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DaRk_ViVi Author

Level 1

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

Top-ranking reply

DaRk_ViVi Author

Level 1

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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Similar questions

158 replies

Mar 30, 2021 12:32 AM in response to zcqian

Thank you! It works and it is pretty simple. My watch is back in the game!

I was tired waiting for an iOS release that “should” fix the issue months after.

To elaborate a bit more, the key action is to remove the Watch app by plugging the phone into a computer and typing a command line.

In order to do that: (with a Mac) download the app “mobiledevice” in your Mac (1 command line with “brew”), plug your iPhone into your Mac, make sure your phone trusts the computer and the computer trusts your phone, type 1 command line to remove the package com.apple.Bridge (which is the package for the Watch app).

And you are good! The Watch app is deleted on your phone. You can now download it again from the AppStore, erase your watch completely and reinstall it.

rishan

Level 1

18 points

Oct 28, 2020 9:09 AM in response to Jo-nathan

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.

Nov 7, 2020 11:47 PM in response to petrolhead_ch

could all who are faceing the same problem comment on the new thread an klick „me too“ to get apples attention:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252010873

Dee_Pham

Level 1

4 points

Nov 10, 2020 1:00 AM in response to DaRk_ViVi

In my case:

Iphone 11 IOS 14.1
AW SE watchOS 7

My Watch app has been crash right after i finish setup Cellular on my AW.

So now, my AW can not pair with my IP

Nov 7, 2020 5:22 AM in response to jacksonvoice

The question is, if this error is coming up again after the reset. Apple seems to ignore to fix it.

I do not miss my Watch :)

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.

Oct 25, 2020 1:15 PM in response to Tommy_Frankfurt

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...

Oct 25, 2020 9:03 PM in response to Deepakbala80

Sorry typo a dud apple watch 6

Oct 26, 2020 12:41 AM in response to Deepakbala80

You’ll have to back up your iPhone and reset it completely and set it up again from your backup. Then you’ll be able to delete the watch app. Then you can download it again from App Store.

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!