The Worst Apple Watch Issues, and Find out how to Repair Them
It could be one of the accessible smartwatches in the marketplace, however the Apple Watch doesn’t at all times work because it ought to. We’ve been lurking on boards, digging by feedback, and gathering opinions on a number of points, glitches, and on a regular basis annoyances. These are a few of the commonest Apple Watch issues. When you’ve been struggling, don’t let that Apple Watch wind you up — we’ve obtained workarounds and doable fixes so that you can attempt. And when you’ve handled these, take a gander at our roundup of Apple Watch ideas and tips.
Drawback: Walkie Talkie app not working
There are a number of threads popping up on the Apple assist discussion board in regards to the Walkie Talkie app not engaged on the Apple Watch. This is usually because Apple has disabled the Walkie Talkie app after privateness considerations had been raised about it permitting folks to snoop on conversations with out their consent.
Answer:
Apple will repair this problem as quickly as doable, right here’s the official assertion:
“We had been simply made conscious of a vulnerability associated to the Walkie-Talkie app on the Apple Watch and have disabled the operate as we rapidly repair the difficulty. We apologize to our clients for the inconvenience and can restore the performance as quickly as doable. Though we aren’t conscious of any use of the vulnerability towards a buyer and particular circumstances and sequences of occasions are required to use it, we take the safety and privateness of our clients extraordinarily critically. We concluded that disabling the app was the proper plan of action as this bug might permit somebody to hear by one other buyer’s iPhone with out consent. We apologize once more for this problem and the inconvenience.”
Concern: Apple Watch doesn’t come on when wrist is raised
Considered one of our readers, Sarah, kindly contacted us to clarify this problem and tips on how to repair it, and there’s additionally a dialogue of this one within the Apple assist discussion board. The problem is that the Apple Watch display screen isn’t coming to life because it often does when folks increase their wrist or do a flicking movement with it.
Attainable options:
Begin with the Watch app in your iPhone by going to My Watch (tab) > Normal > Wake Display screen and ensure that Wake Display screen on Wrist Increase is turned on.
This may be as a result of your Apple Watch is in Theater Mode. Whether it is, then it is best to see the theater icon on the prime of the display screen, which is 2 masks. To show it off merely press the Digital Crown to carry the display screen to life after which swipe up from the underside to entry the Management Heart and scroll down to search out and faucet on the Theater Mode icon.
Drawback: Gentle bleed on Apple Watch Collection four show
There are huge discussions on Reddit, MacRumors discussion board, and the Apple assist discussion board about gentle bleed from the Apple Watch Collection four show. When you’re in a darkish setting and the brightness dims, you could discover that one facet of the Apple Watch show is brighter than the opposite and seems yellow. This isn’t truly gentle bleed, as a result of the display screen is an OLED, however slightly it appears to be a problem with grey photographs.
Answer:
Sadly, there’s no solution to repair this your self, so it’s good to prepare a alternative watch from Apple.
Glitch: Messages stay unread on Apple Watch
A number of folks report an annoying glitch the place they learn messages on their iPhone, however these messages proceed to look as unread on their Apple Watch. There’s a thread about it on the MacRumors discussion board. This glitch principally appears to be triggered when folks swap to a brand new iPhone.
Attainable fixes:
Shut the Messages app in your iPhone, then attempt switching each your iPhone and your Apple Watch off by urgent and holding the facility button, then sliding to Energy Off. Flip your iPhone again on first, then your Apple Watch and it ought to sync correctly.
It’s value working by Apple’s official information on tips on how to unpair your Apple Watch after which tips on how to arrange your Apple Watch to see if that will get it syncing appropriately once more.
When you have switched to a brand new iPhone, then it’s additionally value trying out Apple’s detailed directions for switching your Apple Watch.
Drawback: Display screen has popped out of the watch’s casing
A number of sources have confirmed that the Apple Watch will generally expertise a problem the place all the display screen pops out of the watch’s casing.
This downside was not too long ago highlighted on Twitter, with many Apple Watch homeowners sharing photographs of their Apple Watch with popped-out screens — however complaints about this problem date again to no less than September 2015. Plainly the difficulty stems from the battery. Because the battery ages, it swells, taking on extra room within the Apple Watch’s tiny innards, and forcing the display screen out. Oddly sufficient, having the display screen hanging out doesn’t appear to hassle the watch a lot, and there are movies of it persevering with to work.
A lot of the complaints appear to return to from Apple Watch Collection zero homeowners however there are some examples of Apple Watch Collection three homeowners operating into this downside, so it’s doubtless any mannequin of the Apple Watch can undergo from this specific defect.
Answer:
Take it to your nearest Apple Retailer, or get in touch with Apple’s assist. As a result of the fault is battery-related, Apple will honor the guarantee within the majority of instances and has even prolonged the guarantee interval for many Apple Watch fashions to a few years to account for this specific fault.
Concern: Apple Watch gained’t hook up with LTE
If there’s one problem that the LTE variant of the Apple Watch is understood for, it’s issues connecting to mobile. Apple publicly acknowledged this problem and mentioned that it might push a repair in an replace again in September 2017. Apple did formally tackle the difficulty within the WatchOS four.zero.1 replace, explaining that it needed to do with the Apple Watch having issues with the hand-off between Wi-Fi and mobile. The replace prevented the Apple Watch from becoming a member of unauthenticated Wi-Fi networks. It was additionally reported to repair the LTE connectivity points for some folks, though for others the difficulty didn’t go away even after the replace.
Answer:
Replace your Apple Watch software program. Open the Apple Watch app in your iPhone and go to Normal > Software program Replace.
Different potential options:
You may attempt to arrange your mobile plan once more. Open the Apple Watch app and go to the My Watch tab, then faucet the i subsequent to Provider after which Take away. You may then add your mobile plan afresh by tapping on Add a New Plan, reactivate, after which reboot the Apple Watch.
Some of us have reported that the difficulty was with AT&T. Folks reported that their LTE information functioned usually as soon as AT&T reinitialized their name service. They completed this by a number of cellphone calls to AT&T, entering into individual to AT&T, or a mixture of each.
If none of those options work, contact Apple.
Drawback: No iPhone connection error
After turning the Apple Watch again on, or generally after utilizing Airplane mode, the Apple Watch could provide you with a No iPhone error. If this occurs to you the easiest way to take care of it’s to let your Apple Watch and iPhone discover one another once more.
Potential options:
Begin by ensuring that Airplane mode is turned off on each your Watch and iPhone, and that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on.
To restart your Apple Watch, maintain the facet button till you see the Energy Off slider. Slide the Energy Off slider to the proper and when the Apple Watch is off, flip it again on by urgent and holding the facet button till you see the Apple brand.
To restart the iPhone X, press and maintain the facet button and both quantity button till the Slide to energy off slider seems. To restart the iPhone eight or earlier, maintain down the sleep/wake button till the Slide to energy off slider seems. The sleep/wake button is positioned on the proper facet or the highest when you have an iPhone 5s or earlier.
Use Management Heart in your Apple Watch to test your connection.
If all else fails, you possibly can at all times attempt to unpair your units and pair them once more.
Drawback: Digital crown not working
Generally, Apple Watch customers report that the digital crown on the Apple Watch is unresponsive. There are some things you possibly can attempt to alleviate this downside.
Attainable options:
Attempt to comply with Apple’s official information on tips on how to unpair your Apple Watch after which tips on how to arrange your Apple Watch. When you’re experiencing a software program glitch, this will actually assist.
When you’re having a problem the place the crown feels caught or can’t transfer easily, then it’s doable that it’s good to clear the Watch. Comply with Apple’s directions on tips on how to clear your Apple Watch.
If none of those options work, contact Apple.
Glitch: Bluetooth gained’t join or steadily disconnects
There are a few completely different doable glitches at play right here. Some folks discover that their Apple Watch will disconnect from their iPhone, even once they’re in shut proximity. Others are having Bluetooth issues once they’re making an attempt to make use of headphones for a run or a exercise. There are a number of various things you possibly can attempt to get Bluetooth working once more.
Workarounds:
Proximity issues for Bluetooth, and completely different units have completely different ranges. Some folks report higher efficiency after switching the gadget they had been utilizing to the identical facet of their physique because the Apple Watch. You possibly can additionally attempt switching your Apple Watch to the opposite wrist. Such a small change in distance shouldn’t actually make a distinction, but it surely’s value a attempt.
If the difficulty is with Bluetooth headphones and music streaming, then sync your playlist onto your Apple Watch and switch the Bluetooth in your iPhone off. This could permit your music to play seamlessly with out annoying disconnections, and you may nonetheless sync information from a run or exercise on the finish of the session.
Potential fixes:
If the difficulty is along with your iPhone, then attempt turning Airplane mode in your iPhone on and off once more. Alternatively, you possibly can go to Settings > Bluetooth and toggle it off, then wait a number of seconds and toggle it again on once more.
Press and maintain the facet button in your Apple Watch till the slider seems, then drag Energy Off to the proper. To show it again on, maintain down the facet button till the Apple brand seems.
If the iPhone is supplying you with issues, attempt un-pairing. Open the Apple watch app in your iPhone. Faucet on Apple Watch > Unpair Apple Watch > Unpair. It would take some time. As soon as it’s executed, set the connection up afresh.
Your ultimate resort is to erase all content material and settings in your Apple Watch. Go to Settings > Normal > Reset > Erase All Content material and Settings. As soon as it’s executed, you’ll should pair your Apple Watch along with your iPhone and different units once more.
Annoyance: Poor battery life
Battery life is unquestionably one of many foremost weaknesses of the Apple Watch, but it surely ought to typically nonetheless get you thru the day earlier than needing a refuel. When you discover that your Apple Watch battery is draining suspiciously quick, then you might have an issue.
Workarounds:
You may select to place your Apple Watch in Energy Reserve mode, so it solely exhibits the time. Press and maintain the facet button in your Apple Watch till the sliders seem, then drag Energy Reserve to the proper.
Open up the Apple Watch app in your iPhone and go into Notifications and switch off something that you simply don’t want.
Go to Settings > Brightness & Textual content Measurement in your Apple watch and cut back the brightness.
In your Apple Watch, go into Settings > Normal > Wake Display screen and toggle off Wake Display screen on Wrist Increase. You may also do that within the Apple Watch app in your iPhone through Normal > Wake Display screen.
Purchase an Apple Watch strap with a battery in it.
Flip off the guts price sensor by opening the Apple Watch app in your iPhone, tapping Exercise, after which toggling Energy Saving Mode on.
Attainable options:
Strive updating your watch to the most recent model of WatchOS. Apple Watch homeowners reported good battery life with WatchOS model four. The most recent model is WatchOS four.2.2.
When you’ve signed up for the WatchOS beta, that may be the wrongdoer. Some have mentioned a easy re-pairing has fastened this problem.
Merely turning it on and off once more. Press and maintain the facet button in your Apple Watch till the slider seems, then drag Energy Off to the proper. To show it again on, maintain down the facet button till the Apple brand seems.
Perhaps an app is inflicting issues. Strive uninstalling all the things you don’t want. Faucet and maintain on the Apple Watch display screen till your app icons start shaking, then decide the app you need to eliminate and faucet Delete App. Don’t fear, it gained’t uninstall the app in your iPhone. You may also eliminate apps in your Apple Watch by opening up the Apple Watch app in your iPhone, faucet on any app you don’t need and toggle Present App on Apple Watch to off.
The very last thing to attempt is to erase all content material and settings in your Apple Watch. Go to Settings > Normal > Reset > Erase All Content material and Settings. As soon as it’s executed, you’ll should pair your Apple Watch along with your iPhone and different units once more.
Drawback: Apple Watch gained’t cost
When you discover that your Apple Watch gained’t cost up, then you definately’re not alone. Do not forget that it could actually take a number of seconds for the charging icon to pop up when the Apple Watch is totally drained. Right here’s what it is best to test earlier than you begin to panic:
Potential options:
If it’s model new, then just remember to don’t have any plastic nonetheless connected to the Apple Watch or the charger.
Use the Apple Magnetic Charging Cable and the USB Energy Adapter that got here along with your Apple Watch. When you had been utilizing these when the issues started, think about using a special charging cable, stand, or dock.
Examine that each surfaces are clear and take away any case or anything you might need in your Apple Watch.
Strive plugging the cable into your laptop computer, pc, or one other energy adapter in a special socket.
Maintain down the facet button on the Apple Watch and swipe Energy Off to the proper. Maintain down the facet button once more to show it again on.
As soon as once more, maintain down the facet button on the Apple Watch and swipe Energy Off to the proper. This time, maintain down the facet button and the Digital Crown collectively for no less than ten seconds till you see the Apple brand.
The very last thing to attempt is to open the Apple Watch app in your iPhone and go to Normal > Reset > Erase All Content material and Settings.
If none of this works, then it’s time to contact Apple.
Glitch: Apps crashing or freezing
There have been a number of studies of Apple Watch apps crashing and freezing up, particularly the Nike app. When you discover that your Apple Watch crashes steadily or locks up and gained’t reply in any respect, there are some issues you possibly can attempt.
Potential options:
The very first thing it is best to attempt is checking to verify the issue app(s) are updated. In the event that they aren’t, replace them and take a look at the apps once more.
When you’re in a position to, then maintain down the facet button on the Apple Watch and swipe Energy Off to the proper. Maintain down the facet button once more to show it again on. This may solely be a brief repair.
In case your Apple Watch is locked up and unresponsive, attempt holding down the facet button and the Digital Crown collectively for no less than ten seconds, till you see the Apple brand.
Open up the Apple Watch app in your iPhone, go to My Watch > Normal > Software program Replace, and ensure it’s updated. You have to be on WatchOS three.2.2.
Strive eradicating and re-installing the app(s) having and inflicting points. Open up the Apple Watch app in your iPhone, faucet on the problematic app and toggle Present App on Apple Watch to off.
Generally a manufacturing unit reset will eliminate glitches like this. Go to Settings > Normal > Reset > Erase All Content material and Settings to attempt it, however you’ll have to set your Apple Watch up once more.
Drawback: Apple Watch isn’t monitoring exercise
Some customers on Apple’s boards have said that their Apple Watch has didn’t correctly observe their workouts, routes, or coronary heart price. Happily, there are some things you possibly can test to attempt to repair this.
Potential options:
In your iPhone (that’s paired to the watch), launch the Watch app, after which go to My Watch (tab) > Normal > Wrist Detection. Flip this on if it isn’t already. Moreover, be certain Bluetooth is turned enabled in your iPhone at Settings > Bluetooth.
Make sure that your Apple Watch isn’t too unfastened in your wrist. Adjusting the band could assist the watch higher observe your exercise.
Hold your private info, corresponding to your top and weight, up to date because the Apple Watch makes use of this data to find out issues like what number of energy you burn. Open the Watch app in your iPhone and faucet My Watch > Well being > Edit.
In relation to monitoring your routes, attempt opening the Exercise app and altering the settings from Fast Begin Stroll to Outside Stroll. In your iPhone, go to Settings > Privateness > Location Providers and have Apple Watch Faces set to Whereas Utilizing, then scroll all the way down to System Providers and allow all settings associated to location and distance monitoring.
Your watch may have re-calibrating. Begin this course of by opening the Watch app in your iPhone. Faucet My Watch > Privateness > Movement & Health > Reset Calibration Information. Then comply with Apple’s calibration directions.
Concern: Apple Watch gained’t activate
There have been a number of threads on the Apple boards containing studies of Apple Watch units not turning on, not booting previous the Apple brand, and the display screen not responding when touched.
Potential options:
When you’ve enabled Energy Reserve, the watch gained’t reply to wrist motion or tapping. Strive urgent the facet buttons to see if the watch will activate.
It could sound foolish, however attempt charging your Apple Watch. The battery could have merely run out.
Press and maintain the Digital Crown and facet button for no less than 10 seconds to set off a pressured restart. You’ll know you probably did it proper if the Apple brand seems.
If the watch comes on after the restart, however by no means totally begins, or for those who’re met with a pink exclamation mark, attain out to Apple Help, as you might have run right into a problem that may’t be fastened in your finish.
Annoyance: Notifications don’t seem on Apple Watch
You’re used to seeing and checking notifications in your iPhone, and so they’ll proceed to look there when your iPhone is unlocked, however when it’s locked or asleep it is best to get these notifications in your Apple Watch. When you’re questioning why you aren’t getting notifications in your Apple Watch, it’s in all probability as a result of your Apple Watch is locked, Do Not Disturb is enabled, otherwise you turned off Wrist Detection.
Options:
When you set a passcode for the Apple Watch (that is executed in your iPhone), it’ll lock mechanically if you’re not sporting it, when it loses contact along with your pores and skin, or whereas it’s charging. Think about eradicating the passcode, or tightening the watch band. When you forgot your passcode, you’ll have to erase the Apple Watch. To take action, launch the Watch app, faucet My Watch > Normal > Reset > Erase Apple Watch Content material and Settings, and faucet to verify. When you don’t have your iPhone paired along with your Apple Watch, comply with the steps on this web page to erase all the things on the watch.
If Do Not Disturb is the wrongdoer, there shall be a moon image on the watch face. Flip this on/off by swiping up on the watch face, swiping to the Settings look, and tapping the crescent moon icon.
When you consider Wrist Detection is now not enabled, open the Watch app in your iPhone and go to My Watch > Normal > Wrist Detection.
Drawback: Apple Watch gained’t replace
Some customers have been unable to replace their Apple Watches to the most recent model of WatchOS. This has grow to be such a typical downside that Apple has revealed official steps outlining what it is best to do.
Official options:
Restart — not power restart — the Apple Watch and the iPhone paired to it. Strive updating the Apple Watch once more.
If the set up gained’t obtain or begin, open the Watch app in your iPhone, faucet the My Watch tab, and go to Normal > Utilization > Software program Replace. Then, delete the replace file and attempt to obtain and set up the replace once more.
Annoyance: Strains on show
A number of Apple Watch homeowners took to MacRumors to share their tales and photos revealing the vertical strains plaguing their watch shows. The strains are very faint and tough to see, although, they’ve affected each the Apple Watch Collection 2 and Apple Watch Nike+.
Official resolution:
Attain out to Apple and get a alternative Apple Watch, or have the display screen in your watch changed. In keeping with different customers within the aforementioned thread, the strains on the show are sometimes the results of a laminating problem.
Drawback: Apple Watch goes into Airplane Mode by itself
A slightly odd problem has been mentioned on the iMore boards about how the Apple Watch will all of the sudden swap into Airplane Mode with none enter from the person. Others have mentioned their watch will often activate different options as properly, corresponding to Night time Mode.
Potential options:
A future WatchOS replace could take care of this downside.
Un-pair your Apple Watch, restart it, and re-pair it along with your iPhone. Then, proceed utilizing it to see if it triggers Airplane Mode, or some other function, once more.
Manufacturing unit reset your Apple Watch by opening the Apple Watch app in your iPhone and going to My Watch > Normal > Reset > Erase Apple Watch Content material and Settings.
