HT205025: If your Apple Watch isn't connected to your iPhone

Learn about If your Apple Watch isn't connected to your iPhone
daverpig
Level 1 (4 points)
Apple Watch

Q: Pairing of the watch subequent to 9.3.4 update

After updating to the new iOS, I have found the connection lost icon remains on.  My iphone shows the watch is connected and I receive sporadic notifications from my phone to my watch.  The glance apps are not functioning.

 

Is this an issue with the new update?

iPhone 6, iOS 9

Posted on Aug 9, 2016 9:21 AM

by Jonathan UK,Apple recommended
Jonathan UK Jonathan UK
Level 7 (29,474 points)
Apple Watch
A:

Disconnections can be normal, when the watch loses the Bluetooth connection with the paired iPhone (such as when updating iOS) and no known W-Fi network is available.

 

The devices should reconnect automatically a short while after becoming available and/or being brought close together again. If they do not, keep your iPhone and watch close by each other and follow these steps until they do:

 

  • Check that both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled on your iPhone:
    • It may help to toggle Bluetooth off and on again on your iPhone (Settings > Bluetooth).
    • For the best performance from your watch, during general daily wear keep both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi permanently enabled on your iPhone.
  • Check that Airplane Mode is not enabled on your watch:
    • When viewing the time on your watch, swipe up on the watch face > swipe left / right to the Settings Glance.
    • If your watch is not connected and Airplane Mode is turned on, tap the button to turn it off.
    • It may otherwise help to toggle Airplane Mode on and off again.
  • Restart both devices, turning both off together, then restarting your iPhone first.

 

 

If they  still do not reconnect, next try unpairing and re-pairing your watch (choose to Restore from Backup if offered the option):

 

Posted on Aug 9, 2016 11:29 AM

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daverpig

Q: Pairing of the watch subequent to 9.3.4 update

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Jonathan UK,Apple recommended

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Aug 9, 2016 11:29 AM in response to daverpig
    Level 7 (29,474 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 9, 2016 11:29 AM in response to daverpig

    Disconnections can be normal, when the watch loses the Bluetooth connection with the paired iPhone (such as when updating iOS) and no known W-Fi network is available.

     

    The devices should reconnect automatically a short while after becoming available and/or being brought close together again. If they do not, keep your iPhone and watch close by each other and follow these steps until they do:

     

    • Check that both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled on your iPhone:
      • It may help to toggle Bluetooth off and on again on your iPhone (Settings > Bluetooth).
      • For the best performance from your watch, during general daily wear keep both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi permanently enabled on your iPhone.
    • Check that Airplane Mode is not enabled on your watch:
      • When viewing the time on your watch, swipe up on the watch face > swipe left / right to the Settings Glance.
      • If your watch is not connected and Airplane Mode is turned on, tap the button to turn it off.
      • It may otherwise help to toggle Airplane Mode on and off again.
    • Restart both devices, turning both off together, then restarting your iPhone first.

     

     

    If they  still do not reconnect, next try unpairing and re-pairing your watch (choose to Restore from Backup if offered the option):

     

  • by Jonathan UK,Apple recommended

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Aug 9, 2016 9:29 AM in response to daverpig
    Level 7 (29,474 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 9, 2016 9:29 AM in response to daverpig

    daverpig wrote:

     

    Is this an issue with the new update?

     

    This is not a known issue with update.

     

    Once your devices are connected again, if you have not yet done so, it may also help to update watch to the latest software:

     

    Update the software on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

  • by daverpig,

    daverpig daverpig Aug 9, 2016 11:30 AM in response to daverpig
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 9, 2016 11:30 AM in response to daverpig

    Thank you for your answers.

    I turned both phone and watch off then restarted both...phone first.  The watch paired upon restarting and has remained paired for over an hour.

  • by Jonathan UK,Apple recommended

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Aug 9, 2016 11:41 AM in response to daverpig
    Level 7 (29,474 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 9, 2016 11:41 AM in response to daverpig

    You're most welcome!

     

    To clarify the terminology (in case you ever need to post any other questions on the same subject): once your watch and iPhone have been paired, they remain "paired" until you unpair them. They remain paired, for example, even one device or the other is turned off and/or when they are taken out of Bluetooth range of each other.

     

    However, whilst remaining paired, they can become "disconnected" - and subsequently connected again - any number of times. For example, when being taken out of - and then brought back within - Bluetooth range of each other.