iOS 10 SMS and iMessage notification issues

Emissary1: This is not true. Before iOS 10.x? I got all notifications on both devices (iphone and watch). It even worked for about 30 minutes after the last patch - therfore I posted my "all is working fine now" message. Right now, only the watch is notifying me, and THAT is a confirmed bug. Proof: Turn off BT and you will get notificationa on both devices, as long as you are connected to the same wifi network.

As I said, Michael, and as was confirmed by you toggling a setting, what were you describing was not and is not a bug. When on the wrist, it is normal for notifications not to go through the phone also unless you have bluetooth turned off (in which case the watch is only connected through wifi/icloud). The people in this thread are discussing how having bluetooth switched on on the iPhone messes up notifications for iMessages and FaceTime on the iPad/Mac.

Hi Emissary1.

Thank you for your time, but this still is not 100% correct.

As user "tobewrsp" wrote: If you turn of "wrist detection", all notifications will play on both devices. That's exactly how it is supposed to be. I have my AW since day one and it worked like a charm until iOS 10.x came out. From that day on, notifications only reached the watch if you turn of BT. This IS a bug, as I was told from an Apple Support Specialist. It should have been addressed with WatchOS 3.1.3 and iOS 10.2.1. Unfortunately, it wasn't. Turning of "wrist detection" is just some work around. Regards, Michael.

Michael, I have had an Apple Watch for 1.5 years. Unless wrist detection or bluetooth is turned off, my iPhone has never played notification sounds. And TBH, it makes no sense that it would, as it would be redundant to the sound/haptic on your wrist. Not sure what engineer told you that this was a bug, but this specific behavior has remained consistent throughout iOS 9/10 and watchOS 2/3.

In this case, "wrist detection" was turned on with some iOs 10.x patch (without telling the user). I ALWAYS had notifications on both devices. Turning it off on the iphone (with bt enabled) is still a stupid behavior for me. Funny, that even Apple Support is not aware of this "wrist protection" thing...

After trying nearly everything on three [currently] 13 pages, turning if wrist detection on my Watch worked. My message settings are not set to mirror my phone - they's set to custom. It is not acceptable that, beyond this, I have to disable the wrist detection functionality on my Watch for my iPhone to work correctly. Apple, please update with a fix!

I was not getting any notifications on 7+ or on AW2. Realized I had turned AW2 to "silent mode" during vacation. Did NOT realize this made phone silent too (although it makes some sense). I turned it off on my watch. Still didn't work. Restarted watch. Still didn't work. Turned Do Not Disturb ON then immediately OFF on my AW2 and now everything works fine... thanks to all the info in this thread, as turning off BT on my phone led me to finding the issue...

I have the same issue but it happens some of the time but not all of the time. One phone support (factory reset), first genius - rebuild from scratch, and he did check that only phone number selected. Still happened. No consistent pattern (in lock screen, open laptop with imessage, imessage closed, in thread or not). Another reset but this time no restore from backup (as in, I have to redownload everything, relogin apps and wifi, configure settings). Same erraticness - although I noticed that I was signed in with 2 emails as well. Just unchecked so will see (but had that yesterday)..

Will update if I solve it...

I know this post is old and not sure if you found a solution. I was having this same issue as of right now. I read all these posts about turning off BT, but having an apple watch I had the same issue as you. But turning off BT now all my messages are coming in, how that is happening since the bluetooth is off is beyond me. I think apple needs to figure this out, bluetooth is useless if I can't use it.

So having kept battling

1) Make sure only phone number is linked

2) Disable handoff to laptop (if my laptop was on, even if messages not active would not get sound)

3) Note was told that if you are a thread (on phone or laptop, even if phone is locked) by design you don't get an alert (which doesnt make sense as a design decision as I'm not looking at my phone when locked)

Now seems to work. But the whole point of the watch is to get the handoff.. Try 1 and 3

I'm rolling my eyes. And am so irritated with Apple.

Of all the possible solutions, this is the one that worked for me. Thank you. I turned both on.

My problem was I'd get a barely noticeable vibration blip (and no sound) if my phone was unlocked. I had normal notifications with the phone locked, or when I have my watch on.

Hey guys. When someone sends me msg by what'sapp and my iPhone 7 lasted iOS was locked and off, it didn't vibre. So change that, you hate to turn on all sounds of what's and setting (related to what'sapp). It's makes me angry because I wanna my phone without silence mode and just with vibrational when someone send me msg.

billybob85375 wrote:

I Think my problem is related to my Apple Watch. Turned off the watch problem goes away. I just don't know what to do about it with the watch on???

When you're using an Apple Watch and your phone is locked, you'll get no SMS notification on the phone. You'll get then on the Watch. That's the way it's supposed to work. In order to get notifications on both devices when the phone is locked, you'll need to disable wrist detection on the Watch. There are some disadvantages to doing that, though. You'll need to enter your passcode to do much more than look at the time on the Watch and you won't be able to use Apple Pay.

billybob85375 wrote:

Thanks! I don't use Apple Pay, so no worries there. I disabled "wrist detection" and now I get notifications on my phone! I'm a happy camper!

I'm glad to hear that worked for you!

I used to be able to use Siri while my iPhone was locked to have it read me messages (to which I could also reply via Siri) when I was wearing my bluetooth headset while driving. Now Siri responds with "You'll need to unlock your iPhone first." This started very recently and I have no idea why or how to fix it (though goodness knows I've tried). Yes, I've powered off my phone and powered it back on. Thoughts??

iPhone SE running iOS 10.3.1

Siri settings = on, Access When Locked = on; Allow "Hey Siri" = on; Voice Feedback = Always

Passcode on iPhone = on

Voice Dial = on

Allow Access When Locked: Siri = on

This is really annoying! I use this feature often in my car, frankly. I wear a bluetooth headset. I hear a message has come in. I say "Hey Siri" and then "Read Message" and she used to read it and then ask me if I want to reply. It was really convenient and useful. I do not know why it doesn't work anymore, but it's really a hindrance.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!