HT205025: If your Apple Watch isn't connected to your iPhone

Learn about If your Apple Watch isn't connected to your iPhone
Paulferri

Q: outdoor walk not working

apple watch not recording distance in "outdoor walk"; also Bluetooth on watch searches but repordedly doesn't see iPhone even though iPhone says it is connected to watch

Apple Watch, watchOS 2.2.2

Posted on Aug 29, 2016 8:22 AM

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Q: outdoor walk not working

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Jonathan UK,Solvedanswer

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Aug 29, 2016 9:04 AM in response to Paulferri
    Level 7 (30,168 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 29, 2016 9:04 AM in response to Paulferri

    Paulferri wrote:

     

    .. also Bluetooth on watch searches but repordedly doesn't see iPhone even though iPhone says it is connected to watch

     

    Hi

     

    To check whether your watch is connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth, do not go to the Home screen > Settings > Bluetooth on your watch. This is how to tell the watch to search for and pair with additional Bluetooth devices (eg a headset). It is normal for the paired iPhone not to be listed there and for the screen to report "searching".

     

    Instead, to check the connection status of your watch at any time, go to the Settings Glance:

     

    • When viewing the time on your watch, swipe up on the display, then swipe left / right to the Settings Glance.
    • This will state either Connected or Disconnected:
      • If it states Connected and the icon at the upper-right corner is a green phone, then your watch is connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth.
      • If it states Connected and the icon is a green cloud, then your watch is disconnected from your iPhone via Bluetooth, but has instead connected (as a fallback) to a known Wi-Fi network.
      • If it states Disconnected, your watch is disconnected from your iPhone and also is not connected to a Wi-Fi network. The icon at the upper-right corner will be a red phone with a line through it.
        • Under these circumstances, the same Disconnected icon will also be shown at the top of your watch face:

    disconnected.gif

    • Swipe down again to return to the watch face.
  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Aug 29, 2016 8:30 AM in response to Paulferri
    Level 7 (30,168 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 29, 2016 8:30 AM in response to Paulferri

    Paulferri wrote:

     

    apple watch not recording distance in "outdoor walk" ..

     

    The following steps may help:

     

    • Check that Wrist Detection is turned on and that, if passcode is enabled, you are unlocking your watch after placing it on your wrist
      • On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > General > Wrist Detection - turn on.

     

    • Check that you are wearing your watch sufficiently snugly on the top of your wrist (if it is worn too loosely, your watch may believe that it has been removed from your wrist).

     

    • Activity-related estimations depend, in part, on your personal information. To check that your personal information is accurate - and to update it over time:
      • On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch > Health > Edit - tap and adjust items, then tap on Done.

     

    • Calibrating your watch improves the accuracy of various activity-related estimations, including distance. It may help to reset your existing calibration data (if any). Instructions for how to reset this data - along with instructions for calibrating your watch - are available via the support article linked below.

     

    More information:

    Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

    Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

    Use the Workout app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support