Level 1

33 points

Apple Watch Series 5 Timer not working properly

Anyone else finding that their new Apple Watch series 5 has a bug with the timer? Usually clicking a desired duration or attempting to use a custom timer doesn't work for me. Click a button and nothing happens. When I go back to my watch face, I notice that the complication shows that the timer is functioning, however, I'm not able to set a custom time. Pressing any of the buttons in the timer app appears to do nothing at all. Very strange.

Apple Watch

Posted on Sep 25, 2019 3:43 AM

Top-ranking reply

Chris_D13

Community Specialist

Posted on Sep 26, 2019 7:01 PM

Hi Bill,

It sounds like you're having trouble with using the Timer app on your Apple Watch, and I want to help.

Here are the steps you would normally follow to create a timer:

Set a timer on Apple Watch - Apple Support

If the Timer app isn't responding as expected, I recommend forcing the app to quit and then restarting your Apple Watch.

To force an app to quit on Apple Watch: With the app open, press and hold the side button to show the power options. Then press and hold the Digital Crown to quit the app.

Next, press and hold the side button to power off and start again.

If the issue persists, I recommend unpairing and pairing your Apple Watch again:

Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Good luck!

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities.

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Similar questions

69 replies

Badtimer

Level 1

4 points

Nov 15, 2019 6:25 AM in response to mfieldva

Chat is not answering. But this is a problem that they know about but are waiting for...?

CODeb23

Level 1

4 points

Nov 17, 2019 7:14 AM in response to Bill Sabab

How do we know if this has been logged as a known bug?

QQ608

Level 1

4 points

Nov 18, 2019 5:55 PM in response to Bill Sabab

Mine too

add it to the glitches from the latest update (audible not syncing etc)

LCAtl

Level 1

4 points

Nov 20, 2019 6:12 AM in response to LCAtl

...after the long re-pairing process, I got one use out of the timer before the buttons froze again and it’s useless. Re-pairing is not a fix.

Nov 22, 2019 10:50 AM in response to Badtimer

Doesn't fix the issue. When you do this, the timer works one time and then locks up again. Apple needs to push software fix.

jeffysan

Level 1

4 points

Nov 22, 2019 1:15 PM in response to Chris_D13

Same here. This is a bug, not a one time issue. Please issue a fix in next update. Series 3 Apple Watch. The timer is one of my most used features.

Badtimer

Level 1

4 points

Nov 22, 2019 4:31 PM in response to dafingaz

Well, I was fooled. It worked for a while after the latest update but it’s broken again. Apple is becoming Microsoft?

Nov 24, 2019 10:38 AM in response to Chris_D13

This was not helpful and unpairing/restarting etc. only works for one use of the timer before it becomes non functional again. Clearly a bug. Is this being addressed?

QQ608

Level 1

4 points

Dec 3, 2019 3:08 PM in response to kohlson

Timer on my Apple Watch 4 is now working fine

mystery?

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Apple Watch Series 5 Timer not working properly