How to sync notification sounds on Apple Watch and iPhone?

mc_goo wrote:

In order to get notifications on my iPhone, I separated my Apple Watch from my main iPhone and configured it to work on an older iPhone that I keep in a drawer. I agree with Bill_Kelly that the programming choice made by Apple is not the way I would like to iPhone and watch to work together so needed to "re-engineer" Apple's options to partially work for me and have augmented the health data gathering with an Oura Ring.

I'll check back from time to time to see if the Apple integration changes to better meet my requirements.

Given that Apple made a big deal, in the initial release of the Watch, about how it would allow people to get fewer notifications and get them more discreetly on the Watch, I think that things are working exactly the way Apple envisioned and they've shown no sign of changing.

But, you can let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Since I updated my Watch Series 8 to watchOS 10.1, I receive all Health notifications firstly on my iPhone 14 Pro Max (iOS 17.1) when the screen is locked (and I am wearing my logged in Watch) and then around 15 to 30 seconds later, on my Watch.

This is excruciatingly annoying and contradicts Apple's apparent intention that "you can't get notifications on both".

It would be good if a fix to this problem was on its way or better, more control to permit user choice.

add01 wrote:

Since I updated my Watch Series 8 to watchOS 10.1, I receive all Health notifications firstly on my iPhone 14 Pro Max (iOS 17.1) when the screen is locked (and I am wearing my logged in Watch) and then around 15 to 30 seconds later, on my Watch.

This is excruciatingly annoying and contradicts Apple's apparent intention that "you can't get notifications on both".

It would be good if a fix to this problem was on its way or better, more control to permit user choice.

You'll get critical notifications on both. That appears to be a new feature with iOS 17/watchOS 10.

In order to get notifications on my iPhone, I separated my Apple Watch from my main iPhone and configured it to work on an older iPhone that I keep in a drawer. I agree with Bill_Kelly that the programming choice made by Apple is not the way I would like to iPhone and watch to work together so needed to "re-engineer" Apple's options to partially work for me and have augmented the health data gathering with an Oura Ring.

I'll check back from time to time to see if the Apple integration changes to better meet my requirements.

Totally agree with this comment. I'm astonished by the lack of this option, that's completely unacceptable that it is impossible to choose where the notification are ringing !

Since I have an Apple watch I miss a lot of important notifications in my daily life because my iphone is not ringing anymore on incoming notifications.

I can't understand that it is not possible to choose "receive notification on Iphone, on iWatch or BOTH !".

I know that there is an option which allows to have the notifications again on the iphone but it disable a lot of important watch features ! That's not an acceptable answer.

I also read your article about "Where notifications appear"

About notifications - Apple Support

This is just crazy in term of ergonomics! You need to write an article for people understanding how the logic work ! And even knowing how it work, you'll never be sure of where the notification will come !

Totally agree with this post. I'm astonished by the lack of this option, that's completely unacceptable that it is impossible to choose where the notification are ringing !

Since I have an Apple watch I miss a lot of important notifications in my daily life because my iphone is not ringing anymore on incoming notifications.

I can't understand that it is not possible to choose "receive notification on Iphone, on iWatch or BOTH !".

I know that there is an option which allows to have the notifications again on the iphone but it disable a lot of important watch features ! That's not an acceptable answer.

I also read your article about "Where notifications appear"

About notifications - Apple Support

This is just crazy in term of ergonomics! You need to write an article for people understanding how the logic work ! And even knowing how it work, you'll never be sure of where the notification will come !

Tell Apple

It's been done for a while now, let's hope.

But typically this kind of change take years or is never been modified because they think that their implementation is the good one. But in reality users are just take habits to use their devices with this limitation instead of express themself their insastication because "you can't influence the software development of a company like Apple.".

PVHunter wrote:

Totally agree with above comment. As a professional, I rely on notifications for work related things. I’ve set up custom sounds on my iPhone that don’t work on my Apple Watch. It’s imperative that I receive these notifications for support to my customers. Very easy to miss a single ping from the watch . Additionally many Apps like Teams no longer play customized alerts. And I also have customized ring tones and text alerts for important contacts. Just get the ping from the watch. For this reason alone, I probably will never buy another Apple Watch. Amazing that with all the features and customization that dual alerts isn’t a feature. Apple… please consider this for future development.

Telling other users on a user to user only forum, some who may agree with you and some who may not, doesn't get you anything. Apple doesn't read here for feedback.

Tell Apple your thoughts here --> Feedback - Watch - Apple

Hey lobsterghost,

for some reason. i am getting both notifications on both the watch and the iphone, its only doing that for imessages(game pigeon) and i dont know how it happens. the Apple Watch model i got is the series 6 updated to watchOS 9.4 and iphone updated to iOS 16.4.1 (a).

If it's only happening with Game Pigeon notifications, that's would be a question you might want to ask of the app developer. Game Pigeon isn't owned by Apple. I'm not sure how Game Pigeon notifications are coming in a iMessage, however. iMessage is exclusively between Apple devices.

its iMessage in general. not just game pigeon. i dont know what settings to change to either the watch or the phone but the watch should mirror the Phones notifications. Why do i recieve the same notification on the watch when the phones on?

To be clear, are you suggesting your iPhone if the screen is on and your Apple Watch both make a sound or haptic at the same time? Or do you see the notification on both, but only one makes a sound or haptic?

You started your own thread on this and in that thread, you suggest it's mostly game pigeon and instagram as examples. Neither of which would be iMessage. iMessage is text messages between two people who are Apple users and are both signed into iMessage on each device.

Hi. My watch will notify me and I will look at the notification, but then a few seconds later, my phone also notifies me of the same notification. I am super frustrated that this is happening. Any idea why? Like it is with all notifications. My watch vibrates and I examine the notification and then my phone vibrates for the same one.

I understand the design of the system, and I think its great

BUT- I watch a LOT of youTube,.... too much,.. ill say too much YouTube, and i will be away from my phone, say in the other room. I will get a text, and although I have my Ultra on wrist, I will have to run into the room and pick up my phone to see the notification.

For this reason and a few more, we should have the option to have Notification on BOTH devices, OR at least proximity sensor options if you are < 3ft from your phone while wearing an AW.