Unable to download apps on child’s Apple Watch

We bought an Apple Watch for my son and set it up under his own Apple ID using family setup from my iPhone. He is too young to have an iPhone of his own. We have various parental controls in place through Screen Time. The watch works but we are unable to install apps using the App Store on the watch. We can browse the App Store and click “Get” to download an app, enters his passcode, then his Apple ID password, but then the app fails to download. It just goes back to the app screen where he clicks “Get” again, and goes through the same loop. We did try disabling the “ask to buy” option under family sharing, but this did not change anything. I cannot install apps using the Watch app from my iPhone, because this is not an option when using “family setup.”

We have verified the apps we are trying to download do not require an accompanying iPhone. We have tried a work around by downloading the apps to our iPhones and trying to download them on his watch with Family Sharing, but they do not show up. We also verified it is not his Screen Time restrictions.

iPhone 14 Plus, iOS 17

Posted on Oct 10, 2023 5:55 PM

Similar questions

25 replies

Jan 13, 2024 6:01 PM in response to Hazemeister

Did you guys figure out this issue? I just got an Apple Watch for my son and we have the same issue. Soo frustrating!

Jan 28, 2024 5:49 PM in response to Bubberfy

Please someone help with this issue. Same problem here.

Feb 5, 2024 11:28 AM in response to Bubberfy

same here!! :/

Why is it so complicated ?! Any suggestions, anyone ?

Feb 27, 2024 3:53 PM in response to erin027

Yes! This worked! I also got stuck in the vicious cycle described previously. Thank you so much for sharing :)

Feb 27, 2024 3:54 PM in response to erin027

Yes! This worked! I also got stuck in the vicious cycle described previously. Thank you so much for sharing :)

Jun 8, 2024 2:00 PM in response to Bubberfy

I disabled the screentime as described, but still can't install Whatsapp or Spotify on the child's Apple Watch. Has anyone been able to install either of those apps? Thanks!

Bubberfy Author

Level 1

18 points

Jun 13, 2024 4:23 PM in response to joeliu2003

Were you able to put screen time back on after downloading and the apps remained and were usable? Or does screen time need to be disabled permanently on the watch?

Jun 13, 2024 4:38 PM in response to Bubberfy

Once you reenable screen time the watch can no longer download apps, but the apps you have downloaded continue to function. Really annoying software bug

erin027

Level 1

31 points

Feb 26, 2024 11:54 AM in response to jaclynfromjohnson creek

Yes, it worked right away. I was able to download the snake, ping pong and tic tac toe games.

You need to go to the iPhone settings, not the watch settings.

You will see 'Screen Time' below the 'Notifications, Sounds & Haptics, Focus' Click it.
Under a 'Family' section, you will see a list of your family. Click the person who has the watch and disable the screentime.
When I click the 'Get' button, it asks me to double click the side button and didn't take me to the settings to enter the password.

If this doesn't work, call tech support, ask them to log in to your iPhone screen, and then use the camera app to show the watch screen.

I was soooo frustrated so I know how you feel. I hope this works.

feargone

Level 1

12 points

Mar 6, 2024 4:53 AM in response to Bubberfy

Also had exactly the same issues, was super frustrating as there was no feedback/error message. Thanks for sharing the fixes. I got it fixed by going to settings > screen time > family member name > under Restrictions > temporarily disable the Content & Privacy restriction.

That was it!

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Unable to download apps on child’s Apple Watch