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33 points

Watch app (iOS) crashes on launch

Yesterday my gf boght a S6 to go with her iPhone XR (iOS14). The watch worked properly, got paired with the iPhone and everything went smooth. Today she's unable to launch the Watch app on iOS, it just keeps crashing on launch.

Worst of all, the Watch is not reporting anything from the iPhone anymore: no notifications, no alarms.

We tried to "remove" the app, restart both devices, close the app from multitasking, sort of unpair the Apple Watch (from the Watch itself, as we couldn't open the app on iPhone) but we didn't manage to fix.

Now we can't even pair it anymore with the iPhone.

Any tips except initializing the iPhone too?

Apple Watch

Posted on Sep 20, 2020 1:21 AM

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DaRk_ViVi Author

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33 points

Posted on Sep 20, 2020 6:12 AM

She ended up fixing it with Apple Support on the phone (we were calling to make an appointment):

- Initialized the Watch (from within the Settings on the watch)

- Unpaired the Watch from iPhone's BT settings

- Did a backup, restored the iPhone using that backup

- At this point she was able to delete the app (else it was still paired to the Watch and unable to remove!)

- After that she downloaded the Watch app again, and it started working again!

I am not 100% sure that the backup/restore of the phone is a needed step, but if you don't manage to be able to uninstall the app after unpairing the watch from BT, give it a try.

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158 replies

Feb 6, 2021 11:19 AM in response to petrolhead_ch

Thanks a lot for your reply!

So a possible fix would come in the 14.5? Good to know..

Considering an official iOS/watchOS release candidate produces bugs, not sure if I would try a beta one.. so I believe you imply that nothing is fixed in the 14.4 and our watch need to wait few more months before being in service again with the next RC

Feb 13, 2021 12:06 PM in response to petrolhead_ch

Has anyone else had success with the 14.5 Beta? I am coming up on my 90 days to return the watch this coming Saturday 2/20 and was planning to take it back as its been nearly 3 months without a working watch. I am willing to get the 14.5 Beta a try until the official release comes out if it means I would have a working watch again, but don't want to go through the hassle if it still seems to be hit or miss for solving our issue.

Oct 4, 2020 10:25 AM in response to DaRk_ViVi

Exactly my issue. Thanks for sharing. Will follow the steps. Was it an iCloud backup or an “iTunes” one?

DaRk_ViVi Author

Level 1

33 points

Oct 4, 2020 10:25 AM in response to Alain4620

It was an iTunes backup, but I don’t think this will change the outcome.

Oct 4, 2020 9:58 PM in response to DaRk_ViVi

I did an iCloud, backup and you process worked - again, many thanks for posting this.

Jo-nathan

Level 2

459 points

Oct 27, 2020 10:06 PM in response to niklas297

Having the same issue. Very frustrating. I purchased it on the Oct. 24. Can I take it back and get a full refund? I don’t want an Apple Watch any longer!

rishan

Level 1

18 points

Oct 28, 2020 9:10 AM in response to DaRk_ViVi

Hi.

I’m also having the same issue with my wife's XR and watch SE.

Could you please tell me what did you mean by ”Initialized the Watch (from within the Settings on the watch)”?

TIA.

Cheers.

benjoooe

Level 1

4 points

Oct 28, 2020 12:40 PM in response to Khammond93

same with me. now i cannot use my watch

John42xz

Level 1

4 points

Oct 28, 2020 1:20 PM in response to benjoooe

Same problem here, iOS 14.1 and apple watch 6. The app on phone does not open, just crashes.

Oct 28, 2020 3:51 PM in response to DaRk_ViVi

i didn’t see my watch in the BT settings, it’s not a standard Bluetooth device so how can you see that?

Jo-nathan

Level 2

459 points

Oct 29, 2020 8:21 AM in response to DaRk_ViVi

It worked. The question is will it break again?

harel224

Level 1

4 points

Oct 30, 2020 4:18 PM in response to stapnull

Hey, just downloaded the 14.2 beta (iPhone XS)

the watch app is still crushing!!!

stapnull

Level 1

4 points

Oct 30, 2020 4:33 PM in response to harel224

Well that’s disappointing but thanks for reporting.

Nov 1, 2020 5:12 AM in response to moritz209

I suppose this discussion forum is aim for collecting issues and fix, if the “sending program error log to Apple” doesn’t work.

Norandy

Level 1

8 points

Nov 1, 2020 7:12 AM in response to moritz209

just installed iOS 14.2 GM and the app still crash...

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Watch app (iOS) crashes on launch