Is your Apple Watch not pairing with your iPhone? Then there’s a problem because Apple designed the “Apple Watch to iPhone connection” to be smooth and easy.
It can be extremely frustrating if the connection has issues, especially if you can’t figure out what is wrong. If your Apple Watch is not connecting to your iPhone, don’t worry, we will show you 15 steps to take if you find yourself in this situation.
How to Fix Apple Watch Not Pairing
You can apply all 15 steps below to all Apple Watch models; its watchOS version doesn’t matter.
So, here are the 15 things to do if your Apple Watch is not connecting to your iPhone:
Check If Your Watch is in Pairing Mode
If you try to connect your Apple Watch with your iPhone, you will see a setup screen. The display content will state that you ensure your iPhone and Apple Watch are together.
Sometimes, both devices are not connecting because they are not close enough; try setting them side by side on a desk when you want to connect.
Cross Check Your Apple Watch Connection
If your apple watch is not connecting as it should, the first thing to do is go to your Control Center; from this setting, you can check the connection with your iPhone.
Finding your Control Center is easy; swipe up for your Control Center from the bottom of your Apple Watch display.
If there’s a green icon, your iPhone is already connected to the Apple Watch, but there is no connection between the two devices if the icon is red. If the latter is the case, try reconnecting both devices close to each other; also, ensure to enable your WiFi.
Check the Network Settings on your iOS Device.
It’s not every time the connectivity problem comes from your Apple Watch; the problem might be from the iPhone. To diagnose this, attempt to connect another Bluetooth device like your AirPods or speakers to the iPhone. If the iPhone also doesn’t connect with other devices, the problem is from your iPhone.
If the fault is from your iPhone connection, go to the Settings app on your phone, tap on Bluetooth connectivity, and ensure that the Bluetooth is connected. Next, visit the Control Center to ensure the WiFi settings are connected. A shorter way to do this is to switch on the Airplane Mode and switch it off after a few seconds.
Reboot Your Apple Watch
If the steps above didn’t work, there might be a bug. Luckily you can quickly fix the bug by restarting your phone.
Press your Watch’s side button to reset the phone, and the shutdown button will appear. Choose the Power Off slider to switch off the device. After a few seconds, power it back on. After rebooting it, try pairing it with your iPhone again and see if it refuses to connect.
Try Factory Reset
If the two devices still refuse to connect, try resetting your Apple Watch. It could be that rebooting the phone is not enough to fix the software-related issue, and a Factory Reset will also help clear up the Network Settings’ complications.
To do this, go to your Settings, click on General, scroll to the bottom, and you’ll see the Reset option.
Apple Watch Still Not Pairing After Reset?
Here are a couple more things you can try if your Apple Watch is still not pairing even after a reset:
Unpair Your Apple Watch
Alternatively, try un-pairing your iPhone; this is just like resetting your Apple Watch because both methods will erase the contents on your phone. You can carry out the process from the Watch app on your iPhone.
Update Your Phone’s iOS
Your iOS version matters a lot; if you are using an older iOS version, there’s a possibility that it is bugged out. So, you must have the latest firmware installed on your iPhone.
Here’s how to go about it; go to Settings, click on General, then Software Update. Next, click on Download and Installations; you will see the latest firmware, click on Install, and you are good to go.
Update The Watch’s WatchOS
Like your phone, your Watch also needs to be run on the latest software version, as outdated software can affect its functionality.
There’s a good chance that your Apple Watch is not connecting to your phone because you have not updated the Watch’s operating system in a while.
Here’s how to update your Watch’s Operating System:
- Go to Settings.
- Click on General.
- Click on the Software Update.
- Then download and install.
Reset your iPhone Network Settings
Sometimes the problem might be from your Network Settings. The good news is you can do this without losing your data. Follow the following steps:
- Go to your iPhone Settings.
- Go to General.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
- Input your password.
Re-Pair Your Apple Watch With Your iPhone
At this stage, we assume that you must have checked the network connectivity of both devices and even restarted them.
If your Apple Watch is still not connecting with your iPhone, it is time to start the connection again. While this may take time, it may just be the solution to your problem.
Use Repair Software
There is software designed specifically for this purpose; its assists in system repair. This software will complete your iPhone repair process and fix minor and significant issues found in the device.
Apart from connection issues, this software also helps with other problems like the screen of death, unresponsive devices, corrupt devices, and more. The best part of using this software is it won’t delete your data.
Make Sure No Other Device is Connected
If the icon is red, your Apple Watch is not connecting to your iPhone because you already connected the Watch to another device, especially previously connected devices. If this is the situation, check around for previously connected devices, switch them off, and try again.
Forget Bluetooth or WiFi
Another quick trick would be to forget your Bluetooth and WiFi connection and try the entire process from scratch. It will surprise you that this is the solution to your problem.
The issue may be in the pairing process, and once you forget the Bluetooth and WiFi, try again.
Make Sure That The Devices You Are Trying To Pair Are Charged
Before connecting your Smart Watch to your iPhone, ensure that the phone is adequately charged.
Some devices have innovative power management; this feature turns off all radio connections when the battery reaches a certain percentage. If your phone isn’t pairing, try charging it to at least 50%.
Contact Apple Support
If, after trying all the 14 steps listed above, you still don’t have a solution to your problem, then your iWatch or iPhone may have a more severe problem.
Contact the Apple Store; they will fix it for free if you have a warranty. Another possibility is a hardware fault on either of the two devices; your local Apple store should be able to fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is My Watch Not Connecting To My Phone?
This can result from different factors; it could be a minor software issue on your Apple Watch or iPhone, and also, it could be a more technical software issue.
Other reasons you are experiencing this problem are that the two devices are far apart, the Watch or Phone operating system is outdated, and one of the devices is not charged correctly.
How long does the Apple Watch battery last?
An average Apple Watch battery can last up to 18 hours of active and passive use; 90 notifications, 90-time checks, 30-minute workout with Bluetooth music playback from the watch, and 45 minutes of constant app use.
If you are always on the Watch and the battery percentage reduces, the watch automatically enters Power Reserve Mode, lasting another 72 hours. When in Reserve Mode, your Bluetooth and WiFi connection will switch off; this means you will not be able to connect the watch to your phone.
How can I check the battery percentage on my Apple Watch?
It’s essential to know how to go about this to tell how many percent you have left. The process is quite simple, swipe up.
Once you swipe up, it will take you to the Control Center, where battery percentage is displayed.
Will I lose all my data if I reset my Apple Watch?
At the moment, yes, but you can always get them back from your iCloud.
Conclusion
One of the steps above has a solution to your pairing or connectivity issues affecting your Apple Watch. There is a different possibility that both devices are not connecting; it might be simply because your battery is low or a more technical issue that requires you to return the phone to your local Apple Store.
Images by Mason Blake
