Why does my iPhone only ring once before my Apple Watch picks up?
My iPhone only rings one time and them my Apple Watch picks up the call without my touching the watch
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 12, iOS 18
Question marked as
If your iPhone only rings once before your Apple Watch picks up, it’s because of how notifications are routed when both devices are connected.
By default, if you're wearing your Apple Watch and it’s unlocked, calls and notifications are sent to the Watch instead of the iPhone—this is normal behavior designed to keep your alerts discreet and on your wrist.
How to Change It:
option 1: Disable call notifications on Apple Watch
On your iPhone, open the Watch app
Go to Phone > Custom
Toggle off Sound and/or Haptic
Option 2: Turn off Wrist Detection (not recommended)
Watch app > Passcode > Wrist Detection → Off
(This disables auto-unlock and some Apple Pay/security features.)
Option 3: Use Do Not Disturb / Focus modes
If you want calls to ring on iPhone and not interrupt on Watch, set up a custom Focus mode where notifications don’t go to the Watch