Messages on Watch #5/#6 not showing full sender text, only header notification

Question

Level 2

231 points

Messages on Watch #5/#6 not showing full sender text, only header notification

All text messages I get on either of my two Watches shows the notification header, however, once I click to read the full message its blank. Oddly, when I respond on my phone where I CAN see the full message, my Watches show MY text response - I just can't see the sender's text. Doesn't matter which Watch I have on, it responds the same way - blank text but shows my responses.

Is a setting somewhere causing this? Is it a bug?

I've rebooted and have already applied the latest updates to my:

iPhone 13 Pro Max
Watch #5 and Watch #6

Posted on Sep 28, 2021 2:51 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 17, 2021 3:22 PM in response to Tyler-1932

I had the same issue. I think what fixed it for me was disabling the VPN I had on my phone. I was using Nord VPN. now I can read the texts that others have sent me on my Apple Watch. Hope it helps.

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Answer 2

Jan 7, 2022 9:03 AM in response to comearl1

I had this problem, but when I updated the watch software and then unpaired and paired it again to my phone, it was fixed.

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Answer 3

Comearl

Level 1

0 points

Jan 29, 2022 10:03 AM in response to LittleMA19

Mine resolved when I updated the software and the unpaired and repaired the watch. Hope this helps.

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Answer 4

Mar 3, 2022 8:41 AM in response to dlg_az

I had this problem as well and resolved it by lowering the size of the text in the phone app under Display and Brightness.

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Answer 5

Dec 27, 2021 6:01 AM in response to GSAShrek

I had this same issue on a Apple Watch 6 and an iphone 12 Pro. Once I updated the Watch to the latest software update 8.3 the full messages appeared.

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Answer 6

Bryan_K1

Community Specialist

Sep 29, 2021 11:28 AM in response to dlg_az

Hello dlg_az,

We see that you're having some trouble with Messages on your Apple Watches. We'd be happy to help!

This article has some great steps that may be able to help with an issue like this: If you can’t send or receive messages on your Apple Watch

If those steps don't do the trick, you'll want to reach out to Apple Support to look in to this further. You can reach out to them here: Get Support

Take care!

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Answer 7

dlg_az Author

Level 2

231 points

Sep 29, 2021 12:21 PM in response to dlg_az

ADD 2: This started when I got my new iPhone 13 Pro Max this past Friday (pre-order deliveries day). Once I got it set up and paired my watchest, the message body never shows up. Worked fine with my iPhone 12 PM before this.

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Answer 8

GSAShrek

Level 1

15 points

Jan 8, 2022 5:59 AM in response to Comearl

The update sorted mine out

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Answer 9

dlg_az Author

Level 2

231 points

Sep 29, 2021 11:59 AM in response to Bryan_K1

These template responses don't help. For clarification the guide link title says: "If you can’t SEND OR RECEIVE messages on your Apple Watch ..."

This is not an issue of I " ... can’t SEND OR RECEIVE messages ..." - obviously from my text I CAN do that, the issue is RECEIVING incomplete message content from a person or automated response TO me; I can't see my OWN message content when I SEND it myself.

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Answer 10

dlg_az Author

Level 2

231 points

Sep 29, 2021 12:03 PM in response to dlg_az

ADD: I have already signed out and back into my Apple ID multiple times. I've also paired and unpaired both watches, multiple times. I've already done all those things in the guide link you gave. I'll contact Apple Support directly.

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Answer 11

dlg_az Author

Level 2

231 points

Sep 29, 2021 1:41 PM in response to dlg_az

UPDATE 1: Contacted Apple Support, referred to higher level Tech Manager who took phone and watch diagnostics and activity logs. Will be providing them with video of Message issue later when I have interaction available. Also provided screenshots of iCloud and Messages active in iCloud backups.

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Answer 12

Nov 17, 2021 3:13 PM in response to DocFerguson

I purchased the iPhone 13 mini 4 days ago and am having the same issue. I can read what I wrote but not the responses on my Apple Watch. I too have unpaired and paired, turned off and on, etc. Maybe is has something to do with the 13 series phones. Any help would be appreciated.

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Answer 13

Nov 17, 2021 3:15 PM in response to dlg_az

I purchased the iPhone 13 mini 4 days ago and am having the same issue. I can read what I wrote but not the responses on my Apple Watch. I too have unpaired and paired, turned off and on, etc. Maybe is has something to do with the 13 series phones. Any updates would be appreciated. This is so frustrating.

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Answer 14

kd_88

Level 1

8 points

Dec 16, 2021 9:52 AM in response to Klo5804

Same issue here once I got iPhone 13. Would really like to see Apple address this issue directly instead of referring to generic template answers. I don’t have VPN in use on my phone so not sure what else to try.

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Answer 15

comearl1

Level 1

8 points

Jan 7, 2022 8:13 AM in response to dlg_az

I am having the same problem. Just bought IPHONE 13 PRO MAX and paired to my IWATCH 3 series and now I can see the header coming through and when I click on the message, can't see the message. If I respond, I can see my response only but not the incoming message. My VPN is not connected but have Device Management connected for work. Anyone ever get a solution for this? Please share if you have. Thanks so much

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