Why won't my Watch make Alert sounds?

If you are not already doing do, you may wish to use your watch with these settings:

• On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch > General > Wrist Detection - turn this on.
• On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch > Passcode > Turn Passcode on.
• Still within the Passcode settings screen, also enable Unlock with iPhone.
• After putting it on your wrist, your watch will then unlock after whatever you do first: either unlocking your watch manually (by entering the passcode) or unlocking your iPhone. It will then remain unlocked until you remove it from your wrist, when it will lock again automatically.

Keep in mind that how notifications behave depends on the status of your devices and your settings. With Wrist Detection enabled, in order to bring notifications to your attention as soon as possible:

• If your iPhone is unlocked, you will receive notifications on your iPhone instead of on your watch.
• If your iPhone is locked or asleep and your watch is unlocked (regardless of whether the watch screen is asleep or awake) and on your wrist, you will receive notifications on your watch.
• If your watch is locked or has Do Not Disturb enabled, notifications will go to your iPhone.

More information:

Notifications on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Hi

The following steps may help:

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

• 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, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Sounds & Haptics:

• Check that the Alert Volume is towards the centre or right hand side;
• Check that Silent Mode is not enabled;
• Check that haptic strength is set to the middle or far right hand side of the slider.

On your watch: when viewing the time, swipe up on the watch face to open Control Centre > check that Do Not Disturb is not enabled (the button with the moon icon).

On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch > Phone:

• Perhaps choose Custom and check that all desired options are enabled, including Sound and Haptic under the Ringtone heading.

On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch > Messages:

• Perhaps choose Custom and check - under Alerts - that Show Alerts, Sound and Haptic are each enabled.

On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch > Mail:

• Perhaps choose Custom and check, under Alerts, that Show Alerts is enabled.
• Tap on your email account (eg iCloud) > check that Show Alerts from iCloud (for example) is enabled > check that Sound and Haptic are both enabled.

If these settings are already selected, it may help to temporarily alter them, change them back and then follow these steps:

Close the Watch app and then restart both your iPhone and your watch:

• To close the Watch app on your iPhone, double-click the Home button, then swipe up on the Watch app preview.
• Turn both devices off together, then restart your iPhone first:
  • Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
  • Restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support