Apple Watch - apps won’t install via iPhone or the Watch app store

Question

Apple Watch - apps won’t install via iPhone or the Watch app store

Watch Series 7, WatchOS 8.5

iPhone 13 Mini, iOS 15.4

I don’t seem to be able to install apps on my watch. On the Watch iPhone app, tapping INSTALL either returns instantly to INSTALL or just sits there with the wheel spinning. Trying to install from the App Store on the watch gets the second behavior: hung with spinning.

Seems like this used to work, but I’m finding references of the issue back to Series 5 and iOS 13.

Some apps were installed from before (like 6 months ago). If I tap on “don’t show on watch”, and uninstall them, I cannot reinstall them via the iPhone (same behavior as above) — but some apps will install via the watch App Store, while others will not.

I’ve rebooted everything (just updated to WatchOS 8.5 and iOS 15.4, so that had already occurred, but did it again anyway). No luck.

Really hard to believe Apple would let this sort of thing persist for so long.

Apple Watch Series 7

Posted on Mar 15, 2022 1:51 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Sparks0829

Community Specialist

Mar 16, 2022 10:27 AM in response to emilio-lizardo

Hi there emilio-lizardo,

If you're unable to download some apps and not others on your Apple Watch, the app may no longer be available or supported.

- Some watchOS apps are not currently available in every region or language. If you can't find the app in the App Store or on your Home screen, see if the app is supported in your region.

More information here: Download apps on your Apple Watch

You can take a closer look at which apps and features are supported in your region in the link below:

watchOS Feature Availability

Take care.

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Answer 2

Mar 18, 2022 1:15 PM in response to Sparks0829

Thanks Sparks. I think I may have identified the problem: I’m in that weird position where I have 2 Apple IDs, one my current “home” and the other a vestigial account from my old developer days (somehow that was necessary, can’t remember now). But some of my apps were apparently purchased by the old account, and the Watch is a bit finicky about telling me I need to authenticate. Actually pretty spotty. Once I saw that message appear (and then disappear before I could act on it), I tracked it down, authenticated and now all my apps appear to be installing properly.

Oh, if we could only merge accounts. I know that’s only been a wide request for like 20 years…

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Apple Watch - apps won’t install via iPhone or the Watch app store

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