Q: iWatch getting notifications

Hi

How notifications behave depends on the status of your devices and your settings. With Wrist Detection enabled (on your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch > General > Wrist Detection), in order to bring notifications to your attention as soon as possible:

- If your iPhone is unlocked, you will receive notifications on your iPhone instead of on your watch.

- If your iPhone is locked or asleep and your watch is unlocked (regardless of whether the watch screen is asleep or awake) and on your wrist, you will receive notifications on your watch.

- If your watch is locked or has Do Not Disturb enabled, notifications will go to your iPhone.

More information:

About notifications on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

You should not need to turn off Wrist Detection in order to receive notifications on your iPhone when you are not wearing your watch.

With Wrist Detection enabled, if notification alerts are not being provided as expected (see my previous reply), the following steps may help (check behaviour after each step before moving on to the next):

• Check your iPhone settings:
  • Check that Do Not Disturb is not enabled:
    • http://help.apple.com/iphone/9/#/iph3dd60e1f
  • Check that the Ring/Silent switch on the side of your iPhone is not turned to silent mode:
    • http://help.apple.com/iphone/9/#/iph3bd01398

• If you have not yet done so, update both devices to the latest software, starting with your iPhone:
  • Update the iOS software on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
  • Update the software on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

• Check that your iPhone and watch are connected:
  • Ensure that both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled on your iPhone:
    • iPhone: Settings > Bluetooth
    • iPhone: Settings > Wi-Fi.
  • When viewing the time on your watch, swipe up on your watch face > swipe left / right to the Settings Glance:
    • Check that this states Connected and shows a green phone icon.
  • For the best performance from your devices, keep both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi permanently enabled on your iPhone.

• Restart both devices, turning them off together and then restarting your iPhone first:
  • To turn your watch off: press and hold the side button until you see the Power Off slider; drag it to turn off;
  • To turn it on: press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
  • Restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support

• Unpair and re-pair your watch.
  • The Watch app on your iPhone takes a backup of your watch when unpairing via the app. Choose to Restore from Backup when offered the option during set up. Most data and settings will be restored, with some exceptions (eg Apple Pay cards, passcode).
  • Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone - Apple Support
  • Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support