Watch app (iOS) crashes on launch

Can someone do a video of the steps

Here's a better video:

https://youtu.be/xDjeI_m9HCY

So theres a chance it will be finally fixed in new release? Fingers crossed! It should be out later this month.

I haven't tried yet but you can use third party software on your Mac to remove the Watch app and then reinstall it from the App Store. I got my wife's watch working that way w/o resetting her phone. I'm not posting the solution here but you can definitely try to search for my solution. It does need you to know how to use some command line tools.

Have the same issue with the Watch app on the iPhone crashing at startup.

Just set up a new Watch6 to add to my Watch4 and after a few hours the watch would not connect to the iPhone. Tried to open the Watch app on the iPhone and it crashes at startup. Cannot delete and reinstall app. App says it must unpair watch before it can be removed. All watches have been unpaired from Bluetooth (but cannot be unpaired using the app since the app does not start.)

I've done a full reset of the iPhone with a restore from backup. Watch app still thinks it is paired and cannot be deleted. I’ve reset all watches and removed them from iCloud and repeated the iPhone reset. No change.

At this point, it seems Apple fixing the Watch app is the only way out. In the meantime, I’ll probably return the Watch6 as it is currently useless.

Reset seems to work for many but not all. I’m also among those for whom it doesn’t work. Have been considering starting fresh ( no backup) but I just saw that 14.2 beta has been released and the following is among the bug fix list.

”Apple Watch app may unexpectedly close when opened “

So I think I’ll hold off in the hopes that it will self resolve on the next update, although that could be a while.

Would be good to hear from anyone with the issue that loads 14.2 beta.

Also updated to iOS14.2 beta in hopes of a fix. App continues to crash. My Watch SE is no longer paired with my phone. Watch worked fine (after upgrading from Series 3 watch) for just over a week. Then suddenly became unpaired and watch app on phone started crashing. This needs a fix ASAP, one that does not require resetting phone/watch, restoring from backup, etc. That is an absurd fix for Apple to suggest.

I’ve got the same problem (Watch 6 and IPhone XR). Can’t believe it’s possible to pay this much for a phone and watch and for it to be impossible to connect them.

Was a shame to hear someone on this thread saying that iOS 14.2 (in beta) hasn’t solved the problem.

I spent around five hours yesterday trying to sort this issue, doing full restores of the phone, etc. And only when I chatted to the 5th member of Apple staff was I told this was a known issue and I just need to wait for an undate to address it.

Why they couldn’t tell me that in the beginning yesterday, I’ve no idea. It wouldn’t have made the tech work, but it would have saved me hours of wasted time.

You have to backup your phone on the cloud. Then restore phone to factory settings once you upload your phone from the cloud, delete the watch app then reinstall it from the apple store. It should open and allow you to pair your watch. It worked for me!

Same problem exactly . I did the full restart for both my watch (6) and my phone (8) and was able to delete the app and reinstate everything. However after two days the watch app again refused to open. Another full reboot and up and running again but if this happens again I shall almost certainly return the watch and insist on a full refund. Come on Apple sort this out.... and fast. You should be ashamed of this situation.

I just updated to 14.2 on my boss' phone and it is still not working. Sill crashes after launching the app.

I do not have the courage to tell him that he has to backup and restore a backup and for just a watch.

He always wore high end luxury watches and switched to a smart watch just the last month, buyng what we tought it was the top level and now it is not even working.

What i think is wrong is that you have to backup and restore for just an app not working...

I just purchased the new Apple Watch Series 6 and received it on Saturday (11.21.2020) - like many of the stories on these threads about the Watch app crashing, my watch worked great for a few days - then suddenly unpair itself from my phone (iPhone XS) on 11.23.2020, then when I went to open the Watch app, the app opens for a split second to a black screen and then crashes. This prevents me from re-pairing the watch to my phone.

I chatted with Apple Support over live chat this morning for over an hour and went though backing up my iPhone, updating the phone to 14.2, restarting the phone, restating the phone and making sure all the apps were closed, and still the issue persists. The support agent said they exhausted all their options and suggested I reach out the Watch app support team directly from the App store. I asked if I should do a restore from my iCloud backup (as I saw on many threads there that that would fix the issue). I did that and it still did not resolve the app crashing. After reading all the threads on here I believe there's not a good solution in the works - Apple has no mention of this issue and the support I received did not resolve it.

It's frustrating because it seems this has been going on for months. The 14.2 bug fixes explicitly mention that it will fix the watch app crashing, but it has not.

I feel defeated and cheated - I will be returning this watch today.

Question:

Has anyone been on iOS 14.2 when the problem initially started. That is you had a successfully paired watch under 14.2 stop communicating followed by the watch app crashing.

To clarify a little. Clearly 14.2 (and 14.3 beta) does not resolve the issue of the watch app crashing if the problem pre-exists (which would be the general interpretation of Apple’s release note for 14.2. ) A more narrow interpretation would be that Apple claims to have stopped the issue from initially occurring when running 14.2 with a paired watch.

I ask because I have been able to “fix” the crashing watch app with a special case non-repeatable scenario. I switched from an iPhone 11 to 12. The transfer process resets all Bluetooth (except AirPods) so the watch became unpaired and the watch app now starts. My dilemma now is whether or not to pair the watch now or wait for a future update.

For me I have Fixed the watch app crashing. After backing up to itunes and restoring I was finally able to delete the watch app. Would not let me delete watch app prior to the restore process. Note that app still crashed after restore. New app was then downloaded and watch paired synced and configured. Hopefully will stay paired. Also fixed it by restoring my iphone 6 backup to loan iPhone 8 without any other changes so change of hardware models also resets issue. Shame I couldnt keep the 8... Whatever it is... Good luck folks. Took me hours of my time.

I reset my Apple Watch as I couldn’t open the app and now I can’t pair them again due to the watch app crashing everytime I try and open it...