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Accessories not responding in Homekit on watch.

Since installing the latest update, I have not been able to access devices via HomeKit on the watch only. I have no issues controlling them via iPhone or iPad. Anyone else having this issue?

Apple Watch Series 5, watchOS 7

Posted on Sep 22, 2020 3:22 AM

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Posted on Oct 14, 2020 7:03 AM

I'm having the same issue. Works fine with ipad and iphone, but no accessories responds in apple watch.

Upgraded to 7.0.2 but that didn't help.

Everything used to work before upgrading to watchOS 7.

Restarted everything, unpaired/paired watch with phone. Nothing helps

61 replies

Sep 28, 2020 10:17 AM in response to Hoxsieq

Hello Hoxsieq,


It sounds like you're running into an issue controlling your HomeKit devices on your Apple Watch after updating.


First, let's be sure you have the latest version of iOS (14.0.1) and watchOS (7.0.1) on your devices. The articles below will guide you.


Update your Apple Watch

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch


If you're running the latest versions, let's try restarting both devices as shown here:


How to restart your Apple Watch

Restart your iPhone


If you're still running into that issue afterwards, take a look at this article for help using that feature: Control your home with Apple Watch


This should help to clear this up for you, but if you need further help, we'd recommend providing the Community with more details about exactly what's happening when you try to control those devices.


Take care!

Nov 14, 2020 11:41 PM in response to WhiteFourS

Let‘s hope that update comes quickly. Some of my previous remarks may seem harsh, but apple has really put way too much emphasis on new features and way too little on stability of their platforms for far too long. If they go on like this, eventually they will lose customers. They shouldn’t think their ecosystem makes them immune to this. Everything can be replaced. The fact that I am putting up with a closed ecosystem on my appletv not allowing me to stream dolby truehd atmos for example, in stead of going for a shieldtv is stability. If that changes, there is no need to stay with apple.

Nov 6, 2020 1:48 PM in response to triciacastro

Got it working finally, updated devices (watch, iPhone and Apple tv) the latest OS versions and still wasn’t working. Apple TV was hardwired and the Home app on that wasn’t working either so I unplugged the ethernet cable and away we go- watch and Apple TV both working fine. iPad and iPhone were both working ok before any way.

Hope this is of some help.

Nov 8, 2020 7:51 AM in response to Kdarwich

Unfortunately that is not the case for me. I am not trying to use a hub; I am only trying to control devices from within my house. While controlling devices with my iPhone (iOS 14.2), I cannot access any devices on my watch (WatchOS 7.1). The only way I can use my watch to control devices is if my iPhone is placed in Airplane Mode, forcing my watch to use WiFi.

Nov 10, 2020 6:58 PM in response to Hoxsieq

Sigh. I have this problem too. It worked pretty consistently throughout the betas. Everything is up to date, been restarted, blah-di-blah. Honestly, homekit has been intermittently flaky for me from day 1.


Now Siri drones on with an annoying message about checking whether I'm on the same network (please remove the vocal - leave the text if you must).


I'm about to give up on homekit and move to a reliable solution. Don't get me wrong, the walled garden is usually pretty solid, but homekit, not so much.

Nov 13, 2020 11:11 PM in response to MikeyCast

Me too, but I am getting increasingly frustrated with apple. I switched to apple in 2009 because of pure frustration with crappy windows and since then my entire family in the Apple eco system with macs, phones, watches and appletv. But the time of “it just works” is long gone and generally I am starting to feel like back in 2009. My iphone X is a piece of junk with constant problems maintaining wifi. It just drops for no reason while older iphones work fine. The screen is unresponsive. Homekit is glitchy at best. I just spent 1400 on the 12 pro max, but that better deliver or it eill be the last apple product for me. I don’t give a **** about new functionality as long as “ it just doesn’t work”. Technology is supposed to solve problems and make my life easy, not create even more problems. Every os update I hold my breath to see whether everything will still work. That is not the apple I signed up to.

Nov 14, 2020 2:06 AM in response to Hoxsieq

Just updated iphone and appletv 4k and watch was already on 7.1. Didn‘t help. Keeps saying on every device it does not respond. But hey, I got new emojis.


Apple, my patience with you is wearing really thin. I have a connected house with 4 people depending on this to work. Every homekit product is more expensive than the amazon or google counterpart. My garagedoor openers were twice the price because of homekit. I am this close to taking my entire family, including grandma to Samsung. I am sick of holding my breath at every os update. Fix this and get your act together!

Accessories not responding in Homekit on watch.

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