Easy ways to fix Apple Watch not connecting to iPhone (2023)
The fastest way to fix your Apple Watch not connecting to your iPhone is to reboot both devices. It will fix any connection problems with the Apple Watch when it boots up.
Connecting your Apple Watch to your iPhone is usually a breeze, letting you keep them linked without a hitch. You can view your Apple Watch screenshots, input your workouts manually, and do plenty more from your paired phone.
But sometimes, even when your Apple Watch and iPhone are side by side, they just won’t connect. This isn’t just frustrating; it takes away the point of having a smart wearable like this.
Thankfully, you can sort out the issue of your Apple Watch not linking up with your iPhone pretty easily. We’ve got five methods that have been tried and tested to get your Apple Watch and iPhone reconnected in no time.
Table of Contents
Fix 1: Confirm the connection of your Apple Watch
If you’re thinking your Apple Watch and phone aren’t linked up, the first thing to tackle is checking your Apple Watch’s connection. Try these steps:
Swipe up on your Apple Watch screen to bring up the Control Center. On watchOS 10, press the Side button to open the Control Center.
If you spot a red iPhone symbol, it’s a sign that your Apple Watch isn’t connected to your phone. In this situation, get your smartwatch and phone closer. If they’re far apart, like your phone is in your bag or your watch is in a drawer, that could be causing the disconnection.
When you come across a green iPhone symbol, that means your Apple Watch and iPhone are linked up and good to go.
Fix 2: Restart your iPhone and Apple Watch
Once you’ve covered the fundamental aspects, the next step involves rebooting your devices. Occasionally, there could be a slight hiccup in the software or a small glitch causing disruptions in connectivity. When you initiate a restart on your devices, it effectively clears the cache and resolves minor glitches, swiftly restoring normal operations.
To begin, it’s advisable to perform a reboot on your iPhone. This step rectifies any potential connectivity issues with your Apple Watch upon reboot. Below, you’ll find a concise guide detailing how to restart your iPhone, tailored to the specific model you possess.
Following that, proceed to power down your Apple Watch, allowing a brief pause of a few seconds, before powering it back on.
Fix 3: Update your iOS and WatchOS
Running an older version of iOS or WatchOS might be responsible for your Apple Watch not connecting to your iPhone. Apple regularly releases updates with security patches, bug fixes, and new features. To avoid any compatibility issues, it’s a great idea to check and ensure that your iPhone and Apple watch are on the most recent operating systems.
To update your iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Automatic Updates, then turn on Download iOS Updates. Turn on Install iOS Updates. Your device automatically updates to the latest version of iOS.
To update your Apple Watch: Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Tap My Watch, go to General > Software Update, and then, if an update is available, tap Download and Install.
Fix 4: Reset Network Settings on your iPhone
Whenever you connect to a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth device, your iPhone stores the network information to make the reconnection process smoother in the future.
However, this saved information may sometimes get corrupted which obstructs the connection between your iPhone and Apple Watch. To fix this, you should reset the network settings on your iPhone.
To reset the network settings on your iPhone: If you’re using iOS or iPadOS 15 or later, tap Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [Device] > Reset > Reset Network Settings. If you’re using iOS 14 or earlier, tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Fix 5: Reset your Apple watch
Lastly, we suggest you reset your Apple Watch, this will wipe off anything that might be preventing a smooth connection between your smartwatch and smartphone.
To reset your Apple Watch: Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Go to General > Reset, tap Erase All Content and Settings, then enter your passcode. If you have an Apple Watch with a cellular plan, you’re offered two options—Erase All and Erase All & Keep Plan. To completely erase your Apple Watch, choose Erase All.
