Watch no longer rings when I get a phone call

Alerts for incoming calls should be delivered to both devices.

If alerts for phone calls are not being delivered on your Apple Watch as expected, then the following steps may help:

Check for and install any available updates for your iPhone and Apple Watch, starting with your iPhone:

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

Check that Wrist Detection is turned on and that, if passcode is enabled, you are unlocking your Apple Watch after placing it on your wrist:

• On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Passcode > turn Wrist Detection on.

Check your Phone settings:

• On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Phone.
• Choose Custom and select your preferred settings under each of Alerts and Ringtone, including checking that the Alert Volume is towards the centre or right hand side.

Check that Theatre Mode is not enabled on your Apple Watch:

• When viewing the time on your watch, swipe up to open Control Centre.
• Tap the Theatre Mode button to toggle the setting on / off.
• Be a considerate moviegoer with Theater Mode

Check that Do Not Disturb mode is not enabled on your Apple Watch:

• When viewing the time on your watch, swipe up to open Control Centre.
• Tap the Do Not Disturb button (crescent moon icon) to toggle the setting on / off.

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

Confirm directly on your Apple Watch that Silent Mode is not enabled:

• When viewing the time on your watch: swipe up on the screen to open Control Centre > check whether Silent Mode (button with a crossed out bell icon) is enabled.

Check that your Apple Watch and iPhone are connected:

• For the best performance from your iPhone and Apple Watch, including the most power-efficient communication between them, Apple recommends keeping both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi permanently enabled on your iPhone.
• About Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on Apple Watch - Apple Support

The following further steps may also help:

Restart both your iPhone and your Apple Watch, turning both devices off together, then restart your iPhone first;

• Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
• Restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch:

• The Watch app on your iPhone takes a backup of your watch automatically when unpairing via the app.
• Initially choose to Restore from Backup during set up (most data and settings will be restored, with some exceptions, such as Apple Pay cards, passcode).
• If the issue persists, consider instead unpairing and setting it up as a new watch.
• Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone - Apple Support
• Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Ive noticed this happening to me over the past few days. Since getting my 8 Plus in fact.

What I think is happening is the watch is loosing connection to the phone and going over to WiIf. If I swipe up on the watch home screen I sometimes see a blue WiFi icon in the top left, rather than a phone icon. When this is happening I can still get text and email alerts, but no call alerts. Checking the Bluetooth section in the phone shows the watch isn’t connected. This is only happening at work. Once I left the building and was walking home I found the two devices were connected again, and the watch would ring and vibrate as normal.

I’m not sure what the solution is, I put it down to the phone but could be wrong.

Hi

Follow the instructions here:

Switch your Apple Watch to a new iPhone - Apple Support

Great - you're welcome! 🙂