touch
Press and hold the Top (or Side) button until the slider appears.
Drag the slider to turn your device completely off.
After the device turns off, press and hold the Top (or Side) button again until you see the Apple logo.
With iOS 11 or later, you can also turn off your device by going to Settings, then General, then Shut Down.
5. Restart
If your Apple Watch is charging, take it off the charger first. When your watch is charging, you can't restart it.
Press and hold the side button until you see the Power Off slider.
Drag the slider to turn off your device.
After your watch turns off, press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.
6. Introduction
If your Apple Watch still can't connect, these steps will take you through the process of unpairing your devices and then pairing them back together again.
7. Unpair From Watch
Depending on which version of the Apple WatchOS your device is running, what you see on your watch may differ slightly from these photos. However, the steps outlined in this process should be no different.
Launch the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
Tap on the General setting.
Select Reset.
Tap on Erase All Content and Settings.
Type in your passcode (if prompted).
Scroll or swipe to the bottom of the on-screen message and select Erase All (or, if you have a cellular plan and wish to keep it, Erase All & Keep Plan).
Your watch will now begin the unpairing process.
It'll take a few moments for your Apple Watch to complete the unpairing process. Once finished, your Apple Watch will need to be re-paired with your iPhone in order to be used again.
8. Unpair Apple Watch
Depending on which version of Apple's iOS your device is running, what you see on your screen may differ slightly from these photos. However, the steps outlined in this process should be no different.
Go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Tap your active watch at the top of the My Watch screen.
Tap the info button to the right of your current watch.
Select Unpair Apple Watch.
Confirm the process by pressing Unpair [watch name].
If you have cellular service, choose to Keep or Remove your plan.
Disable Activation Lock by entering your Apple ID password and pressing Unpair.
Your watch will now begin the unpairing process.
It'll take a few moments for your Apple Watch to complete the unpairing process. Once finished, your Apple Watch will need to be re-paired with your iPhone in order to be used again.
9. Pair with iPhone
Before you begin, make sure Airplane mode is off and Bluetooth is on. To do this, swipe up on your iPhone to open Control Center.
Turn on your Apple Watch.
To turn on your Apple Watch, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo. This may take a few minutes.
Put on your Apple Watch.
Hold your Apple Watch and iPhone close together. Wait for the Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch message to appear. Tap Continue.
Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together until you complete these steps.
Hold your iPhone over the animation.
Center the watch face in the viewfinder on your iPhone. Wait for a message to say that your Apple Watch is paired.
Set up as new or restore from a backup.
Then choose which wrist you want to wear your Apple Watch on. Read the Terms and Conditions and tap Agree, then tap Agree again to continue.
Sign in with your Apple ID.
If asked, enter your Apple ID password. If you aren’t asked, you may be prompted to sign in later from the Apple Watch app.
Choose your settings:
You can set up Location Services, Route Tracking, and Siri. If Siri isn’t already set up on your iPhone, it will turn on after you choose this option.
Create a passcode.
You can skip creating a passcode, but you will need one for features like Apple Pay.
Choose your settings:
You will be taken through setting up features like SOS and Activity. If you have a Series 3 Apple Watch with GPS & Cellular capabilities, you will also be prompted to set this up as well. Then you can choose to install apps that are compatible with Apple Watch.
Wait for your devices to sync.
Depending on what options are chosen and how much data is being synchronized, syncing might take some time.
Keep your devices close together until you hear a chime and feel a gentle tap from your Apple Watch. Once this happens, your Apple Watch has been successfully paired with your iPhone.
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