How can I resolve Apple Watch sign-in verification issues?

Everybody having similar problems should report this directly to Apple by using the Feedback link.

This is the only way to make them aware of watch issues.

Feedback - Apple Watch - Apple

Since this also might be an iOS 18.5 issue:

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

ascr3 wrote:

I have finally succeeded today with my iPhone 16 Pro and Apple Watch SE 2020. Didn't do anything specific, just decided to try one more time: unpaired it, then paired again and voila - somehow it's working now. I wasn't asked to log in this time, by the way

pairing was never the issue for me - the watch and my phone are paired just fine.

it’s the sign in which doesn’t work - so I can’t use ‘Find My’ to find my watch, for example.

Can you access your other iCloud settings on the iPhone?

Did you already restart both devices?

Yes, this points to a Apple Watch hardware issue.

Restart the phone, then try, if that doesn't work, maybe try wiping the phone, reinstalling macOS, then restore from your back up, then try the watch again.

I succeeded, I kept typing, an error came out, I closed it and re-entered the apple id, and everything went

The Apple call center guy said I’d done everything possible. My watch is the SE 2020 and the software doesn’t go beyond 10.6.1. I’m wondering if that’s maybe the problem?

I hadn’t used the apple watch in a year and then tried to connect to the newest iphone. It won’t work.

only thing I haven’t done yet is reset my iphone completely but don’t really want to unless that’s the only option.

The apple guy did mention something about buying a new watch.. hahaha. So maybe you’re right.

Same problem - it's a SE model from 2020. The thing is, when I got it, I was still using the Iphone 8Plus, and in '22 I bought a 13 Pro Max and I really don't remember any problems with signing in.

Now I just bought the 16 Pro Max and just spent a frustrating couple of days trying to to the sign in verification, only to get the "Verification Failed An unknown error occurred" EVERY TIME. I've wiped the watch at least 4 times, have even entered the password ON the watch using scribble (a thankless task), and nothing.

No, I'm not going to wipe my phone and start over, and I don't see why I should.

ETA Could it be that the watch is too old? watchOS is 10.6.1 - it won't update anymore. I really wasn't planning to buy a new watch.

I thought you goal was to pair the watch to your phone. you've wiped the watch multiple times, if it's not that, it's the network or the phone. I suspect if you wipe, reinstall, restore from backup it'll pair after that, but since you can't see a reason to do that, have fun looking at the watch sitting on your dresser doing nothing.

I don’t know, you guys seem to have the magic touch, it’s not working for me.

tried it on the watch, nope. And the app on my phone won’t even let me enter the password, the little wheel on the right just keeps spinning 🤷‍♀️

I’d really like to know how Animaonline fixed it, because it’s not working at all for me -like I can’t even enter the password now on the app on the phone - the space where the password is supposed to go is non-reactive.

i suppose I need to delete the watch app and start again? This is really frustrating.

Same issue, spend 1 hours in store with Guinness bar and they have never seen anything like this and spend 4 hours with tech support management and they haven't seen anything like this before. Trying to connect to a phone and gives an verification error. Reset the watch 12 times. Tryed different phones. Reset the password a few times. And tech support management even has idea how to fix the problem.