Enterprise Wi-Fi (WPA2) won't reconnect on watchOS 5

Using a new cellular Apple Watch series 4, running the latest version of watchOS5. Everything works fine when phone is in range and connected via bluetooth - I am describing scenarios below where I do not have my phone with me.

I have successfully connected to my WPA2 enterprise wi-fi (eduroam) and my apple watch works perfectly on it - initially. However, when I leave one building and enter another, it will not automatically reconnect until I reboot the watch. On the wifi screen, the wheel just spins repeatedly. Turning wifi off an on manually makes no difference, as does switching to airplane mode. A hard reboot seems to reset the watch and it connects to eduroam again immediately. On returning to the original building, wifi won't reconnect either without a reboot.

Definitely seems like a bug to me - I don't have this issue on any of my other apple devices. Has anyone else had the same problem? Anything that has worked to fix it? I've tried creating my own wifi connection profile using apple configurator, with the cert attached, and it has the same behaviour - works perfectly on first connection but won't reconnect until after reboot.

Watch Series 4 (GPS+Cellular) Alum 40mm, watchOS 5

Posted on Sep 27, 2018 2:54 AM

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32 replies

Nov 26, 2018 8:08 AM in response to Tommylee84

Ours is Cisco and Microsoft NPS. Other devices (that I know off) is not having this issue. Quite sure it is just an Apple Watch issue.

Oct 16, 2018 11:08 AM in response to Nanoid79

Hi Nonoid79, Sorry it didn't help. Maybe the deeper truth here is that the user needs to block ALL paths to the internet on the Watch as a way to force the Watch to ask for the Trust Certificate. Maybe, if the Watch can get on to the internet any other way, it will choose that way in favor of the "effort" of seeking a Trust Certificate. So, for example, if your iPhone is near your Watch it will hop on the internet via your iPhone. Or, if your Watch has previously connected to your wifi because it "learned how" from your iPhone, it won't ask for the Trust Certificate. Maybe you need to turn off your iPhone AND have your Watch forget any previously learned wifi networks to force the Trust Certificate to appear.

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Enterprise Wi-Fi (WPA2) won't reconnect on watchOS 5