Apple Watch troubleshooting guide

If you’ve got an Apple Watch, you’ve chosen well. They’re among the best smartwatches around, packed with advanced tech to help you stay connected and on top of your health and fitness goals.

We realise that even the most dependable tech can have hiccups now and again, so we’ve put together this handy troubleshooting guide for you – nine common Apple Watch issues with simple steps to solve them.

1. Apple Watch won’t update

Ready for the latest features but your watch is stuck in the past? Let’s update.

• Check compatibility and connection. Make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS version, and that both devices are connected to Wi-Fi.
• Get charged up. Your Apple Watch should have at least 50% battery and be on its charger.
• Restart your devices. Classic move. Restart both your Apple Watch and iPhone and try updating again.
• Give yourself some space. Check that there’s enough free space on your Apple Watch to download the update.
• Update manually. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to General > Software Update, and tap Install if an update is available.

2. Apple Watch won’t connect to my iPhone

Apple Watch not connecting to your iPhone? Let’s try to bring them closer together.

• Check Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Make sure both your iPhone and Apple Watch have Bluetooth turned on, and that they’re connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Restart your devices. Sometimes all you need is a fresh start. Restart both your Apple Watch and iPhone.
• Hold them close. Make sure your iPhone and Apple Watch are close together, giving them the best chance to connect.
• Give airplane mode a try. Here’s a top trick! Toggle airplane mode on and off on your iPhone. This can sometimes kickstart the connection process.
• Re-pair the watch. If all else fails, unpairing and then re-pairing your Apple Watch and iPhone sometimes does the trick. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to the My Watch tab, then tap your watch, then the info button, then ‘Unpair Apple Watch’.

3. Apple Watch won’t fully charge

Does your Apple Watch refuse to charge properly? Here are some tips to try and sort it.

• Check the charger. Use only Apple-certified chargers. Also, check for any damage or dirt on the charging cable and the back of your Apple Watch.
• Snap your watch in place. Make sure the back of your Apple Watch is placed properly on the charger. It should snap lightly into place.
• Reboot your watch. Press and hold the side button and Digital Crown simultaneously until the Apple logo appears. This restarts the watch.
• Check for updates. Sometimes a software update can resolve any charging issues.

4. Passcode isn’t being accepted

Forgot your passcode? No need to panic – follow those three simple steps to reset it.

1. Keep your watch on its charger, and make sure it’s charging.
2. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to the ‘My Watch’ tab > General > Reset > Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings.
3. Once the reset is complete, set up your watch as new and choose a new passcode.

5. Apple Watch microphone isn’t working

If people can’t hear you on your Apple Watch, let’s try to clear the air.

1. Check for obstructions. Make sure nothing is blocking the microphone port.
2. Clean the microphone. Gently clean the microphone area with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth.
3. Restart your watch. Press and hold the side button and the Digital Crown simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
4. Test your microphone with a voice memo. Record a voice memo to check if you’ve resolved the issue.

6. Apple Pay isn’t working on my Apple Watch

Apple Pay not paying off? Give these a try.

• Check your region and settings. Make sure you’re in a supported region and that Apple Pay is set up correctly on your iPhone.
• Restart your watch. Have you tried turning it off and on again? Yes, this can sometimes clear up mysterious issues. Press and hold the side button and the Digital Crown simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
• Re-add your card details. Try removing the card from your Apple Wallet and adding it again. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, then tap Add Card.

7. Spotify on Apple Watch isn’t working

Not hearing your favourite sounds? Try a reset and re-install.

1. On your Apple Watch, press and hold the Spotify app until it jiggles. Tap the ‘X’ to delete, then reinstall from the App Store.
2. Restart both your Apple Watch and iPhone.
3. After reinstalling, log back into your Spotify account.

8. Apple Watch isn’t connecting to Bluetooth

If you ever have any Bluetooth issues, a quick reset might help.

1. Open Settings on Your Apple Watch and head to Bluetooth.
2. Toggle Bluetooth off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. Easy.

9. Siri isn’t working on my Apple Watch

Siri giving you the silent treatment? Let’s get her talking again.

1. Restart your watch. Press and hold the side button and Digital Crown until you see the Apple logo.
2. Check Siri settings. On your iPhone, go to the Watch app, tap My Watch tab > Siri, and make sure Siri is enabled.
3. Re-enable Siri. If Siri is already on, turn it off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.

Source: CURRYS