Level 1

25 points

Messages Notifications Not Working Intermittently on Apple Watch

Hello. I have a difficult issue to isolate and duplicate....hoping someone here has some insight. Apple Watch Series 5 40mm LTE + iPhone 11 Pro.

Intermittently, notifications from Messages do not come thru, appear, or have haptic feedback on my Apple Watch. Pulling down to get to the notifications screen also does not show them, even though my iPhone will show I received one. Restarting will fix the issue for a few hours to a few days, before it reappears. If I do not restart, it will also resolve on its own before it reappears again. This has happened on iOS 13.4 and 13.4.1, along with watchOS 6.2 and 6.2.1. Each time it happens, I have been within close proximity to my iPhone.

Here's what I have tried with no luck:

(1) Ensure Do Not Disturb is not on for both the iPhone and Apple Watch

(2) Ensure the Message thread is not muted.

(3) Messages notifications on Apple Watch have been set to both Mirror my iPhone, and Custom...both result in this bug.

(4) Unpaired and repaired Apple Watch

(5) Reset all settings on iPhone.

(6) Upgraded to 13.4.1 and 6.2.1. (The issue first appeared on 13.4 and 6.2)

I've been pretty sharp in the past at finding some workaround or solution to pesky problems like this, but this one has me stumped. The key difficulty is that it is intermittent, and will temporarily resolve on its own or with a watch / phone restart. I haven't contacted support yet, as I was hoping a sharp user may have run across this and has a solution I'm overlooking.

Thanks for any help!

Apple Watch Sport

Posted on Apr 17, 2020 5:18 PM

Top-ranking reply

FarFromHome74

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Dec 11, 2020 10:28 AM

None of what had been suggested in this thread had worked for me until the very last message from carbon_based_l1fe, but with a twist. All of the numbers/addresses listed under Send & Receive had a check mark next to them, but what I did was go thru and uncheck and re-check each one. After that, it started working like a charm and the text notifications began to come thru to my Apple Watch once again.

View in context

Similar questions

61 replies

aCiDeViL

Level 1

8 points

Jan 4, 2021 8:17 AM in response to VtecJunkie

I have apple watch 4 and I buy recently Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Before I use an old IPHONE 7 Plus and all works great.

On my old Iphone 7 plus paired with my apple watch 4 all notifications works as expected on both watch and iphone at the same time but after I update to Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max I cannot receive anymore my notifications on both like before.

I only can receive my notifications when I disconnect my Bluetooth but this is not an option because I have other accessories that need Bluetooth.

Please Apple fix this, there is a lot but a lot of people with this problem and is clear this is a software bug because my Apple Watch 4 and my iphone 7 plus using today last firmware and IOS 14, both are working with notifications without any problem.

Only my new Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and my Apple Watch 4 serie are experimenting this notifications problems when Bluetooth are turned on.

I want to have the option to receive my notifications on both Apple Watch and IPHONE at the same time.

APPLE please fix this for us.

Best regards,

aCiDeViL

Jan 31, 2021 2:38 AM in response to VtecJunkie

Hi all,

same problem for me: Apple Watch Series 1 Product Red, notifications arrive sometimes but sometimes not. Did a full reset, repairing, sw upgrade. Everything. Still receiving the notifications erratically on my Apple Watch.

iRicktoo

Level 1

15 points

Mar 13, 2021 11:47 AM in response to lindafromsanta rosa

I've had this problem for months. Even though I have the watch set to mirror the phone my watch does not always get the message. I do understand that when the iPhone screen is live, the messages only show up on the phone. My problem occurs intermittently when the phone is locked (screen is dark).

Would the Wi-Fi environment have anything to do with this? I am on a mesh network, the watch (4) is at 2.4 MHz and the phone (11 pro) at 5 MHz.

Mar 24, 2021 2:44 AM in response to iRicktoo

I contacted apple support about that case and they "work on it" for last two weeks. I see this is something that apple can't figure and can't sort out for years now, so it is a pity that the biggest company in the world is selling solutions that doesn't work and can't solve its own problems. Ridiculous.

May 27, 2020 3:28 AM in response to Brianscrapple

Thank you for the comments I did verify those settings too. Curious to see if anything surfaces from your support call.

May 27, 2020 9:07 AM in response to VtecJunkie

I am on AT&T and have the problem as well.

Jun 29, 2020 10:40 AM in response to davios22

Hi hope all is well. Did you hear from Apple yet? I would expect them to have a fix by now. Please keep me in touch. Thank you Brian

Jul 5, 2020 2:00 PM in response to i_rina

Jul 7, 2020 11:26 AM in response to Brianscrapple

It is NOT an expected behavior. I've owned apple watches for years. This is the first time this has ever been problem. They're just being lazy.

Jul 7, 2020 11:33 AM in response to davios22

Hey all, FYI I have a series 5 watch and a new SE phone and still have the problem of some sms messages not notifying. Very annoying.

ardonjoy

Level 1

4 points

Aug 1, 2020 9:35 AM in response to ardonjoy

Sorry...we both have iPhone X not XR

Oct 29, 2020 11:45 AM in response to VtecJunkie

Mine didn’t show in-coming call,text sometimes,what is wrong with apple ? I called them but didn’t help at all

Jan 12, 2021 8:53 AM in response to FaceTimeLover

I am with T-Mobile and still having the same issue with my series 6 apple watch. As someone else has mentioned, for such an expensive piece it comes with many issues.

Mar 6, 2021 9:15 AM in response to NarcosisBob

Same problem with new Apple Watch and iPhone 12 pro. Not getting alerts on watch. Help.

iRicktoo

Level 1

15 points

Mar 25, 2021 5:27 PM in response to trixonik

Piotr Kowa

Was your problem constant or intermittent? I don't believe your suggestion will help those of us with notifications that are working intermittently.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Messages Notifications Not Working Intermittently on Apple Watch