The most common reason is that wrist detection is turned off or not working well because the watch is too loose, there’s sweat, or it isn’t making good contact with your skin. Other reasons could be Focus modes, Notification Privacy settings, or Bluetooth connection problems. Now that you know the causes, let’s discuss the solutions.
1. Turn Airplane Mode On and Off on Apple Watch and iPhone
Temporary communication errors between your Apple Watch and iPhone can stop notifications. Enabling, then disabling Airplane Mode on both devices can reset their connection and potentially resolve the issue. Remember, the Apple Watch will only show notifications if your paired iPhone is locked or not in use.
2. Restart Your Apple Watch and Paired iPhone
Glitches between your Apple Watch and iPhone can keep notifications from showing. Restarting both devices can often resolve temporary problems.
3. Make Sure Notifications are Enabled for Apple Watch
You won’t receive notifications on your Apple Watch if notifications for it are disabled. Double-check that notifications are turned on for both your iPhone and your Watch, and make sure sound and vibration alerts are also switched on. If you’re only having problems with calendar events, check that calendar notifications are enabled on your iPhone as well.
4. Enable Haptic Notifications on Apple Watch
Haptic Notifications tap your wrist when a notification comes in. If this is off, you might miss alerts. Enabling Haptic Notifications can improve your chances of noticing them.
5. Turn Off Do Not Disturb (Focus) Mode
If either your iPhone or Apple Watch is in Do Not Disturb (now called Focus), notifications might be held back. Turning it off on both devices can restore notifications.
6. Enable “Show on Lock Screen” for iPhone Notifications
If iPhone notifications are not set to display on the lock screen, your Apple Watch might not get them either. Letting notifications appear on your lock screen could help.
7. Turn Off Cover to Mute on the Apple Watch
The Cover to Mute feature silences notifications if it thinks the watch is covered. Sometimes, a glitch can make your Watch think it’s always covered. Disabling this feature can help.
7.1. Turn Off Cover to Mute in the Watch App
7.2. Turn Off Cover to Mute in the Watch Settings
8. Update Your iPhone’s iOS to the Latest Version
An outdated iOS could create compatibility problems between your iPhone and Apple Watch, preventing notifications. Updating to the latest iOS version usually helps. Make sure to back up your iPhone first.
9. Update Apple Watch to the Latest OS Version
Just like with your iPhone, if your Apple Watch is running old software, it may not work well with your iPhone. Make sure the watchOS is up to date. Before updating, check your iPhone’s software is also current.
10. Enable Mirror My iPhone Notifications for Apple Watch
The “Mirror My iPhone” option lets your Apple Watch show the same notifications as your iPhone. If this setting is turned off for particular apps, you might stop receiving notifications on the watch. If you have a problem with a certain email account, make sure all accounts are signed in under Watch App » Mail, and then test again.
11. Turn Off Wrist Detection on Apple Watch
With Wrist Detection on, your Apple Watch only shows notifications when it’s being worn. If the sensors can’t detect your wrist because of tattoos, skin tone, or lots of hair, it might not register that you’re wearing it. Turning this feature off may help, but note this can disable some features like Apple Pay. If your issue is with just one app (like Telegram), try resetting that app’s notifications or reinstalling it.
12. Edit Passcode Settings on Your Apple Watch
If your Apple Watch is locked, you might not get notifications. Some users prefer not to use a passcode, but if you need one (such as for work devices), adjusting these settings may help.
13. Edit Message Notifications for iMessages
Sometimes, only message notifications are missing. Adjusting your iMessage notification settings can help.
14. Reset iPhone’s Network Settings to Default
Corrupt or incompatible network settings on your iPhone can affect how it communicates with your Apple Watch. Resetting network settings may restore notifications. If the issue persists, and it’s happening with a specific app, try installing the app’s official app (for example, if you have problems using Google Mail in the Apple Mail app, try the Gmail app instead).
15. Re-Pair Apple Watch and iPhone
Communication issues between your Apple Watch and iPhone can prevent notifications. Unpairing and re-pairing them can fix these issues. Remember to keep the watch close to the phone and back up your Watch data first.
16. Reset the Apple Watch to Factory Settings
A corrupted Watch OS can block notifications entirely. Resetting your Apple Watch to factory settings can resolve this. Make sure your Watch is fully charged before starting.
