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MalazNJ

Q: For Viber & WhatsApp think the Apple Watch is a bluetooth headset!! Any fix?

For Viber & WhatsApp, when the Apple Watch is connected to the phone, I no longer get the voice call notifications on the phone itself, I just get the notification on the watch. These VoIP apps are thinking the AppleWatch is a bluetooth headsets. Any fix?

Apple Watch, iOS 8.4.1

Posted on Aug 17, 2015 6:55 PM

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Q: For Viber & WhatsApp think the Apple Watch is a bluetooth headset!! Any fix?

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  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 17, 2015 7:12 PM in response to MalazNJ
    Level 10 (84,261 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 17, 2015 7:12 PM in response to MalazNJ

    Contact support for the errant programs?

     

    LN

  • by MalazNJ,

    MalazNJ MalazNJ Aug 18, 2015 6:55 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 18, 2015 6:55 AM in response to LarryHN

    Well, short answer is yes. I'm contacting support for these apps and for Apple.

     

    That said, these apps worked fine when I had the fitbit connected (with notifications on the band turned on) and when I had the old Pebble Watch. So, it looks like it has to do with how the Apple Watch defines itself for the bluetooth profile.

     

    I wouldn't "automatically" say it's Viber and WhatsApp "fault" (may be but wouldn't be sure).

     

    Both apps are VoIP apps (in addition to messaging) and I'm guessing this has something to do with it..

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Aug 18, 2015 3:32 PM in response to MalazNJ
    Level 9 (58,522 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 18, 2015 3:32 PM in response to MalazNJ

    MalazNJ wrote:

     

    For Viber & WhatsApp, when the Apple Watch is connected to the phone, I no longer get the voice call notifications on the phone itself, I just get the notification on the watch. These VoIP apps are thinking the AppleWatch is a bluetooth headsets. Any fix?

    When the phone is locked, notifications go to the Apple Watch and do not sound on the phone. That's the way it's supposed to work. If the phone is not locked or if the Apple Watch is charging, the notifications will sound on the phone. WhatsApp and Viber use the same push notification system as email, sms and every thing else. Therefore, the notifications will go to the Watch if the phone is locked.

  • by MalazNJ,

    MalazNJ MalazNJ Aug 19, 2015 7:06 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 19, 2015 7:06 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Meg St._Clair wrote:

     

    MalazNJ wrote:

     

    For Viber & WhatsApp, when the Apple Watch is connected to the phone, I no longer get the voice call notifications on the phone itself, I just get the notification on the watch. These VoIP apps are thinking the AppleWatch is a bluetooth headsets. Any fix?

    When the phone is locked, notifications go to the Apple Watch and do not sound on the phone. That's the way it's supposed to work. If the phone is not locked or if the Apple Watch is charging, the notifications will sound on the phone. WhatsApp and Viber use the same push notification system as email, sms and every thing else. Therefore, the notifications will go to the Watch if the phone is locked.

    This is not true (when you say "When the phone is locked, notifications go to the Apple Watch and do not sound on the phone. That's the way it's supposed to work"). When I get a regular phone call, a regular text message or an email, I get the notification both on the phone and the Watch if the Phone is locked. If the phone is unlocked, then I only get the notification on the phone, and that's the way it should be for these VoIP apps.

    I know Skype was updated to work with the Watch but I haven't tried it to see if behalves the way it should.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Aug 19, 2015 9:01 AM in response to MalazNJ
    Level 9 (58,522 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 19, 2015 9:01 AM in response to MalazNJ


    Regular phone calls should go to both even if the phone is locked. However, if you've got text and email going to both when the phone is locked, something is wrong. That's not the way it's supposed to work.

  • by MalazNJ,

    MalazNJ MalazNJ Aug 19, 2015 10:24 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 19, 2015 10:24 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    So the way it's supposed to work is that I cancel all notifications on the phone (when it's locked) just because I wore the Apple Watch. That would be stupid. I'd rather look at the phone screen and hear the different identifiable sounds when it's on my desk next to me rather than keep looking at my watch (with only one sound for everything).

     

    Any way, texts, emails and regular phone calls work as I described on my phone/watch and my wife's phone/watch. I just double checked. As far as I'm concerned, that's the way it should be for all notifications, especially VoIP phone calls. I understand not getting notifications on the Watch when the phone is unlocked but I don't understand the other way around (not getting notifications on the phone when it's locked and I'm wearing the watch). Watch notifications are not unique, not customizable sounds/intensity and can many times be easily missed..

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Aug 19, 2015 10:26 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 7 (31,646 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 19, 2015 10:26 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Meg St._Clair wrote:


    When the phone is locked, notifications go to the Apple Watch and do not sound on the phone. That's the way it's supposed to work.

     

    Meg St._Clair wrote:

     

    if you've got text and email going to both when the phone is locked, something is wrong. That's not the way it's supposed to work.

     

     

    How it is supposed to work depends on how Apple Watch is configured.

     

    If Wrist Detection is not enabled, it is normal for text and email notifications to be shown on both devices.

     

    (Apple Watch app on iPhone > General > Wrist Detection).

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Aug 19, 2015 10:52 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 9 (58,522 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 19, 2015 10:52 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Jonathan UK wrote:

     

    Meg St._Clair wrote:


    When the phone is locked, notifications go to the Apple Watch and do not sound on the phone. That's the way it's supposed to work.

     

    Meg St._Clair wrote:

     

    if you've got text and email going to both when the phone is locked, something is wrong. That's not the way it's supposed to work.

     

     

    How it is supposed to work depends on how Apple Watch is configured.

     

    If Wrist Detection is not enabled, it is normal for text and email notifications to be shown on both devices.

     

    (Apple Watch app on iPhone > General > Wrist Detection).

    You are correct. So rarely run into situations with wrist detection turned off that I tend to forget about it.

  • by MalazNJ,

    MalazNJ MalazNJ Aug 19, 2015 1:31 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 19, 2015 1:31 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Problem is that you lose a lot of things when wrist detection is disabled. I have it enabled on mine because I like the recognizing that I left my wrist and the watch lights up, I also don't want to loose Passbook/Apple Pay or loose the locking feature that all depend on wrist detection.

     

    I wish there was a fix for this "no notification on iPhone" (or an option to have notifications on both devices)...