My Apple Watch is getting notifications while my iPhone is open and in use

I have this same problem and truthfully it is quite annoying. For me it seems to mostly happen when it is a Text message and not an Imessage. However, it has happened with Imessage as well. Has support gotten back to you about it or have you figured out a way to fix it? I've restarted my watch. I've repaired my watch. I have completely reset my watch and repaired it and I still can't get it to stop doing this.

I had an issue (there's a thread here somewhere) whereby the "complication" on the watch indicated countless (unread) messages but they had all been read on the iPhone. Apple support had me update s/w (had already done), restart (done too) and unpair and re-pair. Eventually it resolved itself.

Sounds to me like there's a fundamental "disconnect" happening between the watch and the phone which Apple has not addressed.

My biggest issue is it didn't used to be like this. Back when I was using my iphone 8 I never had the issue, however it seems once I changed to my iphone 11 in Oct-Sept 2020 is when I noticed the issues starting to happen. So it is either an issue with the newer phones or some update around that time broke something.

If you which an absolute fresh start

Unpair your watch from your iPhone

Delete the Watch App from your iPhone

Restart your iPhone

Make a backup of your iPHone

Download and install the Watch App

Pair the watch to the iPhone setting it up as new

Then go ahead an adjust your setting

I performed Shannon310's directions at least three times. Update, Unpair/pair, backup, restart, etc., etc.

Afterwards, the watch would, expectedly, have a zero message count, but eventually the count would start to accumulate (worst case was 35) when paired with my iPhone that ZERO unread messages.

Then magically somehow, the problem stopped.

I'm waiting for the problem to return. So far it's been a few days and all good.

Here's the thread

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252276615

You know what, mine seems to have the same unread message issue. I guess I will go through the motions again to reset it and repair and everything as well. Maybe ill get mine to work.