Location based reminders on Apple Watch

Hi Daniel

It may help to try these steps.

If you have not yet done so, update your iPhone and Apple Watch to the latest software:

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

On your iPhone go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services - check that:

• Location Services is turned on (top setting);
• In the list of applications, check that:
  • Maps is set to While Using;
  • Reminders is set to Always;
  • Siri & Dictation is set to While Using.
• At the bottom of the screen, tap on System Services, then check that:
  • Location-Based Alerts is turned on.
  • Motion Calibration & Distance is turned on.
  • Frequent Locations is turned on.
  • For the best performance, you may also prefer to leave all other System Services turned on.

On your iPhone, go to: Settings > iCloud - turn Reminders on.

On your iPhone go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh - check that:

• Background App Refresh is turned on (top setting).
• In the list of applications beneath, Reminders is turned on.

On your iPhone, close and restart the Reminders app:

• Double-click the Home button > swipe left / right to the Reminders preview > swipe up on the preview to close it.
• Press the Home button > allow a minute or so > open the Reminders app again.
• It may then help to leave the app running permanently in the background (do not close it again via the preview).

On your iPhone, go to: Settings > General > Siri - turn Siri off, pause for a few moments and then re-enable it.

You may find that it helps to reset all of your location and privacy settings to the factory default.

• If you do this, apps will stop using your location until you grant them permission (as and when you next use each app, including when you next set a location-based reminder).
• On your iPhone, go to: Settings > General > Reset > tap on Reset Location & Privacy.

Restart both your iPhone and your watch. Turn both devices off first, then restart your iPhone before restarting your watch:

• To turn your watch off: press and hold the side button until you see the Power Off slider; drag it to turn off;
• To turn it on: press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.

With your settings confirmed, try also:

To set or change the location for a reminder that is already in your list:

• On your iPhone, in Reminders: swipe left on a reminder > More > turn on Remind me at a location > tap on Location > select a location in the list or enter an address.
• After you have set a location, you can drag to edit the size of the geofence (to change the approximate distance at which you want to be reminded).

Add common locations to your own contact card in the Contacts app on your iPhone:

• When you set a location reminder, locations in the list will include addresses from your My Info card in Contacts.
• For example, you might add your home, work, gym and supermarket addresses to your card (name them accordingly and refer to them the same way when using Siri).

Consider creating separate contact cards any other key locations that you commonly visit.

• As well as specifying the address, you can also give contacts nicknames, which you can use when setting reminders using Siri.
• Within the contact card, tap on Edit > scroll down and tap on add field > choose Nickname.

Hi Daniel

By all means, contact Apple Support for further assistance:

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

However, note that the the iPhone User Guide recommends adding common locations to your own contact card in respect of both:

Assisting with location reminders:

• http://help.apple.com/iphone/9/#/iphdd13e4266

Receiving more personalised service from Siri:

• http://help.apple.com/iphone/9/#/iphfaf30bdbd

The only problem I have with location alerts is the same as the original problem stated here. If I say "hey siri, remind me to mail a letter when I get to bagel street" on my watch, a screen pops up and asks which bagel street, when I select the one I want, I get a message that says "oh, no, something went wrong, try again. HOWEVER, the location reminder is ALWAYS actually created on the phone, and the alert happens as it is supposed to. The only annoyance is that I have to physically verify the reminder on the phone, because I don't get confirmation from the watch.

Thanks, Jonathan. Creating a contact card for my frequently requested location reminders helped Siri on the watch.