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

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50 replies

Dec 5, 2017 10:11 PM in response to OhioApple74

Well watchos 4.2 arrived and installed but sadly the bug is still there...

😢😮👿

-iPhone 8 iOS 11.2

-Apple Watch serie 3 GPS only watchOS 4.2

Does all of us who have this problem have the same iPhone and serie 3 watch ???

Jan 3, 2018 3:51 AM in response to OhioApple74

Thank god! This fixed it. I was already spoke to Senior Advisor three times.... they scaled it to Engineering and the next step was send it to US (I live in Argentina!). I've tried every single thing I've read on the forums, al the usual, and unusual, procedures and nothing worked... after reading your post took my last chance before sending it out and it connected! Clearly it's an iPhone software issue, or some conflicting app.... The PITA is that I'll have to set ALL the passwords, apps, apps data, etc, manually again after carrying all my iPhone data backup almost since my iPhone 3G.... But the freaking Watch Works....

Now I'll have to do a long and painful troubleshooting to find what is preventing the watch to connect.

It's really annoying that apple cannot fix this, or at least find a solution or easier way to troubleshoot it or whatever! DO SOMETHING APPLE!

Again OhioApple74, you saved me. TNX!

Jan 6, 2018 5:36 PM in response to YXCVBNM

Did the update ever become available for your WiFi problem with your Apple Watch? My daughter and I are currently having the same type of problem with ours that we just purchased. We have tried everything that was recommended to you and still no luck.

Apr 2, 2018 11:34 AM in response to YXCVBNM

Hello,

I have this problem too. I have apple watch series 3, iPhone 6s plus. What i think is the problem, I have dual-band AP sharing one SSID(on both 2,4GHz and 5GHz radio). My watch is not trying to connect to Wifi. I suspect that my iPhone is connected to 5GHz radio and apple watch does not know that it can connect to this network? How could I tell the watch that it can connect to 2,4GHz radio? Or what may be the cause?

Thanks in advance,

Stanislav

Apr 9, 2018 5:52 AM in response to chaoswith

Wow. Thank you so much. I had almost given up and returned the watch. I deleted the Lookout app and everything looks fine now. I called apple support 6 times and they just kept repeating the obvious steps...Also, it looks silly to me that Apple would allow third-party apps to interfere with such an important aspect of their product...

That's awesome! Thanks, Chaoswith.

mjdindc

Level 1

60 points

Jun 29, 2018 6:54 AM in response to Tchevo

Ever since I updated to 4.3.1 on the watch I've had problems (including terrible battery life). I've tried forgetting the network on the iPhone several times including turning off bluetooth etc, but nothing appears to be working.

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Nov 12, 2017 3:49 AM in response to Donkichot

Donkichot wrote:

I got the same problem ..

Then follow the same steps in my previous reply.

Nov 12, 2017 6:13 AM in response to Jonathan UK

I did Jonathan and it didn’t work...

YXCVBNM Author

Level 1

22 points

Nov 12, 2017 9:12 AM in response to Donkichot

Thanks for sharing that info, that eases my mind a bit.

Let’s hope that update is going to be out soon.

sch500

Level 1

12 points

Nov 26, 2017 7:01 AM in response to YXCVBNM

I still have this problem and of course we have heard nothing from Apple. Any ideas?

Dec 10, 2017 11:30 AM in response to Donkichot

So now why serie-3 GPS only connecte to wifi but not my serie-2...

But the serie-2 is for sale so I don’t want to tried anything else and risk to have the the problem again with my serie-3.

Dec 22, 2017 8:23 AM in response to Donkichot

I have the same problem, recently installed the lookout app. It’s a shame Apple allow an app like that in the App Store.

Dec 22, 2017 8:35 AM in response to Mr.MojoRising

And by the way, deleting the lookout and entering again in my WiFi network as described worked. Problem solved. Thanks everyone, especially OhioApple74.

Dec 24, 2017 9:06 AM in response to YXCVBNM

I forgot to tell that now my watch is still connecting to my wifi even if my iPhone is using the 5Ghz wifi !

Larreaza

Level 1

9 points

Feb 14, 2018 4:16 AM in response to chaoswith

Just genius!! Thanks!! You are a life saver!!!

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apple watch not connecting to wifi