How do you get your Watch to stop authenticating all day long?

This was driving me nuts too. What finally worked: 1) look at watch to determine which app(s) have the “authenticating” error (click watch’s side button to see all apps open on watch), for me it was Audible; 2) on iPhone, open the Watch app, and go to the app(s) found in step1: 3) toggle off and on again. I hope this works for you all too!

The watch isn’t authenticating it’s one of the apps installed on the watch. For me it was Audible. Press the side button on the watch once and you should see which app it is for you. Once you find the app you can go to the watch app on your phone and remove it.

The watch isn’t authenticating it’s one of the apps installed on the watch. For me it was Audible. Press the side button on the watch once and you should see which app it is for you. Once you find the app you can go to the watch app on your phone and remove it.

Wondering if you just need to log-in to your watch (or to your iPhone,

or in the Watch app on your iPhone) with your Apple ID:

Apple support's online article (link below) may help guide you:

Sign in with your Apple ID - Apple Support

I recommend giving it a try anyway, Daniaell. I was getting the same message you described receiving on your watch. But I still went to the apps (using the watch app on my phone) and toggled all of them off and on since I couldn’t be sure which app it was. I did that yesterday morning and I’ve had no issues since then.

RubyAndRoyal wrote:

where would I the automatic login? Thanks!

Maybe they are referring to iPhone, Watch app, My Watch tab, Passcode, Unlock with iPhone, On

There have been a number of similar cases reported here where some third party app requires signing-into on the phone. In this case it was Audible or MS Authenticator but many third party apps can do this, fitness apps being common - it's just a case of finding the culprit.

Regarding MS Authenticator I now use Okta Verify which works very well on Watch OS9 and iPhone iOS16

The only thing it worked for me was to open the audible app in the iPhone, open settings in the audible app, open data & storage, and switch off and on ‘Apple Books sync’ at the bottom of the screen.

My watch started saying Authenticating Please ensure you are logged in on your paired phone. I removed Audible from my installed watch apps and it went away.

I have the same message on my series 4. I believe this article explains why it’s happening. I believe it may be associated with changes Microsoft made. https://www.computerworld.com/article/3683471/microsoft-calls-time-out-on-apple-watch-authenticator.html

Brilliant. I went through multiple Apple customer reps who upgraded it to the engineers who didn't know what was going on. Should have come here first. Mine too was the audible app. Thanks guys!

Daniaell - I don’t use Audible on my watch either but that was the app that was trying to authenticate. I’d follow what StrykerPDX says. It worked for me!

Ignore that last bit, that, Okta Verify just withdrew the Apple Watch companion app June 2023.

This worked for me as well. Audible was the culprit.

Yes ! Thank you. It was Audible for me too!

Muchas gracias! Audible app was the culprit. Followed your instructions, now is fine!