Q: i can send digital touch messages but cannot receive them.  I assume I am doing something wrong but do not know what...?

Hi

Was your watch paired very recently?

After pairing Apple Watch with an iPhone, you may need to wait an hour or more before you can receive a Digital Touch.

Try these steps.

If friends still can't send a Digital Touch to you, also ask them to follow the same steps (send them a link to this thread).

• In the Contacts app on your iPhone:
  • Check that each friend's contact card includes their Apple ID email address and iPhone number (edit where necessary).
  • Check that your own contact card includes your Apple ID email address and your own iPhone number.
• On your iPhone, go to: Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > in the Contacts section, check that My Info is using your contact card.
• On your iPhone, go to: Settings > General > Siri > My Info - check that your contact card is selected.
• Check that you have added your friends to the Friends list on your Apple Watch:
  • On your iPhone: Watch app > My Watch > Friends.
  • To add more friends: In the Friends list > Add Friend > tap someone in the list of contacts. (If someone isn't in the list, open Contacts on your iPhone, add them there, then try again).
• Delete old iMessage conversations with your friends - on your iPhone and Apple Watch:
  • iPhone: Messages app > swipe left on a message thread > delete.
  • Watch: Messages app (from the Home screen - accessed via single press on the Digital Crown) > swipe left on a message thread > tap on trash.
• Set new Messages conversations to start from your iPhone's phone number.
  • iPhone: Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > scroll down to Start New Conversations From > choose your iPhone phone number.
• Check the email addresses at which you can be reached via iMessage:
  • iPhone: Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > under You Can Be Reached by iMessage At > enable (with a tick mark) your Apple ID email address and any others as desired, in addition to your iPhone phone number.
• On your iPhone in the Watch app: My Watch > General > Reset > tap on Reset Sync Data (you will not see anything happen after tapping it - the process runs in the background, invisibly to the user). Wait for a minute or so before continuing.
• Disable and re-enable iMessage on your iPhone:
  • iPhone > Settings > iMessage > toggle off / on again.
• Restart both your iPhone and your watch (turn both off at the same time, then restart your iPhone first):
  • To turn your watch off: press and hold the side button until you see the Power Off slider; drag it to turn off. To restart: press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.

More information:

Use Digital Touch - Apple Support