Level 1

22 points

apple watch not connecting to wifi

Even after unpairing and re-pairing my Apple Watch Series 3 it won't connect to my WiFi network when out of range of my iPhone. I have noticed that on my previous Apple Watch, the original model from 2015, the connection works just fine. Both watches are configured identically, as the Series 3 was restored from the backup of the old watch.

I have no other connection issues with my Series 3, Bluetooth and LTE work just fine, but I simply can't get Wifi to work. I believe the problem has persisted since I got the watch 4 weeks ago, but now I definitely noticed it while trying to stream music on watchOS 4.1. Any suggestions on what to do, in case this is a software problem?

Apple Watch Series 3, watchOS 4.1

Posted on Nov 3, 2017 2:34 PM

Top-ranking reply

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Posted on Nov 4, 2017 7:36 AM

Whenever your Apple Watch cannot connect to the paired iPhone via Bluetooth, it will attempt, as a fallback, to connect to a compatible Wi-Fi network.

A compatible Wi-Fi network is a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network that your iPhone has connected to before whilst your Apple Watch was connected to the iPhone via Bluetooth. Apple Watch cannot connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks or to public networks that require logins, subscriptions or profiles.

To check whether your Apple Watch can connect to Wi-Fi:

Enable Airplane Mode on your iPhone:
Travel with iPhone
On your Apple Watch, open Control Centre (when viewing the time, swipe up on the screen) and check for the Wi-Fi symbol at the upper-left of the display:
About Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

If your Apple Watch does not connect to Wi-Fi as expected (after allowing a few moments), then follow these steps:

Firstly, ensure that your Apple Watch and iPhone are connected via Bluetooth and also that your iPhone is connected to your Wi-Fi network:

About Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

On your iPhone, go to: Settings > Wi-Fi:

Tap on the "i" / info icon to the right of your Wi-Fi network name > tap on Forget This Network.
With your Apple Watch still connected via Bluetooth, reconnect your iPhone to your Wi-Fi network, being sure to check that you are connecting to a 2.4 GHz network.
Pause for a few moments to allow the Wi-Fi information to be shared to your Apple Watch.

On your iPhone, enable Airplane Mode:

Travel with iPhone

Check whether your Apple Watch has successfully connected to the Wi-Fi network by checking for the Wi-Fi icon at the upper-left of Control Centre (allow a short while for it to connect after losing the connection with your iPhone):

Open Control Center

When finished, turn off Airplane Mode on your iPhone.

If you have not yet done so and if the feature is supported on your plan, you may also wish to enable Wi-Fi Calling on your devices:

On your iPhone, go to: Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling.
On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch > Phone.
Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling - Apple Support

If the issue persists, then I suggest that you contact Apple Support (remote diagnostics and/or mail-in service may be available, if required), make a Genius Bar reservation or visit an Apple Authorised Service Provider for assistance:

US: Apple Watch Service Answer Center - Apple Support
Elsewhere: Apple - Support

View in context

50 replies

Jan 16, 2018 9:23 AM in response to kenr954

Its is not about the router... My connects to every wifi without a problem... After wiping out iPhone and watch and setting them as new... No restore.

Maybe you can connect to your router after playing with some setting... But it will not connect to other routers maybe.

FuRiLA

Level 1

4 points

May 25, 2018 1:04 PM in response to n3rxs

Thanks! I've just confirmed the same on my Apple Watch Series 3 (watchOS 4.3) and resolved the issue:

1. Forget WiFi network on iPhone and rejoin.

2. Turn on Airplane mode on iPhone and confirm WiFi connection on Apple Watch (may need to attempt this step multiple times).

Nov 12, 2017 7:20 AM in response to YXCVBNM

Yes that’s what I believe, it’s a bug in watchOS 4.1.

I got a serie 2 that is also pair to my iPhone 8 iOS 11.1.1 and when my serie 3 is the one use by my iPhone,

when I turn on my serie 2 with 4.1 it’s connected to wifi automatically. But has soon as I swap my serie 3 to my serie 2 to use it with the iPhone it no longer connect to the wifi after that...

even if I swap back the serie 3 the serie 2 no longer connect to my wifi...

I also have the original first Apple Watch on 4.1 and when I turn it on it automatically connect to the wifi...

So let us hope that Apple correct it soon !

Dec 17, 2017 6:26 PM in response to YXCVBNM

In my case

cause by install lookout app

Lookout: Security and Identity Theft Protection on the App Store

after install lookout app on apple watch

cannot connect wifi forever

solve this problem only way to iphone reset and setup the new iphone

if you restore from backup

maybe with break wifi restore...

Dec 17, 2017 6:45 PM in response to chaoswith

Good God Chaoswith !

I remember deleting this app "Lookout" a few day before I did my little procedure...

But since it did not bring back my wifi on the watch after that I didn’t think it was the cause...

but thanks chaoswith it may be the missing thing...

So anyone with this problem delete Lookout app if you have it and do the little procedure up there.

Good Luck !

Nov 12, 2017 8:00 AM in response to Donkichot

Apple support just call me and confirm that’s it is a watchOS bug and Apple will make a new update for watchos 4 in a few days that will correct the bug !!!

sch500

Level 1

12 points

Dec 3, 2017 4:09 AM in response to OhioApple74

I had to set up my phone as a new phone and reset all settings. It's worked

fine since then.

On 3 Dec 2017 11:05 am, "Apple Support Communities Updates" <

Mar 15, 2018 10:30 PM in response to YXCVBNM

You have to have your phone connected to 2.4 radio signal. Try that and it will work.

Nov 11, 2017 3:54 PM in response to YXCVBNM

I got the same problem, I think it’s watchos 4.1 that this problem begin for me...

Serie 3 GPS only on watchos 4.1 and iPhone 8 iOS 11.1.1 the bug was already there with iOS 11.1

I have contact Apple support and they had me unlink my watch and reset my wifi and still no wifi.

I know Apple wanted to correct the problem of public wifi for the LTE watch but now how can I connect to my home wifi with my watch ???

My serie 2 on 4.1 connect to wifi with no problem !

Dec 6, 2017 5:17 AM in response to Donkichot

Yup. Same issue. I have had this exact issue since about June when I had an Apple Watch 2 and a iPhone 6s. I have since upgraded to a 8 plus and the Apple Watch 3. Same issue. I did the create new phone and the Apple Watch and WiFi worked perfectly until I started to download the apps I use regularly. After hours of getting my phone back to the way I want it. Guess what. WiFi doesn’t work AGAIN. I have been to the Apple store twice and they once sent my watch away to “fix it” which did nothing. It seems to be some type of software issue related to certain combination of apps that are installed on the phone. I cannot tell which ones are doing it as it would take hours of time I am not willing to invest into this problem.

Apple needs to get this fixed!! If I get one more person telling me the same steps that need to be done to fix the issue I might chuck this thing out be window while driving on the freeway. The current repair strategies for this problem will not fix the issue we are having.

Marto57

Level 1

8 points

Dec 6, 2017 6:00 AM in response to YXCVBNM

Hi - I have the same issue, and have responded to a similar thread at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8171970. For both me and a colleague, Apple Store has replaced our Series 3 LTE watches, and replacements will not connect to compatible wifi either.

I've had an open ticket (Genius Bar Work Authorisation) since October, which Apple say is "with engineering". Have chased a few times, but no information coming back as yet.

YXCVBNM Author

Level 1

22 points

Nov 3, 2017 2:42 PM in response to YXCVBNM

Also, how likely is it that this is not a software issue, but that the WiFi antenna or any other part of the hardware is faulty? Is there a way to check for that?

n3rxs

Level 1

4 points

May 25, 2018 7:43 PM in response to FuRiLA

You are most welcome! I still think Apple has a bug in their network stack as we never had problems with watchOS 4.0 but this issue has been ongoing from 4.1 forward

YXCVBNM Author

Level 1

22 points

Nov 12, 2017 6:20 AM in response to Donkichot

Since in the meantime I got my Apple Watch replaced by Customer Service and the problem still persists, I am led to believe that this issue is unlikely to be a hardware problem, but is in fact due to some software bug. Could it be that the watchOS update that stopped Apple Watch Series 3 from connecting to random Wifi networks inadvertently also broke the capability to connect to networks which the iPhone is connected to in some instances?

Nov 13, 2017 10:20 PM in response to YXCVBNM

I have the same problem, i have a Iphone 7 and series 3 apple watch and it won't connect to Wifi when out of range of the iphone. I've done all the test (unpair, pair, forget network, reboot, update SW) and nothing worked. Then i tried with my daughters Iphone7 and it paired and connect to Wifi not problem when phone was out of range (blue tooth range)....interesting you said apple support said there will be an update, i have been working with apple for over a week pulling logs and they have not gotten anywhere at this point.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

apple watch not connecting to wifi