Apple Watch App Not Working After iOS 14 Update

This is what worked for me too. I had to factory reset my phone and the watch. When the apps started to redownload from the iCloud, I was able to delete the watch app and reinstall it. Both are working great now.

Thanks I did that already and it worked. The key, for me, was to reset the phone but there are two / three options there. I tried one or Tao rimes but it wasn’t workIng- the old watch app kept showing. I basically then nuked my phone and wiped everything out before the restart.

Hi everyone,

my wife bought me the watch 6, and I installed it only for it to work with my iPhone 7+ for a few hrs, then the infamous watch app would not work then open for a split second then shut, I tried all the usual hard resets but to no avail couldn't even delete the app. I contacted Apple who were as good as useless I even told them so that it's a IOS 14 issue they 'played dumb'. I eventually came across this forum thinking I can't be alone, and low and behold yeah loads of disgruntled apple watch users here with the same issue.

So I read through just about everyones issues, and it became clear that the phone would need to be iCloud backed up & erase all data and then install the backup, but I before backed up to icloud, I had to purchase more storage space as my 50GB was not enough, so invested in the 200 GB for £2.99 and set to task of backing up the iPhone to icloud which took about 3hrs finished at 00.30.

So this morning I bit the bullet and thought s**t or bust I had to do something, so then followed the info provided on here to erase all info & setting and restore from the back up, well I thought that this was going to be a bit nail biting, but quite painless, really straight forward all info back up and running as before but with the added bonus that I could now delete the Watch app & restore it. So at this time I have an iPhone backed up & working, 200Gb of storage & the Iwatch working as should be.

The Moral of this story, Check the forums first so you don't waste your time talking to Apple, as some of you guys here have more experience to sort these issues than Apple or care too.

Sorry to rant on but It worked for me.

I am having this same issue! Are there an updates? Has anyone been able to fix it? I have tried everything. I contacted apple and they said they were working on fixing the app and it should only take a few days. Well it’s been over a week and it still doesn’t work!! My watch was fine until I updated my phone

Hey guys so I finally got mine to work. I removed my watch from my iCloud and reset it. I backed my phone up to iCloud and then I factory reset it. When I set the phone back up however I just logged into my iCloud and didn’t restore my phone. I then was able to download the watch app and start completely fresh. Once the app downloaded and my watch connected again I then began downloading my photos and other apps etc. from iCloud. And now it works fine! Hope this helps

I am having the same issue. On Apple support for an hour yesterday. Was told they know about the issue but no resolution. So mad, I’ve only had the watch for a week. Now I can’t use it at all because they had me unpair the watch from my phone when trying to solve the problem. Now I can’t pair it because the app won’t open so it’s completely useless.

yep, that's what they did to me as well. Currently trying to factory reset it hoping it works. No idea why their IT is telling people to reset the watch when clearly that hasn't helped anyone. They won't, but I hope apple does something to make up for the majority of users not being able to use our $400 useless watches for who knows how long

I had the exact same issue. I bought an Apple Watch 6. It worked fine for two days then the Watch app stopped working on my iPhone 12. I spent an hour on the phone to Apple who could not rectify it. I then did a factory reset which took 2 hours and did nothing. I took the watch back to the Apple store on Saturday. Bottom line - Apple know there is a bug but, unlike Android who upgrade their apps individually to fix bugs, a solution will have to wait until the new version of the iOS (14.3?) is released.

For all people who are following this thread there is a solution from charlieutter and a slight variation by me. On or around Nov 18.

Key points:

Once the watch has been factory reset, remove activation lock on FindMy. This means remove it from Find My.

When restoring the phone, after you reset the phone, Remove The watch App and redownload it.

Then repair the watch. This worked well for me and a few others.

You will loose all watch data, but if you backup your phone and restore you should be fine.

Same way you delete any other app. As a note this is a bit different in ios14.

Hold it down till the icons shake and a little x appears in the corner. It will remove the icon from the Home Screen but put it in the App Library. Then swipe left till the app lib screen then delete it from there using the same technique.

Strange - I tried to delete the app before and could not. The Apple operative confirmed it could not be deleted. Now, after you email, I deleted it without even removing it from the Home Screen first. I then downloaded it again and it works. This does not make sense.

I wonder what is going on! I received my watch today and till an hour ago there were no problems, but now the Watch app does not start. I tried to delete it as it is described here, but no way. I can only remove it from the main screen and I can find it back in the App Library, but there is no option to delete it. From what I read here, I have the idea that the service desk of Apple is not very professional. I don't want to try the backup, factory reset and restore option because it takes very long time to get everything back and this is company phone. I'll wait for a solution from Apple. I hope they could find the solution soon. It is a pity, but each day I lose more of my faith for Apple. The company which I used to know is not the same company anymore.

Sorry to hear this - exactly the same issue I had. However - and this is odd - I was eventually able to delete the app (4 days after it stopped working) - no idea why I could not before. I then downloaded it again and it works. It’s annoying as I had returned the watch to the store. BTW I read that 14.3 iOS is due to be released and a new version of the watch iOS. So, I will buy another watch next week. Hopefully with the iOS update all these issues will be fixed.

I paired my watch with another phone and it still does not delete itself from my first phone. First phone still says it’s paired and does not allow me to delete the app. Really annoying! Now I m not able to use the watch since the other phone is work phone and I do not want to be alerted by work messages on my wrist!

Hey what worked for me was factory resetting my phone and basically starting fresh. I factory reset my phone then logged into my Apple ID however I did not download anything from my iCloud. I factory reset my watch and also removed the watch from my iCloud done by logging into it on my computer. I then downloaded the Apple Watch app and was able to pair the watch and start again.