Apple Watch Pinging iPhone Doesn't Work.

Question

Level 1

20 points

Apple Watch Pinging iPhone Doesn't Work.

I've updated my iPhone 5s to IOS 9 and my Apple Watch to WatchOS2. Now my watch pings my iPhone 5% of the time versus a 100% before the update. I press the ping and the button highlights like it used to but then goes away like it pinged my phone, when my phone doesn't do anything. My iPhone is charged and turned on with all the settings I'm aware of set for this to work. I've restarted both devices and restored my network settings on my phone. Non of these fixed the issue. I've even unpaired and paired my watch back to my phone. It's kinda a let down this was one of my most used features with the watch. I'm hoping an update fixes this, any suggestions?

Apple Watch, watchOS 2, Apple Watch & iPhone 5s

Posted on Sep 26, 2015 6:16 PM

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Answer 1

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Sep 27, 2015 2:12 AM in response to JPY22

This change in behaviour has been mentioned by some others. You have already tried the most obvious troubleshooting steps. A couple of other suggestions are:

Check that you are using the latest software on both devices (currently iOS 9.0.1 for iPhone).
Try also restarting both devices a couple more times - turning off both, then restarting your iPhone first.
- To turn off your watch: press and hold the side button until you see the Power Off slider; drag the slider to turn off.
- To restart it: press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.

JPY22 wrote:

I'm hoping an update fixes this

If that does not help: to advise Apple that you are also experiencing this issue, either contact support:

https://www.apple.com/support/watch/contact/

Or submit feedback (all submissions are read, but you should not expect to receive a reply):

https://www.apple.com/feedback/watch.html

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Answer 2

JPY22 Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 6, 2015 9:01 AM in response to JPY22

Update: I've updated my iPhone 5s to iOS 9.0.2 and my watch is still on watchOS 2.0. Still no fix I've spoke to apple support and got a case number after restarting my phone and apple watch with them, it worked for the first 1 hr. Then it went back to not working just as usual. I've recovered both my iPhone and watch. Which made it work for 1 hr or so. There is still no solution to the issue. However I've noticed that if I hold the ping button down on my watch my iPhone flashes. So it's connecting to my phone normally, but the phone is acting like it's missing the command to send out a sound signal.

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Answer 3

Oct 6, 2015 9:30 AM in response to JPY22

I'm having the exact same issue. Updated my 6+ to newest and then my watch doesn't ping unless I'm on a call.

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Answer 4

Oct 6, 2015 5:28 PM in response to JPY22

I'm still having the exact same issues. My iPhone will flash it's light as well by holding down the button, but no sound is being emitted.

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Answer 5

JPY22 Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 16, 2015 12:26 PM in response to JPY22

I have some good news. The ping sound is working about 80% of the time for the past 2 weeks. Every now and then it goes back to the same symptoms I had before, but if I wait a few hours later it will work again. The problem is still there, but it's getting better over time. The funny thing is nothing I know of changed, no updates restarts it just works 80% of the time now. I'm still running iOS 9.0.2 and watchOS 2.0.

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Answer 6

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Oct 21, 2015 11:06 AM in response to JPY22

Try updating your devices to the latest software versions, released today: iOS 9.1 for iPhone and watchOS 2.0.1 for Apple Watch:

Update the iOS software on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Update the software on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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Answer 7

JPY22 Author

Level 1

20 points

Dec 6, 2015 3:40 PM in response to JPY22

All is well now. Ping works 100% of the time. I'm not sure why but for the past month it has just been working. The update seemed to help but not fix the problem. I guess overtime the only explanation for what fixed this was time, for me.

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